Static SKT metrics on Lie groups (Q1942252)

Let \((M, J, g)\) be a Hermitian manifold of real dimension \(2n\). Set \(\omega:=g(\cdot,J\cdot)\). \textit{P. Gauduchon} [Boll. Unione Mat. Ital., VII. Ser., B 11, No. 2, Suppl., 257--288 (1997; Zbl 0876.53015)] proved that there is a unique connection \(\nabla^B\) on \(M\), the \textit{Bismut connection}, such that \(\nabla^B J=\nabla^B g=0\) and whose torsion \(3\)-form \( c(X,Y,Z):=g(X,T^B(Y,Z)) \) is totally skew-symmetric. In that case \(c=-Jd\omega\). A Hermitian metric \(g\) on a complex manifold \((M,J)\) is \textit{strong Kähler with torsion} (SKT) if the torsion 3-form \(c\) of the Bismut connection is closed. This condition is equivalent to \(\partial\overline{\partial}\omega=0\). The \textit{Ricci form} of \(\nabla^B\) is defined as \[ \rho^B(X,Y) : = \frac{1}{2}\sum_{k=1}^{2n} g(R^B(X,Y) {e}_k,J {e}_k), \] where \(\{ {e}_i \}\) is a local orthonormal frame and \(R^B\) is the curvature tensor of \(\nabla^B\). \textit{J. Streets} and \textit{G. Tian} [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2010, No. 16, 3101--3133 (2010; Zbl 1198.53077); Geom. Topol. 17, No. 4, 2389--2429 (2013; Zbl 1272.32022)] introduced the flow \[ \frac{\partial\omega(t)}{\partial t} = -(\rho^B)^{1,1}, \qquad \omega(0)=\omega_0 . \] This flow preserves the SKT condition and is parabolic on the set of SKT metrics, so short-time existence of solutions is guaranteed. If the initial condition \(\omega_0\) is Kähler it coincides with the Kähler-Ricci flow. A Hermitian metric \(g\) on a complex manifold \((M,J)\) is called \textit{static} if it is SKT and \(-(\rho^B)^{1,1} = \lambda \omega\) for some real constant \(\lambda\). This is the analogue of the Kähler-Einstein equation. Moreover Kähler-Einstein metrics are static, since in the Kähler case \(\nabla^B\) coincides with the Levi-Civita connection. The paper under review studies static metrics on compact nilmanifolds, i.e., quotients of nilpotent Lie groups by a lattice, and on Lie groups. Theorem 2.3. Let \(M=G/\Gamma\) be a compact nilmanifold with an invariant complex structure. If \(M\) is not a torus, then \(M\) does not admit static metrics. Theorem 3.2. Let \((G,J,g)\) be a simply connected \(4\)-dimensional Lie group with an invariant complex structure \(J\) and an invariant static metric \(g\). Then either \((G,J,g)\) is Kähler-Einstein or \(\mathfrak{g}=\mathfrak{su}(2)\times\mathbb{R}\) and \(\lambda=0\). The second case corresponds to Hopf surfaces, which are known to admit static metrics, see [\textit{P. Gauduchon} and \textit{S. Ivanov}, Math. Z. 226, No. 2, 317--326 (1997; Zbl 1006.53061)] and [Zbl 1198.53077].