Invariants of complex foliations and the Monge-Ampère equation (Q1109183)

Let F be a foliation of a complex manifold M by complex submanifolds. The authors introduce some geometric invariants to study the foliation. Let L be the subbundle of the tangent bundle TM of M consisting of the vectors tangent to the leaves of F and let \(L^*\) be its dual. Let Q and \(Q^*\) be the normal bundle and its dual. Let \(\Omega^ k_ F(\Omega_ F^{(p,q)})\) be the sheaf of the sections of \(\Lambda^ kL^*(\Lambda^{(p,q)}L^*)\). The relative de Rham complex \((\Omega_ F,d_ F)\) (relative Dolbeault complex \((\Omega_ F,{\bar \partial}_ F))\) is defined via the restriction map i * induced by the inclusion i: \(L\to TM\). The relative Chern class \(c_ k(F)\equiv i^*c_ k(Q)\) is the image of the Chern class \(c_ k(Q)\). Using the complex Bott connection \(\nabla\) introduced by the authors, the Chern classes can be represented by \(\det (I-(t/2\pi i)\Lambda {\bar \Lambda})=1+c_ 1(F)t+c_ 2(F)t^ 2+...+c_ q(F)t^ q,\) where \(\Lambda\) is the antiholomorphic torsion of \(\nabla\) which vanishes when F is a holomorphic foliation by complex submanifolds. One of the main results of this paper is that when \(\Lambda\) is symmetric or antisymmetric (or F is a Monge-Ampère foliation) if the leaves of F is Kaehler (or if M is Kaehler), then the vanishing of the 1st Chern class implies that F is a holomorphic foliation, and furthermore if F is a foliation by complex curves then the above result holds without the assumption of being Kaehler. Another main result is that the authors derive a finite set of linear algebraic conditions on \(\Lambda\) which is the necessary and sufficient condition for F to be tangentially Monge-Ampère. When F is a foliation by complex curves the authors prove that either if \(\dim_ cM=2\) or \(\dim_ cM=3\) and \(\Lambda\) is antisymmetric, the leaves of F with the inherit metric has constant Gaussian curvature.