On the holonomy of pseudo-Riemannian manifolds of signature \((2,2+n)\) (Q1301326)

The author attacks the problem of the classification of connected holonomy groups \(H\) of indecomposable non-irreducible pseudo-Riemannian manifolds of signature \((2,2+n)\). Any such group \(H\) is a weakly irreducible subgroup of the pseudo-orthgonal group \(SO(2,2 + n)\), that is, it has no invariant nondegenerate subspace, but has an invariant isotropic subspace. The author classifies all such weakly irreducible subgroups of \(SO(2,2+n)\). Using a canonical form of a pseudo-Riemannian metric which admits a parallel isotropic distribution, he constructs pseudo-Riemannian manifolds with different (but not all) weakly irreducible holonomy groups. In particular, examples of pseudo-Riemannian manifolds of signature \((2, 2+n)\) with non closed weakly irreducible holonomy groups are constructed. The holonomy groups of symmetric pseudo-Riemannian manifolds of signature \((2,2+n)\), classified by \textit{M. Cahen} and \textit{M. Parker} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 229, 1-108 (1980; Zbl 0438.53057)], are also described.