Codazzi tensors and the topology of surfaces (Q1386842)

The authors introduce the notion of \((0,m)\)-Codazzi tensors relative to an affine connection which extends the well-known concept for \(m=2\). The main results are as follows. (1) Let \(M\) be a compact, oriented surface of genus \(\gamma\), and let \(g\) be a Riemannian metric on \(M\). For \(m\geq 2\) define the \(R\)-vector space \({\mathcal R}_m: =\{\Phi \mid \Phi\) is a traceless Codazzi tensor of order \(m\) relative to \(g\}\). Then the real dimension of \({\mathcal R}_m\) is zero for \(\gamma =0\); 2 for \(\gamma =1\); or \(2(2m-1) (\gamma-1)\) for \(\gamma >1\). (2) Let \((M,g)\) be a compact, oriented, Riemann surface of genus zero, and let \(\nabla\) be an affine connection on \(M\). If \(\Phi\) is a \(\nabla\)-Codazzi tensor of order \(m\geq 2\) which is traceless with respect to \(g\), then \(\Phi\) vanishes identically on \(M\). Moreover, some applications to Weyl geometries and submanifolds are given.