Holomorphic curvature of Finsler metrics and complex geodesics (Q1387660)

In his famous 1981 paper \textit{L. Lempert} [Bull. Soc. Math. Fr. 109, 427-474 (1981; Zbl 0492.32025)] proved that given a point in a strongly convex domain the complex geodesics (i.e., in this case the extremal disks) for the Kobayashi metric passing through that point provide a very useful foliation of the domain. The present paper addresses the question whether, given a smooth complex Finsler metric on a complex manifold \(M\), it is possible to find purely differential geometric properties of the metric ensuring the existence of such a foliation in complex geodesics of \(M\). Firstly, it is discussed at some length the notion of holomorphic sectional curvature for a complex Finsler metric; then, using the differential equation of complex geodesics obtained by the authors in a previous work [Manuscr. Math. 74, 277-297 (1992; Zbl 0758.53039)] it is proved that for every pair \((p;v)\in TM\), with \(v\neq 0\), there is a (only a segment if the metric is not complete) complex geodesic passing through \(p\)-tangent to \(v\) if and only if the Finsler metric is Kähler, has constant negative holomorphic sectional curvature, and satisfies a specific symmetry condition on the curvature tensor. Finally, it is shown that a complete complex Finsler metric of constant negative holomorphic sectional curvature satisfying the given symmetry condition on the curvature is necessarily the Kobayashi metric of the manifold.