Lorentzian manifolds with a conformal action of \(\mathrm{SL}(2,R)\) (Q1645346)

Summary: We consider conformal actions of simple Lie groups on compact Lorentzian manifolds. Mainly motivated by the Lorentzian version of a conjecture of Lichnerowicz, we establish the alternative: Either the group acts isometrically for some metric in the conformal class, or the manifold is conformally flat -- that is, everywhere locally conformally diffeomorphic to Minkowski space-time. When the group is non-compact and not locally isomorphic to \(\mathrm{SO}(1,n)\), \(n \geq 2\), we derive global conclusions, extending a theorem of \textit{C. Frances} and \textit{A. Zeghib} [Math. Res. Lett. 12, No. 1, 49--56 (2005; Zbl 1077.53057)] to some simple Lie groups of real-rank 1. This result is also a first step towards a classification of conformal groups of compact Lorentzian manifolds, analogous to a classification of their isometry groups due to [\textit{S. Adams} and \textit{G. Stuck}, Invent. Math. 129, No. 2, 239--261 (1997; Zbl 0897.53046); Invent. Math. 129, No. 2, 263--287 (1997; Zbl 0897.53047)] and, independently, \textit{A. Zeghib} [Duke Math. J. 92, No. 2, 321--333 (1998; Zbl 0976.53077)].