Non-naturally reductive Einstein metrics on \(\mathrm {SO}(n)\) (Q1744811)

The problem of proving existence of non naturally reductive left-invariant metrics on compact simple Lie groups was originally posed by \textit{J. E. D'Atri} and \textit{W. Ziller} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 215, 72 p. (1979; Zbl 0404.53044)]. Since then several mathematicians have contributed to this problem (K. Mori, A. Arvanitoyeorgos, Y. Sakane, I. Chrysikos, Z. Chen, K. Liang, M. Statha). When the rank of a classical group is small, it becomes more difficult to prove existence of non naturally reductive left-invariant Einstein metrics. In fact, in various cases the number is such Einstein metrics is unknown. In the paper under review the authors obtain some families of left-invariant metrics on the compact simple Lie group \(\mathrm {SO}(n)\). They use a method introduced by \textit{A. Arvanitoyeorgos} et al. [Geom. Imaging Comput. 2, No. 2, 77--108 (2015; Zbl 1357.53047)], in which one considers \(\mathrm {SO}(n)=\mathrm {SO}(k_1+k_2+k_3)\) and a fibration of the form \(\mathrm {SO}(k_1)\times \mathrm {SO}(k_2)\times \mathrm {SO}(k_3)\to \mathrm {SO}(k_1+k_2+k_3)\to \mathrm {SO}(k_1+k_2+k_3)/(\mathrm {SO}(k_1)\times \mathrm {SO}(k_2)\times \mathrm {SO}(k_3))\), and \(\text{Ad}(\mathrm {SO}(k_1)\times \mathrm {SO}(k_2)\times \mathrm {SO}(k_3)\)-invariant metrics on \(\mathrm {SO}(k_1+k_2+k_3)\). Using this method, Arvanitoyeorgos et al. [loc. cit.] proved existence of left-invariant Einstein metrics which are not naturally reductive, on \(\mathrm {SO}(n)\), for \(n\geq 7\). In the present paper, the authors consider the case \(k_1=k_2=k\) and prove that for \(k\geq 3\) the Lie group \(\mathrm {SO}(n)\) admits at least two \(\text{Ad}(\mathrm {SO}(k)\times \mathrm {SO}(k)\times \mathrm {SO}(n-2k)\)-invariant Einstein metrics which are not naturally reductive. For \(k=3\) and \(n\geq 10\), it is obtained that \(\mathrm {SO}(n)\) admits at least two left-invariant Einstein metrics which are not naturally reductive.