Pseudohermitian immersions, pseudo-Einstein structures, and the Lee class of a CR manifold (Q1916069)

Let \((M,T_{1,0} (M))\) and \((A,T_{1,0} (A))\) be two \(CR\) manifolds of \(CR\)-dimensions \(n\) and \(N=n+k\), respectively (i.e., \(\dim M= 2n+1\), \(\dim A=2 (n+k)+1\) and \(T_{1,0} (M)\), \(T_{1,0} (A)\) are complex vector subbundles of rank \(n\) and \(n+k\), respectively, in the complexifications of the tangent bundles of \(M\) and \(A\), defining the corresponding \(CR\)-structures). A \(C^\infty\)-map \(f:M \to A\) is a \(CR\) map if \(f_*(T_{1,0} (M)) \subset T_{1,0} (A)\). The authors use the Tanaka-Webster connections defined, in the case of strictly pseudoconvex \(CR\)-manifolds, by appropriate 1-forms \(\theta\) and \(\Theta\), to obtain some Gauss-Weingarten type equations. These equations are used to prove the following results. Theorem 1. Let \(f:M\to A\) be a pseudohermitian immersion (so that \(f:M \to f(M)\) is a homeomorphism) between two strictly pseudoconvex \(CR\) manifolds \(M\) and \(A\) of \(CR\) dimensions \(n\) and \(N=n+k\). Assume that both \(M\), \(A\) are locally realizable (e.g. either \(M\), \(A\) are compact or \(n>2)\). Then \(f^*\gamma (A)-\gamma(M) \in\text{Ker} j\), where \(j: H^1 (M,{\mathcal L})\to H^1(M,{\mathcal E})\) \(({\mathcal L}\) is the sheaf of the \(CR\) pluriharmonic functions on \(M, {\mathcal E}\) is the sheaf of the \(C^\infty\) functions on \(M\) and \(\gamma(M) \in H^1(M, {\mathcal L})\) is the Lee class of \(M)\). Set \(\varphi_j= f^* \Theta_j\), \(V_j= f^{-1} (D_j \cap f(M))\), \(j\in \Sigma\). If each \((V_j, \varphi_j)\) is pseudo-Einstein then \(f^*\gamma(A) = \gamma(M)\); in particular, if \(A\) admits a global pseudo-Einstein structure, then so does \(M\). Theorem 2. Let \(f:M \to A\) be a pseudohermitian immersion between two strictly pseudoconvex CR manifolds \((M,\theta)\) and \((A,\Theta)\). If the normal Tanaka-Webster connection is flat then \(R_{\alpha\overline \beta}= \text{trace} \{Z\mapsto R^A (Z,f_*T_\alpha) f_*T_{\overline \beta}\}\). In particular, if \(\Theta\) is pseudo-Einstein then \(\theta\) is pseudo-Einstein, too. Corollary. Let \(M\to S^{2N+1}\) be a pseudohermitian immersion with a flat normal Tanaka-Webster connection. Then \(\gamma (M)=0\). Some examples related to the Heisenberg groups, their quotients by discrete groups of dilations and pseudo-Siegel domains are presented.