Four-manifolds without Einstein metrics (Q1920881)

A smooth Riemannian metric \(g\) is said to be Einstein if its Ricci curvature \(r\) is a constant multiple of the metric, i.e. \(r=\lambda g\). It is known that not every compact oriented 4-manifold \(M\) admits such metrics. A necessary condition for the existence of an Einstein metric on \(M\) is that the Hitchin-Thorpe inequality \(2\chi(M)\geq 3|\tau(M) |\) holds, where \(\chi\) and \(\tau\) are respectively the Euler-Poincaré characteristic and the signature of \(M\) [see \textit{N. J. Hitchin}, J. Differ. Geom. 9, 435-441 (1974; Zbl 0281.53039)]; \textit{J. A. Thorpe}, J. Math. Mech. 18, 779-786 (1969; Zbl 0183.50503)]. The author proves that there are infinitely many compact simply connected smooth 4-manifolds which do not admit Einstein metrics but nevertheless satisfy the strict Hitchin-Thorpe inequality \(2\chi>3 |\tau|\). Examples are given by certain nonminimal complex algebraic surfaces of general type. The method of proof is based on scalar curvature estimates that come from Seiberg-Witten theory.