Three-dimensional Lorentz metrics and curvature homogeneity of order one (Q1971614)

A pseudo-Riemannian manifold \((M,g)\) is said to be curvature homogeneous up to order \(k\) if, for any pair of points \(p,q\in M\), there exists a linear isometry \(\varphi:T_p M\to T_qM\) such that \(\varphi^* (\nabla^i R(q))= \nabla^iR(p)\), \(\forall i=0, \dots,k\), where \(\nabla\) and \(R\) denote the Levi-Civita connection and the curvature tensor associated to \(g\), respectively. It is easily seen that every locally homogeneous pseudo-Riemannian manifold is curvature homogeneous up to order \(k\) for all \(k\). The converse was initially studied by \textit{I. M. Singer} in [Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 13, 685-697 (1960; Zbl 0171.42503)] in terms of finding \(k\) such that curvature homogeneity up to order \(k\) ensures local homogeneity. A first estimate of \(k\) \((\leq{1\over 2}n(n-1)\), \(n=\dim M)\) was given by Singer. However, such estimate may be improved in many cases. In particular, it was shown by \textit{K. Sekigawa} [Tensor, N.S. 31, 87-97 (1977; Zbl 0356.53016)] that any 3-dimensional Riemannian manifold which is curvature homogeneous up to order 1 is locally homogeneous, while curvature homogeneity up to order zero does not suffice for local homogeneity, in contrast with the 2-dimensional case. The purpose of the paper under review is to investigate this kind of problems in Lorentzian geometry by focussing on 3-dimensional manifolds. Such manifolds are also interesting after the discovery of Lorentzian 3-manifolds which are curvature homogeneous up to order 1 but not locally homogeneous by \textit{P. Bueken} and \textit{L. Vanhecke} [Classical Quantum Gravity 14 L93--L96 (1997; Zbl 0882.53036)]. Due to the fact that the curvature tensor of a 3-dimensional Lorentz manifold is completely determined by the Ricci tensor, the authors separately studied the different possibilities for the Segre type of the Ricci tensor. After a detailed case by case investigation, the authors conclude that curvature homogeneity up to order one is equivalent to local homogeneity unless the Ricci operator has degenerate Segre type \(\{1(1,1)\}\) or \(\{(21)\}\). In the latter case, local homogeneity depends on the constancy of a certain function, and it is shown that curvature homogeneity up to order two is needed to ensure local homogeneity.