Optimal lower bounds for Donaldson's J-functional (Q2006055)

In this paper the author provides an explicit formula for the optimal lower bound of Donaldson's J-functional, with the hope of finding explicitly the optimal constant in the definition of coercivity, which always exists and takes negative values. This constant is positive precisely if the J-equation admits a solution. Firstly, the explicit formula leads to new existence criteria for constant scalar curvature Kähler (cscK) metrics in terms of Tian's alpha invariant. Secondly, the above formula enables us to discuss Calabi dream manifolds and an analogous notion for the J-equation, and show that for surfaces the optimal bound is an explicitly computable rational function which typically tends to minus infinity as the underlying class approaches the boundary of the Kähler cone, even when the underlying Kähler classes admit cscK metrics. Finally, the author shows that if the Lejmi-Székelyhidi conjecture [\textit{M. Lejmi} and \textit{G. Székelyhidi}, Adv. Math. 274, 404--431 (2015; Zbl 1370.53051)] holds, then the optimal bound coincides with its algebraic counterpart, namely the set of J-semistable classes equals to the closure of the set of uniformly J-stable classes in the Kähler cone, and there exists an optimal degeneration for uniform J-stability.