Prescribing Ricci curvature on homogeneous spaces (Q2121995)

Given a symmetric \(2\)-tensor \(T\) on \(M\), looking for Riemannian metrics \(g\) on \(M\) such that \({\mathrm{Ric}}(g)=T\) is called a prescribed Ricci curvature problem. There are several results about this problem, for irreducible symmetric spaces and some further particular spaces. In the present paper, the problem is studied for homogeneous spaces \(M=G/H\). It is formulated in natural terms of the mapping \[{\mathrm{Rc}}\colon {\mathcal M}^G\rightarrow {\mathcal S}^2(M)^G\] from the open subset of all \(G\)-invariant metrics \({\mathcal M}^G\) into the vector space of all \(G\)-invariant symmetric \(2\)-tensors \({\mathcal S}^2(M)^G\). The concept of Ricci locally invertible metrics is introduced and studied. It is the subset of metrics for which the mapping \({\mathrm{Rc}}\) is as invertible as possible. In this concept, several results are obtained, open questions are raised and examples of various features of the mapping \({\mathrm{Rc}}\) are given.