Asymptotics of the self-dual deformation complex (Q2347934)

For a four-dimensional Riemannian manifold \((M^4,g)\), the Riemannian curvature tensor of \(g\) admits an orthogonal decomposition. If \((M^4,g)\) is oriented there is a further decomposition and finally the full curvature operator decomposition is obtained. The authors analyse the indicial roots of the self-dual deformation complex on a cylinder with a warped product metric \((M^4,g)=(\mathbb R \times Y^3, dt^2+g_Y)\), where \(Y^3\) is a space of constant curvature. The authors continue with the anti-self-dual part of the curvature tensor and the linearization at a cylindrical metric. The required formulas for a Dirac-type operator, some necessary eigenvalue computations and the core analysis of the kernel of \(D^*\) are also given. An application of this theory is the analysis of the optimal decay rate of solutions on a self-dual manifold with cylindrical ends having cross-section \(Y^3\). The authors also resolve a conjecture of Kovalev-Singer in the case where \(Y^3\) is a hyperbolic rational homology 3-sphere. They also show that there are many examples for which the conjecture is either true or false. The completed proofs of all the main theorems and applications of the gluing problem are presented in the last two sections. Finally, the appendix contains the derivation of an interesting formula relating the square of the Dirac operator to the linearized Einstein equation on the cross section. For the case of spherical cross-section, the authors obtain a formula (which holds for general cross-section as well).