Twisted Dirac operator on minimal submanifolds (Q2460781)

A seminal inequality by Friedrich states that, on a compact spin \(n\)-manifold, the first eigenvalue \(\lambda\) of the Dirac operator satisfies \(\lambda^2 \geq \frac{n \min R}{4(n-1)}\), where \(R\) denotes the scalar curvature, and the equality occurs precisely when there exists a Riemannian Killing spinor [see \textit{Th. Friedrich}, Math. Nachr. 97, 117--146 (1980; Zbl 0462.53027)]. The method of proof is the introduction of a suitably modified spinorial connection whose parallel spinors are precisely the Killing spinors mentioned before, and a Schrödinger-Lichnerowicz type identity for the square of its associated Dirac operator. In 2001, \textit{O. Hijazi} and \textit{X. Zhang} successfully adapted this method for proving a similar eigenvalue estimate for the submanifold Dirac operator [Ann. Global Anal. Geom. 20, No. 2, 163--181 (2001; Zbl 1019.53019)], concentrating on the case in which the submanifold has non--vanishing mean curvature. The limiting case is realized by twisted Killing spinors, a modification of the classical Killing spinor concept that involves Clifford multiplication by the volume form of the submanifold. In the present article, the submanifold case with vanishing mean curvature is treated. The main theorem states that the inequality obtained by Hijazi--Zhang holds also for \(H=0\). The method of proof is similar to that introduced by Friedrich and equality is again realized by twisted Killing spinors. It is observed that any Kähler manifold can be realized as a totally geodesic submanifold of its twistor space, thus yielding an example where the main theorem can be applied. However, no examples (in particular, of twisted Killing spinors not being Killing spinors) are discussed.