A variational problem for affine connections (Q2492902)

Let \(M\) be a compact connected manifold and let \(A(M)\) be the space of all torsion free connections of \(M\), preserving a volume element of \(M\). Using the determinant of the Ricci tensor, the author considers an integral functional \(E(D)\) \([D\) being an element of \(A(M)],\) similar to the normalized Einstein-Hilbert functional of the total scalar curvature [\textit{A. L. Besse}, Einstein manifolds. Ergebnisse der Mathematik und ihrer Grenzgebiete. 3. Folge, Bd. 10. Berlin etc.: Springer-Verlag. (Berlin-Heidelberg-New York) (1987; Zbl 0613.53001)]. If \(D\) is a critical point of \(E\) and its Ricci curvature is negative semidefinite (and negative definite somewhere), then \(D\) is the Riemannian connection of an Einstein metric.