Complete non-compact gradient Ricci solitons with nonnegative Ricci curvature (Q2512962)

For shrinking Ricci solitons with positive curvature, it was proved in previous papers by other authors, that in dimension 2 and 3 they are isometric to the standard sphere. In dimension 4 the same holds under the assumption of a positive bounded curvature operator. Steady Ricci solitons with nonnegative sectional curvature in dimension 2 and 3 were classified in other works. In the present paper, the authors study non-compact expanding and steady Ricci solitons under certain curvature conditions. It is proved that complete non-compact expanding or steady gradient Kähler-Ricci solitons with nonnegative Ricci curvature satisfying certain curvature conditions are Ricci flat. In the expanding case, they are isometric to \({\mathbb{C}}^n\). The curvature conditions are optimal from the viewpoint of the known examples. As a corollary, it is shown that complete non-compact expanding or steady Kähler-Ricci solitons with positively pinched Ricci operator and with an equilibrium point are Ricci flat.