Conformal Einstein spaces in \(N\)-dimensions. II (Q2581864)

The necessary and sufficient conditon for an \(N\)-dimensional semi-Riemannian manifold to be conformally related to Einstein spaces is shown under the assumption that \(\det{\mathcal W}\neq 0\), where \(\mathcal W\) is the Weyl tensor being considered as an endomorphism on 2-forms. Let \((M,g)\) be a semi Riemannian manifold of \(\dim n\geq 4\). The set \({\mathcal E}=\{v\in \text{TM}\mid {\mathcal W}(v,\dots,)=0\}\subset \text{TM}\) is conformally invariant, and the set \(M_{\mathcal E}\) of all points of \(M\) for which \(\text{rk}({\mathcal E})\) is locally constant is dense in \(M\) and \(\mathcal E\) is a vector bundle over \(M_{\mathcal E}\). Let \(T\) be the vector field satisfying the equation: \(\delta{\mathcal W}-(n-3){\mathcal W}(\dots,\nabla\phi)=0\), and \(E_T\) the \((0,2)\)-tensor defined by \[ E_T=\text{Ric}-\frac{\text{scal}}n\,g+(n-2) \biggl(\nabla T^*+T^*\otimes T^*-\frac1n(\text{div}(T)+|T|^2)g\biggr). \] \(E_T\) is then conformally invariant if \(rk({\mathcal E})\neq 0\). The author now shows that \((M,g)\) is conformally related to an Einstein space if and only if \(E_T\) is vanishing on \(M_{\mathcal E}\) and \(T\) is extendable to a vector field on \(M\). This equivalence does not depend on the choice of the Riemannian metric in order to define \(T\). Part I, cf. Ann. Global Anal. Geom. 20, No. 2, 183--197 (2001; Zbl 1024.53031).