On some variational problems for 2-dimensional Hermitian metrics (Q2640916)

On a compact 2-dimensional Hermitian manifold (M,J,g) with Kähler form \(\Omega\), the torsion (Lee) form \(\omega\) is defined by the equation \(d\Omega =\omega \wedge \Omega.\) The author studies the extremals of the functionals \(L(g)=\int_{M}\| \omega \|^ 2v_ g\) and \(U(g)=\int_{M}\| d\omega \|^ 2v_ g.\) The Euler-Lagrange equation of both functionals are written down; also the second variation of U(g) is computed; as a corollary, \textit{P. Gauduchon}'s result saying that the extremals of L(g) are precisely the Kähler metrics is reobtained [Math. Ann. 267, 495-518 (1984; Zbl 0523.53059)]. For U(g) it is clear that the extremals include the locally and globally conformal Kähler metrics, but it is still an open problem if these are the only ones. In addition the Lagrangian of both functionals considered contain the second order derivatives of the metric but no ellipticity property (in the sense of Palais) appears; thus there is not ``much hope for a straightforward existence proof of the extremals''. On the other hand, if \(b_ 1(M)\) is even M has Kähler metrics and extremals for both functionals exist. If \(b_ 1(M)\) is odd, the existence of extremals for U(g) is closely related to the existence of locally conformal Kähler metrics and this again is an unsolved problem.