A method of potential scaling in the study of pseudoconvex domains with noncompact automorphism group (Q2660455)

Let \(\Omega\) be a bounded pseudoconvex domain in \(\mathbb{C}^n\). Then \(\Omega\) admits a unique complete Kähler-Einstein metric \(\omega_{KE}=ih_{\alpha\bar\beta} dz^\alpha\wedge d\bar z_\beta\), satisfying the normalized Einstein condition \[\mathrm{Ric}_{\omega_{KE}}=-(n+1)\omega_{KE}.\] [\textit{S.-Y. Cheng} and \textit{S.-T. Yau}, Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 33, 507--544 (1980; Zbl 0506.53031); \textit{N. Mok} and \textit{S. T. Yau}, Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 39, Part 1, Bloomington, Indiana 1980, 41--59 (1983; Zbl 0526.53056)] for the existence, and \textit{S.-T. Yau}'s Schwarz lemma [Am. J. Math. 100, 197--203 (1978; Zbl 0424.53040)] for the uniqueness. Yau's Schwarz lemma also implies that any \(f\in\mathrm{Aut}(\Omega)\) is an isometry for \(\omega_{KE}\). From the fact that \(\mathrm{Ric}_{\omega_{KE}}=- dd^c\log\det(h_{\alpha\bar\beta})\) and the above Einstein condition, it follows that \[dd^c\log\det(h_{\alpha\bar\beta})= (n+1)\omega_{KE},\] i.e., \(\log\psi\) is a canonical potential function for \(\omega_{KE}\), where \(\psi:=\det(h_{\alpha\bar\beta})\). By Yau's Schwarz lemma, for any \(f\in\mathrm{Aut}(\Omega)\), also \(\log( \psi\circ f)\) is a potential function for \(\omega_{KE}\). If \(\{f_j\}_j\) is a sequence of automorphisms whose orbit of a point accumulates on the boundary of \(\Omega\), then for any \(p\in\Omega\), any subsequential limit of \(\{f_j(p)\}_j\) is on the boundary \(\partial \Omega\). By the completeness of \(\omega_{KE}\), the sequence of the potential functions \(\{\log(\psi\circ f_j)\}\) blows up, i.e., \(\lim_{j\to \infty}\log(\psi\circ f_j)=\infty\). The \textit{ method of potential scaling}, introduced in this paper, consists of determining denominators \(c_j\) such that the sequence of potential functions \( \log(\frac{\psi\circ f_j}{c_j})\) converges to a potential function of~\(\omega_{KE}\). It is shown (via Theorem 2.1) that if there exists a constant \(C>0\) such that \(\Vert d\log\psi\Vert_{\omega_{KE}}<C\) on \(\Omega\), then for \(p_j\) in a given compact set \(K\subset \Omega\) and \(f_j\in \mathrm{Aut}(\Omega)\), the potential scaling \[ \log\left(\frac{\psi\circ f_j}{\psi\circ f_j(p_j)}\right) \] converges to a potential function \(\log\psi_\infty\), satisfying \(dd^c\log \psi_\infty=(n+1)\omega_{KE}\). In addition, the differential of \(\log\psi_\infty\) has constant length (Proposition 2.2). An important consequence of the above results is the following theorem. Theorem. Let \(\Omega\) be a bounded pseudoconvex domain in \(\mathbb{C}^n\). If there is a positive-valued smooth potential function \(\phi\colon \Omega\to\mathbb{R}\) such that \[dd^c\log\phi= (n+1)\omega_{KE},\qquad \Vert \log\phi\Vert_{\omega_{KE}}\equiv C,\] for some positive constant \(C\le n+1\), then there is a nowhere vanishing complete holomorphic vector field on \(\Omega\). In particular, \(\Omega\) admits a one-parameter family of holomorphic automorphisms. This is always the case if \(\Omega\) is strongly pseudoconvex with smooth boundary.