Locally conformal calibrated \(G_2\)-manifolds (Q325961)

The paper studies constructions of \(7\)-dimensional \(G_2\)-manifolds \((M,\phi)\) starting from \(6\)-dimensional almost Hermitian manifolds \(N\). The authors are interested in: \smallbreak -- locally conformal calibrated \(G_2\)-structures (lcc) on \(M\), those for which the \(G_2\)-form \(\phi\) is locally conformally closed: \(d\phi = -\theta \wedge \phi\), where \(\theta\) is a nonvanishing element of \(H^1(M,\mathbb{R})\) called the \(G_2\)-Lee form; \smallbreak -- \(d_\theta\)-exact \(G_2\)-structures: \(\phi = d_\theta(\omega)\) for some \(\omega\), where \(d_\theta = d + \theta \wedge \) is the exterior differential twisted by the Lee form. \smallbreak There is an extensive literature investigating various types and constructions of lcc \(G_2\)-manifolds, with added curvature constraints (on the Ricci curvature typically) or topological assumptions (compactness) [the last two authors, Math. Z. 280, No. 3--4, 1093--1106 (2015; Zbl 1341.53081)]. A good starting point is taking \(N\) to have a coupled \(\mathrm{SU}(3)\)-structure \((\omega,\psi^+)\), that is satisfying \(d\omega = c\psi^+\) for some constant \(c\). That is because the product of such an \(N\) with a circle admits a natural lcc \(G_2\)-structure. Other types of constructions can be found in the references. \textit{D. Tischler} [Topology 9, 153--154 (1970; Zbl 0177.52103)] related the existence of a \(G_2\)-Lee form (though in a more general context) to mapping tori, see also [\textit{G. Bazzoni} et al., Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 367, No. 6, 4459--4481 (2015; Zbl 1317.53040)]. \smallbreak The reviewed paper establishes when an lcc \(G_2\)-manifold is a mapping torus or can be seen as bundle over a circle with \(6\)-dimensional fibres having \(\mathrm{SU}(3)\)-structures. The authors prove that if \(N\) is a 6-dimensional compact, connected, coupled \(\mathrm{SU}(3)\)-manifold, and \(\nu\in\text{Diff}(N)\) preserves the \(\mathrm{SU}(3)\)-structure, then the mapping torus \(N_{\nu}\) is lcc \(G_2\). Next they find a characterization for lcc \(G_2\)-structures \(\phi\) which are \(d_\theta\)-exact: calling \(X\) the Lee vector field and setting \(\omega = i_X\phi\), then \(X\) is an infinitesimal automorphism of \(\phi\) if and only if \(\theta(X)\phi = d_\theta\omega\). The last part characterises compact lcc \(G_2\)-manifolds satisfying \(L_X\phi = 0\) as fibre bundles over \(S^1\) where the fibres are coupled \(\mathrm{SU}(3)\)-manifolds. Many examples are provided to clarify the results.