Nonnegatively curved homogeneous metrics obtained by scaling fibers of submersions (Q376293)

This paper concerns invariant Riemannian metrics on compact homogeneous spaces \(G/H\) where an intermediate subgroup \(K\) between \(G\) and \(H\) exists, so that the homogeneous space \(G/H\) is the total space of a Riemannian submersion. The authors consider the metrics obtained enlarging the fibers of the submersion by a constant scaling factor and study the problem of retaining nonnegative curvature when the deformation starts at a normal homogeneous metric. Using a criterion at the Lie algebra level proved by \textit{L. Schwachhöfer} and \textit{K. Tapp} [J. Geom. Anal. 19, No. 4, 929--943 (2009; Zbl 1185.53039)], the authors classify some classes of triples of groups \((H,K,G)\) where the nonnegative curvature is maintained for small deformations. The first class consists of triples \((H,K,G)\) where \(G/K\) is a symmetric space with \(rk(G/K) = rk(G)\) and \(H\) arises as the intersection of \(K\) with a subgroup of maximal rank in \(G\). The second class consists of all triples \((H,K,G)\) for which \(rk(H) = rk(K) = rk(G)\). For these two classes the authors prove that enlarging the fibers of the submersion \(G/H \to G/K\) maintains nonnegative curvature if and only if \((H,K)\) is a symmetric pair. The authors also provide a classification for the class of triples \((H,K,G)\) where \(H\), \(K\) are regular subgroups of \(G\).