Einstein metrics: homogeneous solvmanifolds, generalised Heisenberg groups and black holes (Q556221)

The author proposes several constructions of Einstein metrics which are, roughly speaking, appropriate warped products of given Einstein metrics of non positive scalar curvature. Let \(g_0\) be a Ricci flat (pseudo-Riemannian) metric and \(g_1 = dw^2 + h\) the metric of complex hyperbolic space written in horospherical coordinates where \(w\) is the parameter of a horosphere. Then the metric \(g = e^{-pw}g_0 + qdw^2 +h\) is an Einstein metric of negative scalar curvature if \(p,q\) are appropriate constants. This metric is homogeneous if the metric \(g_0\) admits a one-parameter family of proper homotheties. Let \(M,M'\) be two Einstein Riemannian manifolds with metrics written in the following ``horospherical'' form : \[ g^M = dw^2 + \sum_{i=1}^n e^{-2p_iw}(\omega_i)^2 \] where \(\omega_i\) are 1-forms which do not depend on the coordinate \(w\). Then the author explicitly describes a minimal hypersurface \(\Sigma \) in the direct product \(M \times M'\) which carries an induced Einstein metric of negative scalar curvature. Applying this construction to known examples of Einstein solvmanifolds (for example, to Damek-Ricci spaces), he obtains many new examples of Einstein metrics. Also starting from an Einstein Lorentzian metric in an appropriate ''horospherical form'', the author constructs Lorentzian metrics which describe higher dimensional black holes with different types of horizon geometries.