Conformal vector fields and their applications to Einstein-type manifolds (Q6143228)

A smooth vector field \(X\) on a Riemannian manifold \((M,g)\) is said to be conformal if the Lie derivative of the metric \(g\) with respect to \(X\) is given by a multiple of a function to the metric \(g\), and the function is called a conformal factor of \(X\). For a conformal vector field \(X\), one can define a skew-symmetric 2-tensor \(\Phi\) associated to \(X\) which measures whether \(X\) is a closed conformal vector field. The authors consider compact Riemannian manifolds admitting a nontrivial conformal vector field whose conformal factor satisfies the critical point equation, as well as vacuum static spaces admitting a closed conformal vector field whose conformal factor satisfies the vacuum static equation. In both considered cases, it is proved that the Riemannian manifold is isometric to a standard sphere.