Logarithmic projective connections (Q690139)

Let \(X\) be a complex manifold of dimension \(n \geq 2\) and \(D\) a reduced effective divisor with only normal crossing singularities. Then, via a suitable locally finite open covering of \(X\), the divisor \(D\) is locally defined by equations \(z_ 1\dots z_ n = 0\), and such a local coordinate system is called a logarithmic coordinate system along \(D\) in a neighborhood \(U\). The author shows that a logarithmic atlas (with respect to the divisor \(D\)) defines, in a natural way, a certain cohomology class \(\overline{p}_ X \in H^ 1(X,F^ 1\langle D\rangle)\), where \(F^ 1\langle D\rangle\) is the bundle \(\Omega^ 1(\log D)(\text{End}(\Theta(-\log D)))\) obtained from the sheaf \(\Omega^ 1(\log D)\) of logarithmic 1-forms along \(D\) and the sheaf \(\Theta(-\log D)\) of logarithmic vector fields along \(D\), respectively. If \(\overline{p}_ X = 0\), then there is a 0-cochain inducing the transition functions of \(\overline{p}_ X = 0\), which the author calls a logarithmic projective connection on \(X\) with respect to the divisor \(D\). The aim of the present paper is to associate certain characteristic closed \(2k\)-forms \(\overline{P}_ k\), \(1 \leq k \leq n\), to such a logarithmic projective connection and, in the sequel, to describe their properties and geometric significance. These forms \(\overline{P}_ k\) are called the logarithmic projective Weyl forms on \(X\) (with respect to \(D\)), and it turns out that their de Rham cohomology classes are independent of the choice of the defining logarithmic projective connection. The main result of the paper states that, for any normal reduced logarithmic projective connection with respect to \(D\) on \(X\), there is a logarithmic affine connection, whose logarithmic Chern classes are related to the logarithmic projective Weyl forms \(\overline{P}_ k\) by an explicit formula. In the special case of a compact Kähler manifold \(X\) admitting a logarithmic projective connection, the logarithmic projective Weyl forms \(\overline{P}_ k\) turn out to be exact, and then the author's formula gives a relation between the logarithmic Chern classes of \(X\) with respect to \(D\), which may be regarded as a logarithmic version of Gunning's formula [cf. \textit{R. C. Gunning}, On uniformization of complex manifolds: The role of connections (Math. Notes 22) (Princeton, Univ. Press 1978; Zbl 0392.32016)]. In the concluding section, the author reproves a formula for the Chern classes of particular compact (non-Kähler) threefolds, which he had already derived in a previous paper [cf. the author, Tokyo J. Math. 5, 341-364 (1982; Zbl 0538.32020)], but which appears here as an instructive application of the author's new logarithmic approach. The whole paper is closely related to the author's earlier work on characteristic forms on complex manifolds [J. Algebra 138, No. 2, 424-439 (1991; Zbl 0722.53062)]. It is basically the logarithmic version of that foregoing paper, and the proof of the main formula here is based on the same method applied there.