Harmonic \(SU(3)\)- and \(G_2\)-structures via spinors (Q780042)

Let \((M,g)\) be an oriented Riemannian manifold equipped with a \(G\)-structure, \(G\subset \operatorname{SO}(n)\), where \(n=\dim M\). Each \(G\)-structure \(P\subset \operatorname{SO}(M)\) defines a unique section \(\sigma _{P}\) of the associated bundle \(\operatorname{SO}(M)\times _{G}(\operatorname{SO}(M)/G)\). If \(M\) is compact, the \(G\)-structure \(P\) is said to be harmonic if \(\sigma _{P}\) is a harmonic section. In [\textit{J. C. Gonzalez-Davila} and \textit{F. M. Cabrera}, Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 146, No. 2, 435--459 (2009; Zbl 1165.53043)] the authors show that harmonicity is equivalent to a differential equation involving the intrinsic torsion. In the paper under review the author, using the spinorial description of \(\operatorname{SU}(3)\) and \(G_{2}\)-structures obtained in [\textit{I. Agricola} et al., J. Geom. Phys. 98, 535--555 (2015; Zbl 1333.53037)], gives necessary and sufficient conditions for harmonicity of \(\operatorname{SU}(3)\)- and \(G_{2}\)-structures. The author also describes the results on appropiate homogeneous spaces.