On the rigidity of the complex Grassmannians

Let \(g\) be an Einstein metric on a closed manifold \(M^m\), that is Ric\(_g = E g\), where \(E\) is the Einstein constant. An important problem is to decide whether \(g\) is rigid, i.e., whether the equivalence class \([g]\) under homothetic scaling and pullback by diffeomorphisms is isolated in the moduli space of Einstein structures~\(\epsilon(g)\). In his paper, [Invent. Math. 73, 71--106 (1983; Zbl 0515.53040)], \textit{N. Koiso} proved that the metric \(g\) is not rigid if and only if there exists an analytic curve \((g_t)\) of Einstein metrics through \(g= g_0\) that are not all equivalent, whose tangent vector \(h=\dot g_0\) satisfies the linearised Einstein equation \(\Delta_Lh=2E h\) (here \(\Delta_L\) denotes the Lichnerowitz Laplacian).\N\NIn [Osaka J. Math. 17, 51--73 (1980; Zbl 0426.53037)], he had determined the irreducible symmetric spaces of compact type admitting infinitesimal Einstein deformations. In all cases it turned out that \(\epsilon(g)\cong \mathfrak{g}\) as a \(G\)-module, where \(\mathfrak{g}\) is the Lie algebra of the isometry group \(G\) of \((M,g)\).\N\NIn this paper the authors focus on the complex Grassmannians, which are the only Hermitian symmetric spaces of in Koiso's list admitting infinitesimal Einstein deformations. The aim is to characterize the infinitesimal deformations that are integrable to second order as an explicit variety inside in the moduli space of Einstein metrics \( \epsilon(g)\cong \mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{u}(n)\). The main result of the paper is the following.\N\NTheorem. Let \(M=\mathrm{SU}(n)/\mathrm{S}(\mathrm{U}(n_+)\times \mathrm{U}(n_-))\), for \(n=n_+ + n_-\) with \(n_+ , n_-\ge 2\), be the complex Grassmannian with its Hermitian symmetric structure \((M,g,J)\). Then the following holds:\N\N(i) the set of infinitesimal Einstein deformations in \(\epsilon(g)\) which are integrable to second order is isomorphic to the variety \N\[\N\mathcal Q=\left\{X\in \mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{u}(n)~|~ X^2=\frac{\mathrm{tr}(X^2)}{n}I_n\right\}.\N\]\N(ii) If \(n\) is odd, then all infinitesimal Einstein formations are obstructed to second order. Thus the metric is rigid.

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