On the vanishing of the holomorphic invariants for Kähler-Ricci solitons (Q2251304)

The author proves the vanishing of a Futaki-type invariant introduced by Tian and Zhu in the study of obstructions to the existence of Kähler-Ricci solitons. Let \(M\) be an \(n\)-dimensional Fano manifold, and \(\omega\in c_1(M)\) be a Kähler form. Denote by \(\mathfrak{h}(M)\) the Lie algebra of holomorphic vector fields on \(M\). Take \(X\in\mathfrak{h}(M)\). \textit{G. Tian} and \textit{X. Zhu} introduced in [Comment. Math. Helv. 77, No. 2, 297--325 (2002; Zbl 1036.53053)] the following functional: \[ F_X: \mathfrak{h}(M)\to \mathbb{C} \;, \qquad F_X(v) \;:=\; v\, \left(f_{\omega}-\theta_X(\omega)\right)\, e^{\theta_X(\omega)}\, \omega^n \;. \] Here, \(f_{\omega}\) is the unique smooth real-valued function on \(M\) such that \[ \mathrm{Ric}(\omega)-\omega \;=\; \frac{\sqrt{-1}}{2\pi}\, \partial\overline\partial f_\omega \;, \qquad \int_M \left(e^{f_\omega}-1\right)\, \omega^n \;=\; 0 \;, \] and \(\theta_X(\omega)\) is the unique smooth complex-valued function on \(M\) such that \[ i_X\omega \;=\; \frac{\sqrt{-1}}{2\pi}\, \overline\partial\theta_X(\omega) \;, \qquad \int_M \theta_X(\omega)\, e^{f_\omega}\, \omega^n \;=\; 0 . \] In fact, \(F_X\) does not depend on \(\omega\). It generalizes the Futaki invariant, which is recovered for \(X=0\). Moreover, it is proven that, when \(M\) admits a Kähler-Ricci soliton with respect to \(X\), that is, \(\mathrm{Ric}(\omega)-\omega=L_X\omega\), where \(L_X\) denotes the Lie derivative along \(X\), then \(F_X\) vanishes. The paper provides an affirmative answer to a problem by Tian and Zhu. Take any \(X\in \mathfrak{h}_r(M)\), where \(\mathfrak{h}_r(M)\) denotes the Lie algebra of the reductive part \(\mathrm{Aut}_r(M)\) in the Chevalley decomposition of the identity component of the holomorphic automorphisms group, such that its imaginary part generates a compact one-parameter subgroup of \(\mathrm{Aut}_r(M)\). Then, theorem 1.1 states that \(F_X\) vanishes on the unipotent part \(\mathfrak{h}_u(M)\). In particular, take the unique such \(X\) so that \(F_X\) vanishes on the reductive part \(\mathfrak{h}_r(M)\), as follows from Tian and Zhu. Whenever \(M\) admits a Kähler-Ricci soliton with respect to \(X\), it corresponds exactly to such an \(X\). Then \(F_X\) vanishes on \(\mathfrak{h}(M)\). The approach is similar to the proof by Mabuchi that the Futaki invariant vanishes on the unipotent part of the decomposition.