The Ricci continuity method for the complex Monge-Ampère equation, with applications to Kähler-Einstein edge metrics (Q456632)

As is well known, the Kähler-Einstein equation \(\text{Ric}\,\omega_\varphi=\mu\omega_\varphi\), on a compact \(n\)-dimensional Kähler manifold \((M,\omega)\), is equivalent to the complex Monge-Ampère equation \(\omega_\varphi^n=\omega^ne^{f_\omega-\mu\varphi}\). Here the function \(f_\omega\) is defined by \(i\partial\overline\partial f_\omega=\text{Ric}\,\omega-\mu\omega\) and \(\int_Me^{f_\omega}\omega^n=\int_M\omega^n\). The paper under review describes a new continuity method, called the Ricci continuity method, for solving this complex Monge-Ampère equation. Its continuity path does not depend on the sign of \(\mu\) and is given by \(\omega_{\varphi(s)}^n=\omega^ne^{f_\omega-s\varphi(s)}\), for \(s\in(-\infty,\mu]\). An a priori estimate of the \(C^{2,\alpha}\) norm of the solution \(\varphi(s)\) is stated, depending on an upper bound of the bisectional curvature of \(\omega\). The authors show how the Ricci continuity method can be applied to prove the existence in certain cases of singular Kähler-Einstein metrics with edge singularities along a divisor with simple normal crossings, confirming earlier conjectures by Tian and Donaldson.