Existence of twisted Hermitian-Einstein metrics on unstable vector bundles

Abstract

In this paper, we demonstrate that twisted Hermitian-Einstein metrics on holomorphic vector bundles exist without obstruction. More precisely, for an arbitrary holomorphic vector bundle $E$ over a compact K\"ahler manifold $(M,\omega_g)$, we prove that the twisted Hermitian-Einstein equation $$\Lambda_{\omega_g}\left(\sqrt{-1}R^h\right) = \lambda h + P$$ admits a unique smooth solution $h$, provided that $P\in\Gamma(M,E^*\otimes\bar{E}^*)$ is positive-definite and $\lambda<\lambda_E^-$. The constant $\lambda_E^-$ is intrinsically associated with the stability constant of $E$. This result extends the classical Donaldson-Uhlenbeck-Yau (DUY) theorem for stable bundles and, in the limit $P\rightarrow0$, gives a new proof of the DUY theorem. As an application, we obtain an intrinsic Chern number inequality for unstable vector bundles: $$\int_M \left((r-1)c_1(E)^2 - 2rc_2(E)\right) \wedge \omega_g^{n-2} \leq \Bigl\lfloor \frac{r^2}{4} \Bigr\rfloor \frac{(\lambda_E^+-\lambda_E^-)^2}{4\pi^2 n^2} \int_M \omega_g^n.$$