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Thomas Leistner

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas Leistner.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2017

Conformal Walker metrics and linear Fefferman-Graham equations

The conformal Fefferman-Graham ambient metric construction is one of the most fundamental constructions in conformal geometry. It embeds a manifold with a conformal structure into a pseudo-Riemannian manifold whose Ricci tensor vanishes up to a certain order along the original manifold. Despite the general existence result of such ambient metrics by Fefferman and Graham, not many examples of conformal structures with Ricci-flat ambient metrics are known. Motivated by previous examples, for which the Fefferman-Graham equations for the ambient metric to be Ricci-flat reduce to a system of linear PDEs, in the present article we develop a method to find ambient metrics for conformal classes of metrics with two-step nilpotent Schouten tensor. Using this method, for metrics for which the image of the Schouten tensor is invariant under parallel transport, i.e., certain types of Walker metrics, we obtain explicit ambient metrics. This includes certain left-invariant Walker metrics as well as pp-waves.

math.DG↗
arXiv2017

Hyperbolic evolution equations, Lorentzian holonomy, and Riemannian generalised Killing spinors

We prove that the Cauchy problem for parallel null vector fields on smooth Lorentzian manifolds is well posed. The proof is based on the derivation and analysis of suitable hyperbolic evolution equations given in terms of the Ricci tensor and other geometric objects. Moreover, we classify Riemannian manifolds satisfying the constraint conditions for this Cauchy problem. It is then possible to characterise certain holonomy reductions of globally hyperbolic manifolds with parallel null vector in terms of flow equations for Riemannian special holonomy metrics. For exceptional holonomy groups these flow equations have been investigated in the literature before in other contexts. As an application, the results provide a classification of Riemannian manifolds admitting imaginary generalised Killing spinors. We will also give new local normal forms for Lorentzian metrics with parallel null spinor in any dimension.

math.DG↗
arXiv2016

The ambient obstruction tensor and conformal holonomy

For a conformal manifold, we describe a new relation between the ambient obstruction tensor of Fefferman and Graham and the holonomy of the normal conformal Cartan connection. This relation allows us to prove several results on the vanishing and the rank of the obstruction tensor, for example for conformal structures admitting twistor spinors or normal conformal Killing forms. As our main tool we introduce the notion of a conformal holonomy distribution and show that its integrability is closely related to the exceptional conformal structures in dimensions five and six that were found by Nurowski and Bryant.

math.DG↗
arXiv2016

New relations between $G_2$-geometries in dimensions 5 and 7

There are two well-known parabolic split $G_2$-geometries in dimension five, $(2,3,5)$-distributions and $G_2$-contact structures. Here we link these two geometries with yet another $G_2$-related contact structure, which lives on a seven-manifold. We present a natural geometric construction of a Lie contact structure on a seven-dimensional bundle over a five-manifold endowed with a $(2,3,5)$-distribution. For a class of distributions the induced Lie contact structure is constructed explicitly and we determine its symmetries. We further study the relation between the canonical normal Cartan connections associated with the two structures. In particular, we show that the Cartan holonomy of the induced Lie contact structure reduces to $G_2$. Moreover, the curved orbit decomposition associated with a $\mathrm{G}_2$-reduced Lie contact structure on a seven-manifold is discussed. It is shown that in a neighbourhood of each point on the open curved orbit the structure descends to a $(2,3,5)$-distribution on a local leaf space, provided an additional curvature condition is satisfied. The closed orbit carries an induced $G_2$-contact structure.

math.DG↗
arXiv2015

Completeness of compact Lorentzian manifolds with Abelian holonomy

We address the problem of finding conditions under which a compact Lorentzian manifold is geodesically complete, a property, which always holds for compact Riemannian manifolds. It is known that a compact Lorentzian manifold is geodesically complete if it is homogeneous, or has constant curvature, or admits a time-like conformal vector field. We consider certain Lorentzian manifolds with Abelian holonomy, which are locally modelled by the so called pp-waves, and which, in general, do not satisfy any of the above conditions. %the condition that their curvature sends vectors that are orthogonal to the vector field to a multiple of the vector field. We show that compact pp-waves are universally covered by a vector space, determine the metric on the universal cover, and prove that they are geodesically complete. Using this, we show that every Ricci-flat compact pp-wave is a plane wave.

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arXiv2015

Explicit ambient metrics and holonomy

We present three large classes of examples of conformal structures for which the equations for the Fefferman-Graham ambient metric to be Ricci-flat are linear PDEs, which we solve explicitly. These explicit solutions enable us to discuss the holonomy of the corresponding ambient metrics. Our examples include conformal pp-waves and, more importantly, conformal structures that are defined by generic rank 2 and 3 distributions in respective dimensions 5 and 6. The corresponding explicit Fefferman-Graham ambient metrics provide a large class of metrics with holonomy equal to the exceptional non-compact Lie group $\mathbf{G}_2$ as well as ambient metrics with holonomy contained in $\mathbf{Spin}(4,3)$.

math.DG↗
arXiv2014

Locally homogeneous pp-waves

We show that every n-dimensional locally homogeneous pp-wave is a plane wave, provided it is indecomposable and its curvature operator, when acting on $2$-forms, has rank greater than one. As a consequence we obtain that indecomposable, Ricci-flat locally homogeneous pp-waves are plane waves. This generalises a classical result by Jordan, Ehlers and Kundt in dimension 4. Several examples show that our assumptions on indecomposability and the rank of the curvature are essential.

math.DG↗
arXiv2014

Conformal holonomy of C-spaces, Ricci-flat, and Lorentzian manifolds

The main result of this paper is that a Lorentzian manifold is locally conformally equivalent to a manifold with recurrent lightlike vector field and totally isotropic Ricci tensor if and only if its conformal tractor holonomy admits a 2-dimensional totally isotropic invariant subspace. Furthermore, for semi-Riemannian manifolds of arbitrary signature we prove that the conformal holonomy algebra of a $C$-space is a Berger algebra. For Ricci-flat spaces we show how the conformal holonomy can be obtained by the holonomy of the ambient metric and get results for Riemannian manifolds and plane waves.

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arXiv2014

Cauchy problems for Lorentzian manifolds with special holonomy

On a Lorentzian manifold the existence of a parallel null vector field implies certain constraint conditions on the induced Riemannian geometry of a space-like hypersurface. We will derive these constraint conditions and, conversely, show that every real analytic Riemannian manifold satisfying the constraint conditions can be extended to a Lorentzian manifold with a parallel null vector field. Similarly, every parallel null spinor on a Lorentzian manifold induces an imaginary generalised Killing spinor on a space-like hypersurface. Then, based on the fact that a parallel spinor field induces a parallel vector field, we can apply the first result to prove: every real analytic Riemannian manifold carrying a real analytic, imaginary generalised Killing spinor can be extended to a Lorentzian manifold with a parallel null spinor. Finally, we give examples of geodesically complete Riemannian manifolds satisfying the constraint conditions.

math.DG↗
arXiv2013

Conformal holonomy, symmetric spaces, and skew symmetric torsion

We consider the question: can the isotropy representation of an irreducible pseudo-Riemannian symmetric space be realized as a conformal holonomy group? Using recent results of Cap, Gover and Hammerl, we study the representations of SO(2,1), PSU(2,1) and PSp(2,1) as isotropy groups of irreducible symmetric spaces of signature (3,2), (4,4) and (6,8), respectively, describing the geometry induced by a conformal holonomy reduction to the corresponding subgroups. In the case of SO(2,1) we show that conformal manifolds with such a holonomy reduction are always locally conformally flat and hence this group cannot be a conformal holonomy group. This result completes the classification of irreducible conformal holonomy groups in Lorentzian signature. In the case of PSU(2,1), we show that conformal manifolds of signature (3,3) with this holonomy reduction carry, on an open dense subset, a canonical nearly para-Kaehler metric with positive Einstein constant. For PSp(2,1) we also show that there is an open dense subset endowed with a canonical Einstein metric in the conformal class. As a result, after restricting to an open dense subset the conformal holonomy must be a proper subgroup of PSU(2,1) or of PSp(2,1), respectively. Finally, using a recent result of Graham and Willse we prove the following general non-existence result: for a real-analytic, odd-dimensional conformal manifold, the conformal holonomy group can never be given by the isotropy representation of an irreducible pseudo-Riemannian symmetric space unless the isotropy is SO(p+1,q+1).

math.DG↗
arXiv2012

On the full holonomy group of special Lorentzian manifolds

We study the full holonomy group of Lorentzian manifolds with a parallel null line bundle. We prove several results that are based on the classification of the restricted holonomy groups of such manifolds and provide a construction method for manifolds with disconnected holonomy which starts from a Riemannian manifold and a properly discontinuous group of isometries. Most of our examples are quotients of pp-waves with disconnected holonomy and without parallel vector field. Furthermore, we classify the full holonomy groups of solvable Lorentzian symmetric spaces and of Lorentzian manifolds with a parallel null spinor. Finally, we construct examples of globally hyperbolic manifolds with complete spacelike Cauchy hypersurfaces, disconnected full holonomy and a parallel spinor.

math.DG↗
arXiv2011

Conformal pure radiation with parallel rays

We define pure radiation metrics with parallel rays to be n-dimensional pseudo-Riemannian metrics that admit a parallel null line bundle K and whose Ricci tensor vanishes on vectors that are orthogonal to K. We give necessary conditions in terms of the Weyl, Cotton and Bach tensors for a pseudo-Riemannian metric to be conformal to a pure radiation metric with parallel rays. Then we derive conditions in terms of tractor calculus that are equivalent to the existence of a pure radiation metric with parallel rays in a conformal class. We also give an analogous result for n-dimensional pseudo-Riemannian pp-waves.

math.DG↗
arXiv2010

Conformal structures with $G_{2(2)}$-ambient metrics

We present conformal structures in signature (3,2) for which the holonomy of the Fefferman-Graham ambient metric is equal to the non-compact exceptional Lie group G_{2(2)}. We write down the resulting 8-parameter family of G_{2(2)}-metrics in dimension seven explicitly in an appropriately chosen coordinate system on the ambient space.

math.DG↗
arXiv2009

Half-flat Structures and Special Holonomy

It was proven by Hitchin that any solution of his evolution equations for a half-flat SU(3)-structure on a compact six-manifold M defines an extension of M to a seven-manifold with holonomy in G_2. We give a new proof, which does not require the compactness of M. More generally, we prove that the evolution of any half-flat G-structure on a six-manifold M defines an extension of M to a Ricci-flat seven-manifold N, for any real form G of SL(3,C). If G is noncompact, then the holonomy group of N is a subgroup of the noncompact form G_2^* of G_2^C. Similar results are obtained for the extension of nearly half-flat structures by nearly parallel G_2- or G_2^*-structures, as well as for the extension of cocalibrated G_2- and G_2^*-structures by parallel Spin(7)- and Spin(3,4)-structures, respectively. As an application, we obtain that any six-dimensional homogeneous manifold with an invariant half-flat structure admits a canonical extension to a seven-manifold with a parallel G_2- or G_2^*-structure. For the group H_3 \times H_3, where H_3 is the three-dimensional Heisenberg group, we describe all left-invariant half-flat structures and develop a method to explicitly determine the resulting parallel G_2- or G_2^*-structure without integrating. In particular, we construct three eight-parameter families of metrics with holonomy equal to G_2 and G_2^*. Moreover, we obtain a strong rigidity result for the metrics induced by a half-flat structure (ω,ρ) on H_3 \times H_3 satisfying ω(Z,Z)=0 where Z denotes the centre. Finally, we describe the special geometry of the space of stable three-forms satisfying a reality condition. Considering all possible reality conditions, we find four different special Kähler manifolds and one special para-Kähler manifold.

math.DG↗
arXiv2009

Ambient metrics for $n$-dimensional $pp$-waves

We provide an explicit formula for the Fefferman-Graham-ambient metric of an $n$-dimensional conformal $pp$-wave in those cases where it exists. In even dimensions we calculate the obstruction explicitly. Furthermore, we describe all 4-dimensional $pp$-waves that are Bach-flat, and give a large class of Bach-flat examples which are conformally Cotton-flat, but not conformally Einstein. Finally, as an application, we use the obtained ambient metric to show that even-dimensional $pp$-waves have vanishing critical $Q$-curvature.

math.DG↗
arXiv2008

Connected subgroups of SO(2,n) acting irreducibly on $\R^{2,n}$

We classify all connected subgroups of SO(2,n) that act irreducibly on $\R^{2,n}$. Apart from $SO_0(2,n)$ itself these are $U(1,n/2)$, $SU(1,n/2)$, if $n$ even, $S^1\cdot SO(1,n/2)$ if $n$ even and $n\ge 2$, and $SO_0(1,2)$ for $n=3$. Our proof is based on the Karpelevich Theorem and uses the classification of totally geodesic submanifolds of complex hyperbolic space and of the Lie ball. As an application we obtain a list of possible irreducible holonomy groups of Lorentzian conformal structures, namely $SO_0(2,n)$, SU(1,n), and $SO_0(1,2)$.

math.DG↗
arXiv2006

Higher Symmetries of the Square of the Laplacian

The symmetry operators for the Laplacian in flat space were recently described and here we consider the same question for the square of the Laplacian. Again, there is a close connection with conformal geometry. There are three main steps in our construction. The first is to show that the symbol of a symmetry is constrained by an overdetermined partial differential equation. The second is to show existence of symmetries with specified symbol (using a simple version of the AdS/CFT correspondence). The third is to compute the composition of two first order symmetry operators and hence determine the structure of the symmetry algebra. There are some interesting differences as compared to the corresponding results for the Laplacian.

math.DG↗