Kahler Metrics – Can a Metric Conformal to a Kahler Metric Be Kahler?

complex-geometrycv.complex-variablesdg.differential-geometrykahler-manifolds

Let $X$ be a non-compact complex manifold of dimension at least 2 equipped with a Kahler metric $\omega$. Take a smooth positive function $f : X \to \mathbb R$, and define a new hermitian metric on $X$ by $\tilde \omega = f \omega$. If $f$ is non-constant, then can this new metric ever be Kahler?

If $\dim_{\mathbb C} X = 1$ the new metric is automatically Kahler because of dimension. If $\dim_{\mathbb C} X \geq 2$ and if $X$ is compact the new metric is never Kahler. Indeed, we have that $d \tilde \omega = d f \wedge \omega$ is zero if and only if $df$ is zero by the hard Lefschetz theorem, so $f$ must be constant if $\tilde \omega$ is Kahler.

If $X$ is not compact, then to the best of my knowledge we do not have the hard Lefschetz theorem, but does the conclusion on metrics conformal to a Kahler metric still hold?

Best Answer

You don't have to use hard Lefschetz to conclude $df=0$ from $\omega\wedge df=0$.

This is a linear algebra fact, valid pointwise : if $\alpha \in T_x^*X$ satisfies $\omega_x \wedge \alpha=0$, then $\alpha=0$ (of course, assuming $\dim_R X \geq 4$.

The short argument is that, $\omega_x^{n-1}\wedge : T^*_x X\to \bigwedge^{2n-1} T^*_x X$ is an isomorphism ("pointwise not so hard Lefschetz", so to speak).

This said, as in Francesco's answer, you can have non proportional conformal riemannian metrics that are Kähler with respect to different complex structures, so that the corresponding 2-forms are no longer (pointwise) proportional.

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