4
$\begingroup$

Let $M$ be a smooth homogeneous $G$-space for a Lie group $G$, and let $J$ be a $G$-invariant almost-complex structure for $M$. Do there exist succinct sufficient (and necessary) conditions for $J$ to be integrable? Besides the six sphere, what other examples of a non-integrable invariant almost-complex structure for a smooth homogeneous space are there? Do there exist non-integrable almost-complex structures for any flag manifolds?

$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ When you give flag manifolds as examples of homogeneous spaces, do you mean homogeneous for $G$ the compact group? (I'm pretty sure you are.) $\endgroup$ Nov 19, 2011 at 21:10
  • $\begingroup$ Yes, that's what I mean $\endgroup$ Nov 19, 2011 at 22:53

3 Answers 3

3
$\begingroup$

Oops, I was thinking of a Lie group. Edit: On a Lie group, it is pretty easy to test for integrability. Take a basis of complex linear left invariant 1-forms (i.e. left translate from a choice of such 1-forms on the Lie algebra). Then compute their exterior derivatives. You have an integrable almost complex structure if and only if the (0,2) parts of the exterior derivatives all vanish. To see this, you express the exterior derivatives in linear combinations of the wedge products of the original 1-forms and their complex conjugates. So examples are easy to check, and only require the differential familiar from Lie algebra cohomology, i.e. a pure Lie algebra calculation.

On a homogeneous space $G/H$ the computation is a little trickier. You take $\omega=g^{-1}dg$, the left invariant Maurer Cartan form on $G$, and then $\omega+\mathfrak{h}$ is semibasic for the quotient map $G \to G/H$ and splits into a complex linear part and a conjugate linear part on each tangent space of $G/H$. Let $\eta$ be the complex linear part. Pick a splitting of $\mathfrak{g}$ into $\mathfrak{g}/\mathfrak{h}$ and some complement, identified with $\mathfrak{h}$, and let $\Omega$ be the projection of $\omega$ to complement. The equation $d \omega + (1/2)[\omega,\omega]=0$ gives an equation $d \eta = - \Omega \wedge \eta + a \eta \wedge \eta + b \eta \wedge \bar{\eta} + c \bar{\eta} \wedge \bar{\eta}$. The Nijenhuis tensor vanishes just when $c=0$. I am pretty sure that the generic invariant almost complex structure on a flag manifold (invariant under the compact form of the automorphism group) is not integrable, but I would have to check.

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for your answer Ben. But to have a basis of left-invariant wouldn't my homogeneous need to be parallelizable? Or do you mean on the Lie group? In which case I don't understand your answer. $\endgroup$ Nov 19, 2011 at 22:59
1
$\begingroup$

Presumably, you are looking for something other than "the Nijenhaus tensor, possibly simplified by the action of $(\rho_{G})_*$"?

In the local case, there have been a few studies constructing families of almost-complex manifolds in low dimensions, along with conditions for varying amounts of not-quite-integrability. You might look at http://projecteuclid.org/euclid.ajm/1175789046 (Robert Bryant's AJM paper on almost-complex 6-manifolds and the references therein). However, this only addresses the local question and even then would require refinement to study the case of homogeneous or flag manifolds. I suspect very little is known otherwise.

$\endgroup$
1
$\begingroup$

As for examples: A nearly Kähler manifold, which is not Kähler, always has a non-integrable almost complex structure. You mention $S^6$, there are three more compact simply connected homogoneous nearly Kähler manifolds on the spaces: $\mathbb{CP}^3,S^3\times S^3$ and also on the flag manifold $\mathrm{SU}(3)/{\mathbb{T}^2}$. You can also consider a compact semi-simple Lie group $G$ with maximal torus $T$. Then $\mathfrak{g}\otimes \mathbb{C}$ splits as a sum of $\mathfrak{t}^2\otimes \mathbb{C}$ and a sum of root spaces. A $G$-invariant almost complex structure on $G/T$ is then same as an appropriate choice of a subset of root spaces. The integrability is then read off from the commutator relationships between the root spaces.

$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.