Conformally Kähler structures

Abstract

We establish a one-to-one correspondence between Kähler metrics in a given conformal class and parallel sections of a certain vector bundle with conformally invariant connection, where the parallel sections satisfy a set of non--linear algebraic constraints that we describe. The vector bundle captures 2-form prolongations and is isomorphic to $Λ^3(\cT)$, where ${\cT}$ is the tractor bundle of conformal geometry, but the resulting connection differs from the normal tractor connection by curvature terms. Our analysis leads to a set of obstructions for a Riemannian metric to be conformal to a Kähler metric. In particular we find an explicit algebraic condition for a Weyl tensor which must hold if there exists a conformal Killing-Yano tensor, which is a necessary condition for a metric to be conformal to Kähler. This gives an invariant characterisation of algebraically special Riemannian metrics of type $D$ in dimensions higher than four.

Final version. To appear in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh