Search arXivSearch

arXiv · 0708.3180

Curved Casimir Operators and the BGG Machinery

Abstract

We prove that the Casimir operator acting on sections of a homogeneous vector bundle over a generalized flag manifold naturally extends to an invariant differential operator on arbitrary parabolic geometries. We study some properties of the resulting invariant operators and compute their action on various special types of natural bundles. As a first application, we give a very general construction of splitting operators for parabolic geometries. Then we discuss the curved Casimir operators on differential forms with values in a tractor bundle, which nicely relates to the machinery of BGG sequences. This also gives a nice interpretation of the resolution of a finite dimensional representation by (spaces of smooth vectors in) principal series representations provided by a BGG sequence.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Andreas Cap, Vladimir Soucek. 2007-11-22. Curved Casimir Operators and the BGG Machinery. https://doi.org/10.3842/sigma.2007.111

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Futaki invariant on Hopf manifolds

The Futaki invariant is a fundamental tool in Kähler geometry representing an obstruction to the existence of Kähler-Einstein metrics. Recently, it was generalized to compact complex manifolds. In this paper, we prove that it vanishes on Hopf manifolds.

math.DG

Remarks on potential functions of noncompact quasi-Einstein manifolds

In this article, we study the set of potential functions on noncompact quasi-Einstein manifolds. We show that the space of all positive potential functions on a three-dimensional noncompact quasi-Einstein manifold has dimension at most two, and that equality holds if and only if the manifold is isometric to a product $B\times\mathbb{R}$, where $B$ is a $λ$-Einstein surface or one of the examples obtained by L. Berard Bergery and described in Besse's book. Moreover, we prove that any asymptotically flat $n$-dimensional quasi-Einstein manifold with $λ=0$ is necessarily Ricci-flat.

math.DG

Adjusted connections on non-abelian bundle gerbes

Higher gauge theory for non-abelian structure 2-groups faces significant challenges when extending beyond the fake-flat sector, which suffers from limited applicability in physical models. A promising resolution involves equipping 2-groups with additional structure, known as adjustments. We present a comprehensive theory of adjusted connections on non-abelian bundle gerbes, classified by Saemann's adjusted version of non-abelian differential cohomology. This theory enables, in particular, a new coordinate-independent formulation of Tellez-Dominguez' lifting theorem, establishing a correspondence between adjusted connections on non-abelian bundle gerbes and connections on abelian bundle 2-gerbes.

math.DG