Spin(7)-manifolds with three-torus symmetry

Metrics of exceptional holonomy are vacuum solutions to the Einstein equation. In this paper we describe manifolds with holonomy contained in Spin(7) preserved by a three-torus symmetry in terms of tri-symplectic geometry of four-manifolds. These complement examples that have appeared in the context of domain wall problems in supergravity

Homogeneous spaces, multi-moment maps and (2,3)-trivial algebras

For geometries with a closed three-form we briefly overview the notion of multi-moment maps. We then give concrete examples of multi-moment maps for homogeneous hypercomplex and nearly Kaehler manifolds. A special role in the theory is played by Lie algebras with second and third Betti numbers equal to zero. These we call (2,3)-trivial. We provide a number of examples of such algebras including a complete list in dimensions up to and including five

Half-flat structures on S^3xS^3

We describe left-invariant half-flat SU(3)-structures on S^3xS^3 using the representation theory of SO(4) and matrix algebra. This leads to a systematic study of the associated cohomogeneity one Ricci-flat metrics with holonomy G_2 obtained on 7-manifolds with equidistant S^3xS^3 hypersurfaces. The generic case is analysed numerically.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures. To appear in Annals of Global Analysis and Geometr

Toric geometry of G2-manifolds

We consider G2-manifolds with an effective torus action that is multi-Hamiltonian for one or more of the defining forms. The case of T3-actions is found to be distinguished. For such actions multi-Hamiltonian with respect to both the three- and four-form, we derive a Gibbons-Hawking type ansatz giving the geometry on an open dense set in terms a symmetric 3×3-matrix of functions. This leads to particularly simple examples of explicit metrics with holonomy equal to G2. We prove that the multi-moment maps exhibit the full orbit space topologically as a smooth four-manifold containing a trivalent graph as the image of the set of special orbits and describe these graphs in some complete examples

Invariant torsion and G_2-metrics

We introduce and study a notion of invariant intrinsic torsion geometry which appears, for instance, in connection with the Bryant-Salamon metric on the spinor bundle over S^3. This space is foliated by six-dimensional hypersurfaces, each of which carries a particular type of SO(3)-structure; the intrinsic torsion is invariant under SO(3). The last condition is sufficient to imply local homogeneity of such geometries, and this allows us to give a classification. We close the circle by showing that the Bryant-Salamon metric is the unique complete metric with holonomy G_2 that arises from SO(3)-structures with invariant intrinsic torsion.Comment: 35 pages. To appear in Complex Manifold

Quaternionic geometry in dimension eight

We describe the 8-dimensional Wolf spaces as cohomogeneity one SU(3)-manifolds, and discover perturbations of the quaternion kahler metric on the simply-connected 8-manifold G2/SO(4) that carry a closed fundamental 4-form but are not Einstein

Multi-moment maps

We introduce a notion of moment map adapted to actions of Lie groups that preserve a closed three-form. We show existence of our multi-moment maps in many circumstances, including mild topological assumptions on the underlying manifold. Such maps are also shown to exist for all groups whose second and third Lie algebra Betti numbers are zero. We show that these form a special class of solvable Lie groups and provide a structural characterisation. We provide many examples of multi-moment maps for different geometries and use them to describe manifolds with holonomy contained in G_2 preserved by a two-torus symmetry in terms of tri-symplectic geometry of four-manifolds.Comment: 27 page