Almost Kenmotsu 3-h-metric as a cotton soliton

Abstract

Purpose

Cotton soliton is a newly introduced notion in the field of Riemannian manifolds. The object of this article is to study the properties of this soliton on certain contact metric manifolds.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors consider the notion of Cotton soliton on almost Kenmotsu 3-manifolds. The authors use a local basis of the manifold that helps to study this notion in terms of partial differential equations.

Findings

First the authors consider that the potential vector field is pointwise collinear with the Reeb vector field and prove a non-existence of such Cotton soliton. Next the authors assume that the potential vector field is orthogonal to the Reeb vector field. It is proved that such a Cotton soliton on a non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold such that the Reeb vector field is an eigen vector of the Ricci operator is steady and the manifold is locally isometric to.

Originality/value

The results of this paper are new and interesting. Also, the Proposition 3.2 will be helpful in further study of this space.

Citation

Dey, D. and Majhi, P. (2024), "Almost Kenmotsu 3-h-metric as a cotton soliton", Arab Journal of Mathematical Sciences, Vol. 30 No. 2, pp. 161-170. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJMS-10-2020-0103

1. Introduction

An almost contact metric manifold is an odd dimensional differentiable manifold M²ⁿ⁺¹ together with a structure (φ, ξ, η, g) satisfying ([1, 2])

(1.1)φ2X=−X+η(X)ξ,η(ξ)=1,

(1.2)g(φX,φY)=g(X,Y)−η(X)η(Y)

for all vector fields X, Y on M²ⁿ⁺¹, where g is the Riemannian metric, φ is a (1, 1)-tensor field, ξ is a unit vector field called the Reeb vector field and η is a 1-form defined by η(X) = g(X, ξ). Here also ϕξ = 0 and η ° ϕ = 0; both can be derived from (1.1) easily. The fundamental 2-form Φ on an almost contact metric manifold is defined by Φ(X, Y) = g(X, φY) for all vector fields X, Y on M²ⁿ⁺¹. The condition for an almost contact metric manifold being normal is equivalent to vanishing of the (1, 2)-type torsion tensor N_φ, defined by N_φ = [φ, φ] + 2dη ⊗ ξ, where [φ, φ] is the Nijenhuis tensor of φ [1]. An almost contact metric manifold such that η is closed and dΦ = 2η ∧Φ is called almost Kenmotsu manifold (see [3, 4]). Obviously, a normal almost Kenmotsu manifold is a Kenmotsu manifold. Also Kenmotsu manifolds can be characterized by (∇_Xφ)Y = g(φX, Y)ξ − η(Y)φX, for any vector fields X, Y on M²ⁿ⁺¹. For further details on Kenmotsu manifolds we refer the reader to go through the references ([5, 6]).

The Weyl tensor on an n-dimensional Riemannian manifold is defined as.

C(X,Y)Z=R(X,Y)Z+r(n−1)(n−2)[g(Y,Z)X−g(X,Z)Y]−1n−2[S(Y,Z)X−S(X,Z)Y+g(Y,Z)QX−g(X,Z)QY],

where R is the curvature tensor, S denotes the Ricci tensor, Q stands for Ricci operator and r is the scalar curvature.

A (0, 3)-Cotton tensor of a 3-dimensional Riemannian manifold (M³, g) is defined as (see [7])

(1.3)C(X,Y,Z)=(∇XS)(Y,Z)−(∇YS)(X,Z)−14[X(r)g(Y,Z)−Y(r)g(X,Z)],

where S is the Ricci tensor and r is the scalar curvature of M³. The Cotton tensor is skew-symmetric in first two indices and totally trace free. It is well known that for n ≥ 4, an n-dimensional Riemannian manifold is conformally flat if the Weyl tensor vanishes. For n = 3, the Weyl tensor always vanishes but the Cotton tensor does not vanish in general.

In 2008, Kicisel, Sarioğlu and Tekin [8] introduced the notion of Cotton flow as an analogy of the Ricci flow. The Cotton flow is based on the conformally invariant Cotton tensor and defined exclusively for 3-dimension as

∂g∂t=C,

where C is the (0, 2)-Cotton tensor of g. From the Cotton flow, they defined the notion of Cotton soliton as follows:

Definition 1.1.

A Cotton soliton is a metric g defined on 3-dimensional smooth manifold M³ such that the following equation

(1.4) (LVg)(X,Y)+C(X,Y)−σg(X,Y)=0,

holds for a constant σ and a vector field V, called the potential vector field, where LV denotes the Lie derivative along V and C is the (0, 2)-Cotton tensor defined by

(1.5) Cij=12gCnmiϵnmlglj

in a local frame of M³, where g = det(g_ij), C_ijk is the (0, 3)-Cotton tensor and ϵ is a tensor density.

In an orthonormal frame, ϵ¹²³ = 1. Also exchange of any two indices will give rise to minus sign and it will be zero if there has two same indices. For example, ϵ²³¹ = − ϵ²¹³ and ϵ¹¹² = ϵ¹²² = ϵ²²³ = 0. Cotton solitons are fixed points of the Cotton flow up to diffeomorphisms and rescaling. The Cotton soliton is said to be shrinking, steady or expanding according as σ is positive, zero or negative respectively. As far as we know, the Cotton soliton was studied by Chen [9] on certain almost contact metric manifold, precisely on almost coKähler 3-manifolds. Motivated by the study of Chen [9], we consider the notion of Cotton soliton on an almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold and prove some related results.

2. Almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifolds

Let (M³, φ, ξ, η, g) be a 3-dimensional almost Kenmotsu manifold. We denote by l = R(⋅, ξ)ξ, h=12Lξφ and h′ = h ° φ on M³, where R is the Riemannian curvature tensor. The tensor fields l and h are symmetric operators and satisfy the following relations ([3, 4]):

(2.1)hξ=0,lξ=0,tr(h)=0,tr(hφ)=0,hφ+φh=0,

(2.2)∇Xξ=X−η(X)ξ−φhX(⇒∇ξξ=0),

(2.3)∇ξh=−φ−2h−φh2−φl.

Definition 2.1.

[10] A 3-dimensional almost Kenmotsu manifold is called an almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold if it satisfies ∇_ξh = 0.

Let U1 be the maximal open subset of a 3-dimensional almost Kenmotsu manifold M³ such that h ≠ 0 and U2 be the maximal open subset on which h = 0. Then U1∪U2 is an open and dense subset of M³. Then U1 is non-empty and there is a local orthonormal basis {e₁ = ξ, e₂ = e, e₃ = φe} on U1 such that he = λe and hφe = − λφe for some positive function λ.

Lemma 2.2.

[11] On U1,

∇ξξ=0,∇ξe=aφe,∇ξφe=−ae,

∇eξ=e−λφe,∇ee=−ξ−bφe,∇eφe=λξ+be,

∇φeξ=−λe+φe,∇φee=λξ+cφe,∇φeφe=−ξ−ce,

where a, b and c are smooth functions.

Since ∇_ξh = 0 for an almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold, then using Lemma 2.2 and (2.3), a direct calculation gives ξ(λ) = a = 0. Therefore, Lemma 2.2 can be rewritten for an almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold as.

Lemma 2.3.

On U1, the coefficients of the Riemannian connection ∇ of an almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold with respect to a local orthonormal basis {ξ, e, φe} is given by

∇ξξ=0,∇ξe=0,∇ξϕe=0,

∇eξ=e−λφe,∇ee=−ξ−bφe,∇eφe=λξ+be,

∇φeξ=−λe+φe,∇φee=λξ+cφe,∇φeφe=−ξ−ce,

where b and c are smooth functions.

From Lemma 2.3, the Lie brackets can be calculated as follows:

(2.4)[e,ξ]=e−λφe,[e,φe]=be−cφeand[φe,ξ]=−λe+φe.

In [12], Wang obtained the components of the Ricci operator Q for an almost Kenmotsu 3-manifold on U1 as follows:

Qξ=−2(λ2+1)ξ−σ(e)e−σ(φe)φe,

Qe=−σ(e)ξ−(f+2λa)e+(ξ(λ)+2λ)φe,

Qφe=−σ(φe)ξ+(ξ(λ)+2λ)e−(f−2λa)φe,

where f = e(c) + φe(b) + b² + c² + 2 and σ(⋅) = − g(Qξ, ⋅). Now, we write the components of the Ricci operator Q for an almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold as follows:

Lemma 2.4.

On U1, the Ricci operator of an almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold with respect to a local orthonormal basis {ξ, e, φe} is given by

Qξ=−2(λ2+1)ξ−[φe(λ)+2λb]e−[e(λ)+2λc]φe,

Qe=−[φe(λ)+2λb]ξ−fe+2λφe,

Qφe=−[e(λ)+2λc]ξ+2λe−fφe,

where f = e(c) + φe(b) + b² + c² + 2.

The scalar curvature r of an almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold is given by

(2.5)r=g(Qei,ei)=−2(λ2+1)−2f.

Using Lemma 2.4, we obtain

(2.6)S(ξ,ξ)=−2(λ2+1),S(ξ,e)=−[φe(λ)+2λb],S(ξ,φe)=−[e(λ)+2λc],S(e,e)=−f,S(e,φe)=2λ,S(φe,φe)=−f.

It is well known that an almost Kenmotsu 3-manifold is Kenmotsu if and only if h = 0. Thus a Kenmotsu metric always admits an almost Kenmotsu 3-h-metric structure. We now close this section by providing an example of a non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold.

Example 2.5.

[13] Let M³ be a 3-dimensional non-unimodular Lie group with a left invariant local orthonormal frame {e₁, e₂, e₃} satisfying

[e1,e2]=αe2+βe3,[e2,e3]=0and[e1,e3]=βe2+(2−α)e3

for α,β∈R. If either α ≠ 1 or β ≠ 0, then M³ admits a non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu 3-h-metric structure.

We now close this section by recalling an important result of Cho [14].

Theorem 2.6.

A non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu 3-manifold M³ is locally symmetric if and only if M³ is locally isometric to the product space H2(−4)×R.

3. Cotton soliton

In this section, we consider the notion of Cotton soliton within the framework of almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifolds. To study the notion of Cotton soliton, we need to compute the components of the (0, 2)-Cotton tensor. In this regard, we prove the following Lemma:

Lemma 3.1.

The components of the (0, 2)-Cotton tensor C with respect to an orthonormal frame {ξ, e, φe} of a non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold M³ can be expressed as follows:

(3.1) C11=C(ξ,ξ)=b[φe(λ)+2λb]−c[e(λ)+2λc]−e(e(λ)+2λc)+φe(φe(λ)+2λb),

(3.2) C12=C(ξ,e)=2[e(λ)−3λφe(λ)+2λc−2λ2b]+ξ(e(λ)+2λc)−14φe(r),

(3.3) C13=C(ξ,φe)=−2[φe(λ)−3λe(λ)+2λb−2λ2c]−ξ(φe(λ)+2λb)+14e(r),

(3.4) C22=C(e,e)=2λ3−fλ+c[e(λ)+2λc]−φe(φe(λ)+2λb),

(3.5) C23=C(e,φe)=−ξ(f)−f+2+e(φe(λ)+2λb)+b[e(λ)+2λc]−14ξ(r),

(3.6) C33=C(φe,φe)=−2λ3+fλ−b[φe(λ)+2λb]+e(e(λ)+2λc).

Proof.

The components of the metric tensor g with respect to an orthonormal frame {ξ, e, φe} of a non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold M³ is given by

(gij)=100010001

and hence   det(g_ij) = 1. Therefore, Eqn (1.5) reduces to

Cij=12Cnmiϵnmj,i,j=1,2,3,

where C_ijk = C(e_i, e_j, e_k). Also, C_ijk = − C_jik and C_iik = 0 for all i, j, k = 1, 2, 3. It can be easily obtained that (see [9])

C11=C231,C12=C311,C13=C121,C22=C312,C23=C122,C33=C123.

Making use of (1.3), we get the following:

(3.7) C11=C231=C(e,φe,ξ)=(∇eS)(φe,ξ)−(∇φeS)(e,ξ),

(3.8) C12=C(φe,ξ,ξ)=(∇φeS)(ξ,ξ)−(∇ξS)(φe,ξ)−14φe(r),

(3.9) C13=C(ξ,e,ξ)=(∇ξS)(e,ξ)−(∇eS)(ξ,ξ)+14e(r),

(3.10) C22=C(φe,ξ,e)=(∇φeS)(ξ,e)−(∇ξS)(φe,e),

(3.11) C23=C(ξ,e,e)=(∇ξS)(e,e)−(∇eS)(ξ,e)−14ξ(r),

(3.12) C33=C(ξ,e,φe)=(∇ξS)(e,φe)−(∇eS)(ξ,φe).

Using (2.6), Lemma 2.3 and ξ(λ) = 0, we now obtain the following:

(3.13) (∇eS)(φe,ξ)=2λ3−fλ+b[φe(λ)+2λb]−e(e(λ)+2λc),(∇φeS)(e,ξ)=2λ3−fλ+c[e(λ)+2λc]−φe(φe(λ)+2λb).

(3.14) (∇φeS)(ξ,ξ)=2[e(λ)−3λφe(λ)+2λc−2λ2b],(∇ξS)(φe,ξ)=−ξ(e(λ)+2λc).

(3.15) (∇ξS)(e,ξ)=−ξ(φe(λ)+2λb),(∇eS)(ξ,ξ)=2[φe(λ)−3λe(λ)+2λb−2λ2c].

(3.16) (∇φeS)(ξ,e)=2λ3−fλ+c[e(λ)+2λc]−φe(φe(λ)+2λb),(∇ξS)(φe,e)=0.

(3.17) (∇ξS)(e,e)=−ξ(f),(∇eS)(ξ,e)=f−2−e(φe(λ)+2λb)−b[e(λ)+2λc].

(3.18) (∇ξS)(e,φe)=0,(∇eS)(ξ,φe)=2λ3−fλ+b[φe(λ)+2λb]−e(e(λ)+2λc).

We now complete the proof by substituting Eqs (3.13)-(3.18) in Eqs (3.7)-(3.12) respectively. □

Proposition 3.2.

If the Reeb vector field of a non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold M³ is an eigen vector of the Ricci operator, then M³ is locally isometric to a non-unimodular Lie group equipped with a left invariant non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu structure.

Proof.

Since ξ is an eigen vector of Q, then Lemma 2.4 implies

(3.19) φe(λ)+2λb=0,e(λ)+2λc=0.

It is well known that

12X(r)=(divQ)X=∑i=13g((∇eiQ)X,ei).

From the preceding equation, we can write

(3.20) 12X(r)=(∇ξS)(X,ξ)+(∇eS)(X,e)+(∇φeS)(X,φe).

Making use of (2.6), (3.19) and ξ(λ) = 0, we obtain the following:

(3.21) (∇ξS)(ξ,ξ)=0,(∇eS)(ξ,e)=f−2,(∇φeS)(ξ,φe)=f−2,

(3.22) (∇ξS)(e,ξ)=0,(∇eS)(e,e)=4λb−e(f),(∇φeS)(e,φe)=−4λb,

(3.23) (∇ξS)(φe,ξ)=0,(∇eS)(φe,e)=−4λc,(∇φeS)(φe,φe)=4λc−φe(f).

Now, substituting X = ξ, e and φe in (3.20) and then using (3.21), (3.22) and (3.23) respectively, we obtain

(3.24) ξ(r)=4(f−2),e(r)=−2e(f),φe(r)=−2φe(f).

Using (3.19) and ξ(λ) = 0, we get from (2.5)

(3.25) ξ(r)=−2ξ(f),e(r)=−2e(f)+8λ2c,φe(r)=−2φe(f)+8λ2b.

Since λ is a positive function, then the second and third equations of (3.24) and (3.25) implies b = c = 0. From Lemma 2.4, we get f = 2. Also from (3.19), we get e(λ) = φe(λ) = 0 and therefore λ is a constant. Now, the Lie brackets given in (2.4) reduces to

[e,ξ]=e−λφe,[e,φe]=0and[φe,ξ]=−λe+φe.

Therefore, according to Milnor (Page 309, Lemma 4.10 [15]), M³ is locally isometric to a non-unimodular Lie group equipped with a left invariant non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu structure. □

Combining Lemma 3.1 and Proposition 3.2, the components of the Cotton tensor described as:

Corollary 3.3.

If the Reeb vector field of a non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold M³ is an eigen vector of the Ricci operator, then the components of the (0, 2)-Cotton tensor C with respect to an orthonormal frame {ξ, e, φe} on M³ can be expressed as follows:

C11=C(ξ,ξ)=0,C12=C(ξ,e)=0,C13=C(ξ,φe)=0,

C22=C(e,e)=2λ3−2λ,C23=C(e,φe)=0,C33=C(φe,φe)=−2λ3+2λ.

We first consider the Cotton soliton with potential vector field V pointwise collinear with the Reeb vector field. In this regard, we prove the following non-existing result.

Theorem 3.4.

On a non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold such that the Reeb vector field is an eigen vector of the Ricci operator, there exist no Cotton soliton with potential vector field pointwise collinear with the Reeb vector field.

Proof.

Suppose that the potential vector field V is pointwise collinear with the Reeb vector field ξ. Then there exist a non-zero smooth function α on M³ such that V = αξ. Now, substituting X = e and Y = φe in (1.4) and using Lemma 2.3 and Corollary 3.3, we get 2λα = 0. This gives either λ = 0 or α = 0. In either cases, we get a contradiction. This completes the proof. □

From Theorem 3.4 and Proposition 3.2, we have.

Corollary 3.5.

On a 3-dimensional non-unimodular Lie group equipped with a left invariant non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu structure, there exist no Cotton soliton with potential vector field pointwise collinear with the Reeb vector field.

It is now quite tempting to consider the potential vector field V as orthogonal to the Reeb vector field. In this setting, we prove the following:

Theorem 3.6.

Let (M³, g) be a non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold such that the Reeb vector field is an eigen vector of the Ricci operator. If g is a Cotton soliton with potential vector field orthogonal to the Reeb vector field, then M³ is locally isometric to H2(−4)×R and the Cotton soliton is steady.

Proof.

For a non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold such that the Reeb vector field is an eigen vector of the Ricci operator, Proposition 3.2 gives b = c = 0, f = 2, λ = constant and r = constant. Since V is orthogonal to ξ, then there exist two smooth functions α₁ and α₂ on M³ such that V = α₁e + α₂φe. With the help of Lemma 2.3, we now obtain the components of LVg as follows:

(3.26) (LVg)(ξ,ξ)=0,(LVg)(ξ,e)=ξ(α1)−α1+λα2,(LVg)(ξ,φe)=ξ(α2)−α2+λα1,(LVg)(e,e)=2e(α1),(LVg)(e,φe)=e(α2)+φe(α1),(LVg)(φe,φe)=2φe(α2).

We now use Corollary 3.3 and (3.26). Substituting X = Y = ξ in (1.4), we get σ = 0. This shows that the Cotton soliton is steady. Now, substitution of X = ξ, Y = e in (1.4) yields

(3.27) ξ(α1)−α1+λα2=0.

Replacing X by ξ and Y by φe in (1.4), we get

(3.28) ξ(α2)−α2+λα1=0.

Putting X = Y = e in (1.4), we obtain

(3.29) 2e(α1)+2λ3−2λ=0.

Substitution of X = e and Y = φe in (1.4) yields

(3.30) e(α2)+φe(α1)=0.

Putting X = Y = φe in (1.4), we infer

(3.31) 2φe(α2)−2λ3+2λ=0.

Since b = c = 0, the Lie brackets given in (2.4) reduces to

(3.32) [e,ξ]=e−λφe,[e,φe]=0and[φe,ξ]=−λe+φe.

Since λ is a positive constant, then from (3.27) and (3.29), we obtain

e(ξ(α1))=e(α1)−λe(α2)andξ(e(α1))=0.

Applying the first Lie bracket of (3.32) in the preceding equation, we get φe(α₁) = e(α₂). Hence, equation (3.30) implies φe(α₁) = e(α₂) = 0. Now, from (3.28), we get e(ξ(α₂)) = − λe(α₁). Also, we have ξ(e(α₂)) = 0. Again, using these two in the first Lie bracket of (3.32) yields φe(α₂) = e(α₁). Applying (3.29) and (3.31) in the preceding relation and using the fact that λ is a positive function, we obtain λ = 1. Now, it is easy to check that ∇Q = 0. Notice that, a Riemannian 3-manifold is Ricci parallel if and only if it is locally symmetric. The rest of the proof follows from Theorem 2.6. □

As a combination of Proposition 3.2 and Theorem 3.6, we have the following:

Corollary 3.7.

If g is a Cotton soliton with potential vector field orthogonal to the Reeb vector field on a 3-dimensional non-unimodular Lie group M³ equipped with a left invariant non-Kenmotsu almost Kenmotsu structure, then M³ is locally isometric to H2(−4)×R and the Cotton soliton is steady.

4. Example of an almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold

Consider M=R3. Let us choose a local orthonormal frame {e₁, e₂, e₃} in such a way that it satisfies the following:

[e1,e2]=e3−e2,[e2,e3]=0and[e3,e1]=−e2+e3.

We define the Riemannian metric g by

g(e₁, e₁) = g(e₂, e₂) = g(e₃, e₃) = 1 and g(e_i, e_j) = 0 for i ≠ j; i, j = 1, 2, 3.

Consider e₁ = ξ. We define the 1-form η be by η(Z) = g(Z, e₁) for any smooth vector field Z on M.

Let us define the (1, 1)-tensor fields φ and h by

φ(e1)=0,φ(e2)=e3andφ(e3)=−e2.

h(e1)=0,h(e2)=e2andh(e3)=−e3.

Using the linearity of φ and g, we have

η(e1)=1,

φ2(Z)=−Z+η(Z)e1

andg(φZ,φU)=g(Z,U)−η(Z)η(U)

for any smooth vector field Z, U on M.

The Levi-Civita connection ∇ of the metric tensor g is given by Koszul’s formula:

2g(∇XY,Z)=Xg(Y,Z)+Yg(Z,X)−Zg(X,Y)−g(X,[Y,Z])−g(Y,[X,Z])+g(Z,[X,Y]).

Using the above Koszul’s formula, we now calculate the components of the Levi-Civita connection ∇ as follows:

(∇eiej)=000e2−e3−e1e1−e2+e3e1−e1.

Now, any vector field X on M can be expressed as X = c₁e₁ + c₂e₂c₃e₃ for some smooth functions c₁, c₂ and c₃ on M. One can easily verify that the relation

∇Xe1=X−η(X)e1−φhX

holds for any smooth vector field X on M. Therefore, (M, φ, ξ, η, g) is an almost Kenmotsu 3-manifold.

Now it can be easily checked that (∇e1h)X=0 for any smooth vector field X on M. Hence, M is an almost Kenmotsu 3-h-manifold.

Here e₁ = ξ, e₂ = e and e₃ = φe. Comparing the obtained components of ∇eiej with Lemma 2.3, we get a = b = c = 0, λ = 1, f = 2 and r = − 6. Then from Lemma 2.4, we can see that ξ is an eigenvector of the Ricci operator Q.

Let V = αe₂ + βe₃, where α,β∈R. Then V is orthogonal to ξ. Now, the components of LVg can be obtained as follows:

(LVg)(e1,e1)=0,(LVg)(e2,e2)=0,(LVg)(e3,e3)=0,

(LVg)(e1,e2)=−α+β,(LVg)(e2,e3)=0and(LVg)(e3,e1)=α−β.

With the help of equation (1.4), one can verify that g is a steady cotton soliton with potential vector field V = αe₂ + αe₃ for any real number α.

Also, one can check that ∇Q = 0 holds good (see page 5 [12]). Then ∇R = 0. Hence from Theorem 2.6, we can say that M is locally isometric to the product space H2(−4)×R. This verifies our Theorem 3.6.