Differential geometry of $\mathsf{SO}^\ast(2n)$-type structures

TL;DR

This paper explores the differential geometry of manifolds with $ ext{SO}^*(2n)$-structures, introducing new geometric frameworks, classifying algebraic types, and constructing explicit adapted connections, advancing the understanding of quaternionic skew-Hermitian geometries.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of almost hypercomplex/quaternionic skew-Hermitian structures, provides equivalent definitions, classifies their intrinsic torsion, and classifies symmetric spaces with invariant torsion-free structures.

Findings

Defined new geometric structures and their equivalent formulations.

Classified algebraic types of the geometries based on intrinsic torsion.

Constructed explicit adapted connections and classified symmetric spaces.

Abstract

We study $4n$-dimensional smooth manifolds admitting a $\mathsf{SO}^*(2n)$- or a $\mathsf{SO}^*(2n)\mathsf{Sp}(1)$-structure, where $\mathsf{SO}^*(2n)$ is the quaternionic real form of $\mathsf{SO}(2n, \mathbb{C})$. We show that such $G$-structures, called almost hypercomplex/quaternionic skew-Hermitian structures, form the symplectic analogue of the better known almost hypercomplex/quaternionic-Hermitian structures (hH/qH for short). We present several equivalent definitions of $\mathsf{SO}^*(2n)$- and $\mathsf{SO}^*(2n)\mathsf{Sp}(1)$-structures in terms of almost symplectic forms compatible with an almost hypercomplex/quaternionic structure, a quaternionic skew-Hermitian form, or a symmetric 4-tensor, the latter establishing the counterpart of the fundamental 4-form in almost hH/qH geometries. The intrinsic torsion of such structures is presented in terms of Salamon's $\mathsf{E}\mathsf{H}$-formalism, and the algebraic types of the corresponding geometries are classified. We construct explicit adapted connections to our $G$-structures and specify certain normalization conditions, under which these connections become minimal. Finally, we present the classification of symmetric spaces $K/L$ with $K$ semisimple admitting an invariant torsion-free $\mathsf{SO}^*(2n)\mathsf{Sp}(1)$-structure. This paper is the first in a series aiming at the description of the differential geometry of $\mathsf{SO}^*(2n)$- and $\mathsf{SO}^*(2n)\mathsf{Sp}(1)$-structures.