Description
Book SynopsisThe book starts with a thorough introduction to connections and holonomy groups, and to Riemannian, complex and Kähler geometry. Then the Calabi conjecture is proved and used to deduce the existence of compact manifolds with holonomy SU(m) (Calabi-Yau manifolds) and Sp(m) (hyperkähler manifolds). These are constructed and studied using complex algebraic geometry. The second half of the book is devoted to constructions of compact 7- and 8-manifolds with the exceptional holonomy groups 92 and Spin(7). Many new examples are given, and their Betti numbers calculated. The first known examples of these manifolds were discovered by the author in 1993-5. This is the first book to be written about them, and contains much previously unpublished material which significantly improves the original constructions.
Trade ReviewThe book is written in a very clear and understandable way, with careful explanation of the main ideas and many remarks and comments, and it includes systematic suggestions for further reading ... It can be warmly recommended to mathematicians (in geometry and global analysis, in particular) as well as to physicists interested in string theory. * EMS *
The first part is a very effective introduction to basic notions and results of modern differential geometry ... This book is highly recommended for people who are interested in the very recent developments of differential geometry and its relationships with present research in theoretical physics. * Zentralblatt MATH *
