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For the Chern connection of a Hermitian holomorphic vector bundle on a Kähler manifold, the two Dolbeault Laplacians differ by $[iF\wedge ,\Lambda ]$, where $F$ is its curvature form of a connection and $\Lambda$ is the adjoint Lefschetz operator. The curvature term controls vanishing estimates.

In complex dimension $n$, the Lefschetz operator of a Kähler manifold and adjoint Lefschetz operator satisfy $[\Lambda ,L]=(n-k)\mathrm{id}$ on degree $k$. In middle degree, this yields $\Vert L\alpha {\Vert }^2=\Vert \Lambda \alpha {\Vert }^2$.

On the Kähler manifold define $L\alpha =\omega \wedge \alpha$ using the Kähler form; the operator $\Lambda =L^{\ast }$ is the adjoint Lefschetz operator, the pointwise contraction adjoint to wedging with $\omega$. It lowers bidegree by $(1,1)$. Setand keep ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$ as above. These are the Hodge Laplacian and the holomorphic and antiholomorphic Laplacians respectively. The permitted identity among the Kähler identities $[\Lambda ,\partial ]=i{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$ gives ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }=-i[\Lambda ,\partial ]$. Expanding rather than assuming the desired anticommutation,because ${\partial }^2=0$. Hence $\boxed{\partial {\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }+{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\partial =0}$.

For each of the operators $D=d,\partial ,\bar{\partial },d^c$, define its nonnegative Laplacian by ${\Delta }_D=D{D}^{\ast }+D^{\ast }D$ using the $L^2$ formal adjoint. In particular, $\Delta =d{d}^{\ast }+d^{\ast }d$, ${\Delta }_{\partial }=\partial {\partial }^{\ast }+{\partial }^{\ast }\partial$, ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}=\bar{\partial }{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }+{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\bar{\partial }$, and ${\Delta }^c=d^c(d^c{)}^{\ast }+(d^c{)}^{\ast }{d}^c$. Use the d c operator conventionThis normalization, without an extra factor of one-half, is the one for which the requested equality with ${\Delta }^c$ holds.

The Lefschetz operator of a Kähler manifold is $L\alpha =\omega \wedge \alpha$, and the adjoint Lefschetz operator is its pointwise metric adjoint $\Lambda =L^{\ast }$. It lowers type by $(1,1)$ and is a real operator because $\omega$ and the metric are real. Write $P=\partial$ and $B=\bar{\partial }$, use $[A,D]=AD-DA$, and use $\{A,D\}=AD+DA$ for the anticommutators of the odd-degree operators. The allowed relation among the Kähler identities and its complex conjugate giveThese identities alone suffice for the calculation. Since $P^2=B^2=0$,Replacing $P$ by $B$ in the same calculation gives $\{B,P^{\ast }\}=0$. Thus both mixed terms vanish when expanding the Hodge Laplacian of $d=P+B$:The anticommutation $PB=-BP$ now proves equality of the two summands. Indeed,which are the same expression. Finally, $(d^c{)}^{\ast }=i(P^{\ast }-B^{\ast })$, so its Laplacian expands asThis proves the Kähler Laplacian identity, with its real-operator version included:

The action of the almost complex structure on forms is $J\alpha (v_1,\dots ,v_k)=\alpha (J{v}_1,\dots ,J{v}_k)$. It multiplies a form of type $(p,q)$ by $i^{p-q}$. Since $\Delta =2{\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$ preserves each bidegree, it commutes with this action of $J$. Thus $\Delta (J\alpha )=J(\Delta \alpha )$; the invertibility of $J$ givesThis argument applies to arbitrary sums of types, not only to pure-type forms.

The ddbar lemma for a compact Kähler manifold states that a $d$-closed form of pure type is $\partial \bar{\partial }$-exact if it is $d$-exact, $\partial$-exact, or $\bar{\partial }$-exact. Conversely, a $\partial \bar{\partial }$-exact form is $d$-closed and exact for all three operators. In particular a $d$-exact, $d$-closed $(p,q)$-form equals $\partial \bar{\partial }\beta$ for a form $\beta$ of type $(p-1,q-1)$.

The difference $\gamma =\tilde{\omega }-\omega$ of the two Kähler forms is a real $(1,1)$-form, is $d$-closed, and is $d$-exact by equality of their de Rham cohomology classes. The ddbar lemma therefore gives a smooth complex-valued function $h$ with $\gamma =\partial \bar{\partial }h$. Reality and anticommutation implySet $f=(h-\bar{h})/(2i)$, which is real. It follows directly that $i\partial \bar{\partial }f=\gamma$, giving the global potential for cohomologous Kähler forms

If $f_1,f_2$ are two real potentials, $u=f_1-f_2$ satisfies $\partial \bar{\partial }u=0$, so it is a pluriharmonic function. The allowed relation among the Kähler identities gives ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\bar{\partial }u=-i[\Lambda ,\partial ]\bar{\partial }u=-i\Lambda \partial \bar{\partial }u=0$, because $\Lambda \bar{\partial }u=0$ by degree. The Kähler Laplacian identity then gives $\Delta u=2{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\bar{\partial }u=0$. Integration by parts on compact $X$ givesso $u$ is constant on each connected component. Consequently the potential is unique up to one additive constant when $X$ is connected; on a disconnected $X$, one constant per component is the exact conclusion. Without the usual connectedness convention the printed uniqueness assertion needs this qualification: distinct constants on the components of a disjoint union leave the same pair of Kähler forms unchanged.

The Hermitian metric on cotangent vectors is the dual metric, and its exterior-power metric is defined on decomposable vectors by the determinant of their pairwise inner products. Tensor this with the metric on $E$. In a unitary coframe and unitary frame of $E$, the forms obtained by wedging distinct holomorphic and antiholomorphic coframe elements and tensoring with a frame vector form an orthonormal basis. Let $dV={\omega }^n/n!$, and use inner products linear in the first variable.

The bundle-valued conjugate-linear Hodge star is characterized by contraction of the $E,E^{\ast }$ coefficients inIt is conjugate-linear, maps type $(p,q)$ to type $(n-p,n-q)$, and uses the metric identification of $E$ with its dual. For total degree $k=p+q$, the ordinary star-square rule giveswhere $E^{\ast \ast }$ is identified with $E$. The conjugate-linear convention is essential for the bidegrees specified here.

If $\psi$ has degree $k-2$ and $\eta$ degree $k$, the even degree of the real form $\omega$ givesSince ${\ast }_E\Lambda \eta =L{\ast }_E\eta$ for $\Lambda \eta =(-1{)}^k{\ast }_{E^{\ast }}L{\ast }_E\eta$, it follows that $(L\psi ,\eta )=(\psi ,\Lambda \eta )$ pointwise. Thus $\Lambda$ is the adjoint Lefschetz operator.

For holomorphic $E$, ${\bar{\partial }}_E$ differentiates coefficients in holomorphic local frames and uses the graded Leibniz rule on forms. Its bundle-valued Dolbeault adjoint is the formal differential operatorIt lowers the antiholomorphic degree by one. To verify this on compact $M$, define $⟨\psi ,\eta {⟩}_{L^2}={\int }_M(\psi ,\eta )dV$. For $\psi \in A^{p,q-1}(E)$ and $\eta \in A^{p,q}(E)$, Stokes applied to the scalar $(n,n-1)$-form $\psi \wedge {\ast }_E\eta$ yieldsThe star-square identity converts the right side into $⟨\psi ,{\bar{\partial }}_E^{\ast }\eta {⟩}_{L^2}$. Compactness and absence of boundary remove boundary terms. This establishes the asserted global adjoint relation on smooth sections.

The Dolbeault Laplacian ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}=B{B}^{\ast }+B^{\ast }B$, with $B={\bar{\partial }}_E$, is formally self-adjoint. Consequently the adjoint of a commutator satisfiesFor the $(1,0)$ part $D^{\prime }$ of the Chern connection, the explicit corresponding adjoint iswhere $D_{E^{\ast }}^{\prime }$ is the $(1,0)$ part of the dual Chern connection. This is the same integration-by-parts formula in holomorphic degree.

Now assume the metric is Kähler. Since $\bar{\partial }\omega =0$, $B$ commutes with $L$. Taking adjoints provesThe scalar Kähler identities needed areThey extend to the bundle-valued Kähler identitiesHere is a local justification of the extension. At any chosen point, take holomorphic normal coordinates for the Kähler metric and a holomorphic local frame of $E$ with $H=I$ and $\partial H=0$ at that point. This is a Chern connection in a normal holomorphic frame. Such a frame is obtained first by normalizing the metric matrix at the point and then prescribing the holomorphic local frame change's first derivatives to cancel $A=H^{-1}\partial H$. The first-order operators and their formal adjoints at the point are then the scalar operators acting componentwise. The scalar identities therefore give the two displayed bundle identities there. Since the point was arbitrary, they hold globally.

Let $A=D^{\prime }$. Its square and $B^2$ vanish, whilebecause the Chern curvature has pure type $(1,1)$. Use the two commutators already proved to calculateTaking adjoints, including conjugation of the scalar $-i$, gives the Lefschetz-Dolbeault curvature commutatorIf $\Theta =0$, commutation follows. Conversely, vanishing of the commutator on all $E$-valued forms implies $\Theta \wedge s=0$ for every smooth section of a vector bundle $s$. At any point, a bump-supported local section can have any prescribed fiber value. Thus $\Theta$ annihilates every vector in every fiber, forcing $\Theta =0$ identically. This proves the flatness criterion from Lefschetz commutation; the test on degree-zero forms is why the assertion is made on the entire form space.

The Chern connection decomposes on vector-bundle-valued differential forms as $D=D^{\prime }+D^{\prime \prime }$, where $D^{\prime }={\nabla }_h^{\prime }$ raises holomorphic degree and $D^{\prime \prime }={\nabla }_h^{\prime \prime }={\bar{\partial }}_E$ raises antiholomorphic degree. In a holomorphic local frame, $D^{\prime }=\partial +A\wedge$ and $D^{\prime \prime }=\bar{\partial }$. The type of the curvature form of a connection givesThe Kähler metric and the Hermitian metric define the $L^2$ inner product and the formal adjoints $D^{\prime \ast },D^{\prime \prime \ast }$. The Dolbeault Laplacians areLet $L=\omega \wedge$ be the Lefschetz operator of a Kähler manifold and $\Lambda =L^{\ast }$ its adjoint Lefschetz operator. With the ordinary commutator convention $[A,B]=AB-BA$, the printed Kähler identities giveSubstitution into the two Dolbeault Laplacians, followed by expansion, yieldsThe middle line follows by cancelling the terms with $D^{\prime }\Lambda D^{\prime \prime }$ and $D^{\prime \prime }\Lambda D^{\prime }$; the remaining terms collect the anticommutator of the two differentials. Hence $\boxed{{\Delta }^{\prime \prime }={\Delta }^{\prime }+[i{F}_h,\Lambda ]}$, where $i{F}_h$ denotes its wedge action. This is the Bochner-Kodaira-Nakano identity with the paper's sign convention.

Let $\omega$ be the Kähler form associated with the metric. The Lefschetz operator of a Kähler manifold and adjoint Lefschetz operator areHere the adjoint is taken with respect to the pointwise Hermitian inner product on complexified forms, or equivalently the global $L^2$ inner product. It lowers degree by two and bidegree by $(1,1)$. In terms of the Hodge star operator, $\Lambda ={\ast }^{-1}L\ast$.

Since $d\omega =0$, $dL=Ld$, so $L$ takes closed differential forms to closed differential forms and exact differential forms to exact differential forms. This already gives its action on de Rham cohomology. For both operators together, use the Kähler identities: $L$ commutes with the Hodge Laplacian, and taking adjoints shows that $\Lambda$ does too. Thus both preserve harmonic differential forms.

When $M$ is compact, the Hodge decomposition theorem identifies $H^k(M,\mathbb{C})$ with its space of harmonic $k$-forms. If $h_{\alpha }$ is the unique harmonic differential form representing $[\alpha ]$, defineThe resulting forms are harmonic and therefore closed, and uniqueness of $h_{\alpha }$ makes these definitions independent of the initial representative. The cohomological definition of $\Lambda$ uses harmonic differential forms as representatives: $\Lambda$ need not take an arbitrary closed form to a closed form.

Represent the middle-degree class by its unique harmonic differential form $h$. The Lefschetz commutator on degree $k$ is $[\Lambda ,L]=(n-k)\mathrm{id}$, so at $k=n$ the operators commute. Since the adjoint Lefschetz operator is the adjoint of the Lefschetz operator of a Kähler manifold,Both $Lh$ and $\Lambda h$ are harmonic. A harmonic form represents zero in de Rham cohomology exactly when the form itself is zero. Consequently $L[\alpha ]=0$ if and only if $Lh=0$, which by the norm identity is equivalent to $\Lambda h=0$, hence to $\Lambda [\alpha ]=0$. ThereforeThis identifies the two middle-degree descriptions of a primitive differential form on a Kähler manifold at the cohomology level.