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The Hermitian metric induces pointwise Hermitian inner products on the exterior powers of the complex cotangent bundle, with different bidegrees orthogonal, and a positive volume form $d{V}_g$. Thus the global $L^2$ inner product on smooth differential forms of type $(p,q)$ isLet ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$ be the formal adjoint of the Dolbeault operator, defined by integration by parts, and let ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}=\bar{\partial }{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }+{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\bar{\partial }$. This Dolbeault Laplacian preserves bidegree, is elliptic and nonnegative, and hasOn a compact Hermitian manifold without boundary, the Dolbeault Hodge decomposition on a compact Hermitian manifold says that the smooth harmonic space ${\mathcal{H}}_{\bar{\partial }}^{p,q}=\ker {\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$ is finite-dimensional andMore precisely, there are the orthogonal harmonic projection $H$ and a Dolbeault Green operator $G$ taking smooth forms to smooth forms, with $G=0$ on harmonics and ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}G=G{\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}=I-H$. Elliptic regularity ensures these are statements about smooth forms, not only $L^2$ completions. The Green operator commutes with $\bar{\partial }$ and ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$, since the Laplacian does and its inverse is unique on the orthogonal complement of the kernel.

Expanding $\alpha =H\alpha +{\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}G\alpha$ givesThe three summands are orthogonal: harmonic forms are killed by both adjoints, and $⟨\bar{\partial }u,{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }v⟩=⟨{\bar{\partial }}^{2}u,v⟩=0$. If $\alpha$ is $\bar{\partial }$-closed, its coexact component is orthogonal to every closed form; taking its inner product with $\alpha$ shows that component has norm zero. Conversely the first two components are closed. Thus $\boxed{\ker \bar{\partial }={\mathcal{H}}_{\bar{\partial }}^{p,q}\oplus \bar{\partial }{A}^{p,q-1}}$, with out-of-range form spaces taken to be zero.

Let $n={\dim }_{\mathbb{C}}X$, and use the complex orientation. Write $g$ for the real Riemannian metric underlying the Hermitian metric. Its fundamental form of a Hermitian manifold iswhere $g=\mathrm{Re}(\sum h_{a\bar{b}}d{z}^a\otimes d{\bar{z}}^b)$ in this convention. It is real and of type $(1,1)$, since $g(Ju,Jv)=g(u,v)$. Choose an adapted real orthonormal frame $E_j,F_j=J{E}_j$ and its dual coframe $e^j,f^j$. Then $\omega ={\sum }_j{e}^j\wedge f^j$, giving the Riemannian volume form

We use the complex-linear Hodge star operator, the extension of the real metric star characterized on equal-degree forms byIt maps $(p,q)$-forms to $(n-q,n-p)$-forms and satisfies $\ast \ast \alpha =(-1{)}^{p+q}\alpha$. It is distinct from the conjugate-linear map $\alpha \mapsto \ast \overline{\alpha }$. In the adapted coframe the star of $e^j\wedge f^j$ is the wedge product of all the other two-dimensional factors, with positive sign. Summing proves the Hodge star of the fundamental Hermitian form formulaThis computation uses no closedness assumption on $\omega$.

Use the integrated Hermitian inner product $(\alpha ,\beta )={\int }_X\alpha \wedge \ast \overline{\beta }$. The formal adjoints $d^{\ast }$ and ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$ are defined by $(d\alpha ,\beta )=(\alpha ,d^{\ast }\beta )$ and $(\bar{\partial }\alpha ,\beta )=(\alpha ,{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\beta )$; compact manifolds here have no boundary. The Hodge Laplacian and Dolbeault Laplacian areThe Dolbeault Hodge decomposition on a compact Hermitian manifold states thatis an orthogonal direct sum, with finite-dimensional ${\mathcal{H}}_{\bar{\partial }}^{p,q}=\ker {\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$. Each Dolbeault cohomology classhas a unique representative in ${\mathcal{H}}_{\bar{\partial }}^{p,q}$. A form is harmonic exactly when both $\bar{\partial }\alpha$ and ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\alpha$ vanish, since its Laplacian inner product is the sum of their squared norms.

Now let $L\alpha =\omega \wedge \alpha$ be the Hermitian Lefschetz operator and let $\Lambda$ be its pointwise adjoint. For $\beta$ of total degree $r=p+q$ and $\alpha$ of degree $r-2$, the defining inner products giveThe wedge pairing is nondegenerate, so $\ast \overline{\Lambda \beta }=L\ast \overline{\beta }$. Apply another star to the degree-$(r-2)$ form and use that the star and $L$ commute with conjugation. This yieldsFor degrees below two both sides vanish. The argument also identifies its bidegree as $(-1,-1)$ and does not require the Kähler condition.

Assume now that $d\omega =0$, so the metric is a Kähler metric. Start with the supplied Kähler identities relation $[\Lambda ,\partial ]=i{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$. Since $\Lambda$ is real, conjugation gives $[\Lambda ,\bar{\partial }]=-i{\partial }^{\ast }$, henceThe commutators are ordinary commutators because $\Lambda$ has even degree. Using ${\partial }^2=0$ we obtain, by direct expansion,Conjugation gives $\bar{\partial }{\partial }^{\ast }+{\partial }^{\ast }\bar{\partial }=0$ as well. Expanding the two unmixed Laplacians and using $\partial \bar{\partial }=-\bar{\partial }\partial$ gives the same operator:Finally expand $d=\partial +\bar{\partial }$ and $d^{\ast }={\partial }^{\ast }+{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$; the mixed terms just proved zero disappear. This derives the Kähler Laplacian identity

The Dolbeault Laplacian preserves bidegree. Thus the complex $d$-harmonic forms of total degree $r$ split into their harmonic $(p,q)$ parts. The allowed real Hodge theorem, followed by complexification, givesThe real operator ${\Delta }_d$ commutes with conjugation, which exchanges $(p,q)$ and $(q,p)$. Therefore $h^{p,q}=h^{q,p}$. For odd $r$, no summand has $p=q$, so they pair off in equal dimensions. This proves that all odd Betti numbers are even.

For $1\le k\le n$, the Kähler form power ${\omega }^k$ is closed. If it were exact, say ${\omega }^k=d\eta$, thenby Stokes theorem. But ${\omega }^n=n!{\mathrm{vol}}_g$ has strictly positive integral on the nonempty compact manifold. Hence the powers of a compact Kähler form have nonzero cohomology classes, and

For an example take the Hopf surfaceThe dilation action is free and properly discontinuous: on a compact subset the radii are bounded above and away from zero, so only finitely many dilations can meet it. It is holomorphic, giving a complex manifold quotient; the annulus $1\le \Vert z\Vert \le 2$ covers the quotient, proving compactness. The mapis a diffeomorphism $H\cong S^3\times S^1$. The Künneth theorem gives $b^1(H)=1$. This violates the necessary odd-degree parity, so this compact complex surface admits no Kähler metric.

Let $g$ be the Riemannian metric underlying the Hermitian metric and $J$ its compatible complex structure. The fundamental form of a Hermitian manifold is $\omega (u,v)=g(Ju,v)$. It is a real alternating form of type $(1,1)$. At a point choose an orthonormal real coframe $x^1,y^1,\dots ,x^n,y^n$ adapted to $J$, with $x^j+i{y}^j$ of type $(1,0)$. ThenThe orientation here is the complex orientation. In coordinates for which $g={\sum }_j((d{x}^j{)}^2+(d{y}^j{)}^2)$, the same convention reads $\omega =(i/2){\sum }_{j}d{z}^j\wedge d{\bar{z}}^j$.

Use the complex Hodge star operator, the complex-linear extension of the real Hodge star operator. With the pointwise Hermitian inner product linear in its first variable, its defining identity isfor forms of the same total degree. It maps type $(p,q)$ to $(n-q,n-p)$ and satisfies ${\ast }^2=(-1{)}^{p+q}$ in real dimension $2n$. It commutes with complex conjugation. These conventions distinguish it from the conjugate-linear Hodge star $\alpha \mapsto \ast \bar{\alpha }$.

Write a top holomorphic-type form as $\eta =a{\zeta }^1\wedge \cdots \wedge {\zeta }^n$, where ${\zeta }^j=x^j+i{y}^j$. On each oriented two-plane, $\ast x^j=y^j$ and $\ast y^j=-x^j$, so the two-dimensional star of ${\zeta }^j$ is $-i{\zeta }^j$. In taking the star of their product, regrouping complementary one-form factors across the $n$ two-planes contributes $(-1{)}^{n(n-1)/2}$. Thus the Hodge star on top holomorphic forms isThis is pointwise and requires neither holomorphicity of the coefficient $a$ nor closedness of $\omega$.

To compute the formal adjoint, take compactly supported forms $\alpha$ of degree $k-1$ and $\beta$ of degree $k$. The Stokes theorem givesSince the degree of $d(\ast \bar{\beta })$ is $2n-k+1$, the identity for ${\ast }^2$ makes the right side equal to ${\int }_X\alpha \wedge \ast \overline{(-\ast d\ast \beta )}$. Consequently the formal adjoint of $d$ in even real dimension is $d^{\ast }=-\ast d\ast$. Splitting by type, $-\ast \partial \ast$ lowers antiholomorphic degree, while $-\ast \bar{\partial }\ast$ lowers holomorphic degree. Orthogonality of distinct types therefore yieldsThe argument applies locally with compact support, and globally without support restrictions on a compact manifold without boundary.

The Dolbeault Laplacian is ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}=\bar{\partial }{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }+{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\bar{\partial }$. A form is $\bar{\partial }$-harmonic when it lies in its kernel. On a compact Hermitian manifold, the adjoint identities implyThus harmonicity is equivalent to both first-order equations vanishing. The Dolbeault Hodge decomposition on a compact Hermitian manifold states that the harmonic space ${\mathcal{H}}_{\bar{\partial }}^{p,q}$ is finite-dimensional and that smooth forms have the orthogonal direct-sum decomposition

To deduce the identification with Dolbeault cohomology, let $\bar{\partial }\alpha =0$ and decompose $\alpha =h+\bar{\partial }u+{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }v$. The closedness of $\alpha$ makes it orthogonal to the entire image of ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$. Taking its inner product with ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }v$ and using the orthogonality of the decomposition gives $\Vert {\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }v{\Vert }^2=0$. Hence $\alpha =h+\bar{\partial }u$, so each cohomology class has a harmonic representative. If a harmonic form equals $\bar{\partial }u$, its squared norm is $⟨{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }h,u⟩=0$, so the representative is unique. We have proved

For the complementary types, define $C\alpha =\ast \bar{\alpha }$. It maps $(p,q)$ to $(n-p,n-q)$ and is conjugate-linear. If $\alpha$ is harmonic, then $\bar{\partial }\alpha =0$ and $\partial (\ast \alpha )=0$ by the adjoint formula. Conjugating the latter equation gives $\bar{\partial }(\ast \bar{\alpha })=0$. Also, with $k=p+q$,since $\partial \bar{\alpha }=\overline{\bar{\partial }\alpha }$. Therefore $C$ carries harmonic forms to harmonic forms, and $C^2=(-1{)}^k$ makes it a bijection. This proves complementary Dolbeault harmonic types on a Hermitian manifold:The metric supplies a natural conjugate-linear isomorphism. If a complex-linear isomorphism is desired, choose a basis $h_j$ of the first space and send it to the basis $C{h}_j$ of the second, extending linearly. This last choice is not canonical; no Kähler assumption is needed for either the dimension equality or the harmonic bijection.

Let $g$ be the real Riemannian metric underlying the Hermitian metric, and let $J$ be the complex structure. The fundamental form of a Hermitian manifold isThe identity $g(Ju,Jv)=g(u,v)$ implies $g(Ju,v)=-g(u,Jv)$, so this is an alternating real two-form. Moreover $\omega (Ju,Jv)=\omega (u,v)$. A two-form with this invariance has type $(1,1)$: on two vectors of type $(1,0)$, applying $J$ to both multiplies its value by $i^2=-1$, forcing that value to vanish; the same argument applies to type $(0,1)$. Hence $\omega$ is a real $(1,1)$-form.

Use the complex-linear convention for the complex Hodge star operator, extending the real star. The complex orientation and metric define $dV={\omega }^n/n!$, andHere the Hermitian inner product is linear in the first argument. With this convention, on the even-dimensional underlying real manifold the formal adjoints are $d^{\ast }=-\ast d\ast$, ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }=-\ast \partial \ast$ and ${\partial }^{\ast }=-\ast \bar{\partial }\ast$. A conjugate-linear star is another convention, but then the adjoint formulas must change accordingly.

The Hodge Laplacian and Dolbeault Laplacian areAlso write ${\Delta }_{\partial }=\partial {\partial }^{\ast }+{\partial }^{\ast }\partial$. They are nonnegative, since for exampleThe requested Dolbeault Hodge decomposition on a compact Hermitian manifold is a compactness statement: on a compact Hermitian manifold without boundary,The harmonic space is finite-dimensional, and taking the harmonic representative induces an isomorphism ${\mathcal{H}}_{\bar{\partial }}^{p,q}\cong H_{\bar{\partial }}^{p,q}(X)$. Compactness is essential to this formulation; it is not asserted on an arbitrary noncompact Hermitian manifold.

Now suppose $X$ is compact and Kähler, so $d\omega =0$. The permitted Kähler Laplacian identity is ${\Delta }_d=2{\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}=2{\Delta }_{\partial }$, making the three harmonic spaces identical in each bidegree. A $d$-closed pure-type form has $\partial \alpha =\bar{\partial }\alpha =0$, since these two terms have different types. We will construct a Green operator potential for ddbar exactness, rather than invoking the ddbar lemma as the conclusion to be proved.

Let $G$ be the inverse of ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$ on the orthogonal complement of its harmonic forms, zero on the harmonic space. It is twice the Green operator of the Hodge Laplacian. The Hodge decomposition theorem and elliptic inversion give ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}G=I-H$, with $H$ harmonic projection. It preserves bidegrees. The operators $\partial$ and $\bar{\partial }$ commute with ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$: the first follows from ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}={\Delta }_{\partial }$ and ${\partial }^2=0$, and the second directly from ${\bar{\partial }}^2=0$. They and their formal adjoints annihilate harmonic forms, so they preserve the orthogonal complement of the harmonic space. Consequently they commute with $G$, by uniqueness of the inverse on the harmonic complement. Thus $u=G\alpha$ and $v=G^2\alpha$ are killed by both differential operators.

The assumed orthogonality makes $H\alpha =Hu=0$. Applying the two Laplacians givesWe also need the mixed anticommutator, which follows from the permitted Laplacian identity rather than an extra unproved lemma. Expand ${\Delta }_d$ using $d=\partial +\bar{\partial }$ and $d^{\ast }={\partial }^{\ast }+{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$. Since ${\Delta }_d={\Delta }_{\partial }+{\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$, its mixed terms sum to zero. Their two bidegrees $(1,-1)$ and $(-1,1)$ are distinct, so each vanishes separately, in particular ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\partial +\partial {\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }=0$. HenceWe have obtained the explicit answerThe positive assumptions on $p,q$ ensure these degrees are available. Conversely such a form is orthogonal to harmonic forms by integration by parts, so the same proof also explains the harmonic orthogonality criterion for ddbar exactness.

For injectivity of the Lefschetz operator on a Hermitian manifold on real one-forms, work at one point in a metric-orthonormal coframe $(e^1,f^1,\dots ,e^n,f^n)$ with $\omega ={\sum }_j{e}^j\wedge f^j$. If $a\ne 0$, a unitary change of coframe makes $a=c{e}^1$, $c\ne 0$. Thensince the displayed basis three-forms are linearly independent. Therefore $L(a)=a\wedge \omega$ has zero kernel. Injectivity on complex one-forms follows by taking real and imaginary parts, since $\omega$ is real. This pointwise proof of injectivity of powers of the Lefschetz operator for degree one does not require the hard Lefschetz theorem.

Closedness of $\omega$ gives $\bar{\partial }L=L\bar{\partial }$. Using the permitted Kähler identities, specifically $[{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast },L]=i\partial$, givesMultiplying by two proves $[{\Delta }_d,L]=0$. In particular the Lefschetz operator preserves harmonic forms and the injective map on one-forms restricts to an injection ${\mathcal{H}}_d^1\hookrightarrow {\mathcal{H}}_d^3$. The de Rham Hodge theorem identifies these real harmonic spaces with the corresponding real cohomology groups. Taking dimensions yields

The Hodge decomposition theorem for compact Kähler manifolds gives a unique harmonic differential form representative of every complex de Rham cohomology class, with a decomposition into harmonic pure-type components. ConsequentlyEquivalently, the Dolbeault Hodge decomposition on a compact Hermitian manifold is

Write $g=\mathrm{Re}h$ for the underlying Riemannian metric of the Hermitian manifold. Its fundamental form of a Hermitian manifold isIt is real and skew-symmetric. In a unitary coframe it is $\omega ={\sum }_{j=1}^n{e}^j\wedge J{e}^j$, which also shows that it has type $(1,1)$ and thatThe Hodge star operator is characterized, after complex-linear extension, byExpanding in the same unitary coframe gives

The Hodge Laplacian and Dolbeault Laplacian areThe Dolbeault Hodge decomposition on a compact Hermitian manifold says that every Dolbeault class has a unique ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$-harmonic representative andIf ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}\eta =0$, thenso $\eta$ is $\bar{\partial }$-closed and ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$-closed. If also $\eta =\bar{\partial }\xi$, then $\Vert \eta {\Vert }_2^2=⟨{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\eta ,\xi ⟩=0$, hence $\eta =0$.

Now suppose $X$ is compact and Kähler. With $d^c=i(\bar{\partial }-\partial )$ and $d^{\ast }={\partial }^{\ast }+{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$, the Kähler identities make the mixed anticommutators vanish and give ${\Delta }_{\partial }={\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$. Consequently

Let $\alpha =d^c\gamma$ and $d\alpha =0$. The Kähler Laplacian identity implies that the $d$-Laplacian commutes with $d^c$. Since a harmonic form is $d^{c\ast }$-closed, $\alpha$ is orthogonal to every harmonic form. If $G$ is the Green operator of the Hodge Laplacian, thenwhere the $d^{\ast }dG\alpha$ term vanishes because $dG\alpha =Gd\alpha =0$. The Green operator commutes with $d^c$, and the anticommutation identity just proved givesTherefore, for the $(k-2)$-form $\beta =-d^{\ast }G\gamma$,This is the d d c lemma in the form required here.

The Kähler manifold structure gives a Riemannian metric, its volume form, the complex orientation, and a Hermitian inner product on complex differential forms. The complex Hodge star operator is the complex-linear map characterized byOn $r$-forms in real dimension $m=2n$, the codifferential isequivalently the formal adjoint of $d$ for the $L^2$ inner product. Similarly ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$ is the formal adjoint of $\bar{\partial }$. Define the Hodge Laplacian and Dolbeault Laplacian by

Expanding $d=\partial +\bar{\partial }$, the Kähler identities make the mixed anticommutators vanish and imply ${\Delta }_{\partial }={\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$. Hence the Kähler Laplacian identity is

Let $L\gamma =\omega \wedge \gamma$ be the Lefschetz operator of a Kähler manifold. The Kähler identities also implyThus, if ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}\alpha =0$, thenThis is the fact that the Lefschetz operator preserves harmonic forms.

The Dolbeault Hodge decomposition on a compact Hermitian manifold states thatan orthogonal direct sum, where ${\mathcal{H}}_{\bar{\partial }}^{p,q}=\ker {\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$.

Suppose $\eta =\bar{\partial }\gamma$ has type $(p,q)$. Apply this decomposition to $\gamma \in {\Omega }^{p,q-1}$. The harmonic and $\bar{\partial }$-exact pieces disappear after applying $\bar{\partial }$, so for some $\beta \in {\Omega }^{p,q}$,Put $\theta ={\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\beta$. If also $\partial \eta =0$, thenThe Kähler anticommutation identity ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\partial +\partial {\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }=0$ and $({\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }{)}^2=0$ giveTherefore $\partial \theta$ is ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$-harmonic. By ${\Delta }_{\partial }={\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}$ it is also $\partial$-harmonic, but it is $\partial$-exact; orthogonality of harmonic and exact forms forcesThis proves both requested claims: $\partial {\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\beta =0$ is harmonic, and ${\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }\beta =\theta$ is $\partial$-closed.

Finally, $\theta \in \mathrm{im}{\bar{\partial }}^{\ast }$ is orthogonal to $\ker \bar{\partial }$, and hence to every $\bar{\partial }$-harmonic form. Since the $\partial$- and $\bar{\partial }$-harmonic spaces agree on a compact Kähler manifold, the $\partial$-closed form $\theta$ has zero harmonic component in its $\partial$-Hodge decomposition. It follows that $\theta =\partial \varphi$ for some $\varphi \in {\Omega }^{p-1,q-1}(X)$. Hencewhich is the ddbar lemma in this case.