Gradient Ricci solitons with vanishing conditions on Weyl

Abstract

We classify complete gradient Ricci solitons satisfying a fourth-order vanishing condition on the Weyl tensor, improving previously known results. More precisely, we show that any n-dimensional (n≥4) gradient shrinking Ricci soliton with fourth order divergence-free Weyl tensor is either Einstein, or a finite quotient of Nn−k×Rk, (k>0), the product of a Einstein manifold Nn−k with the Gaussian shrinking soliton Rk. The technique applies also to the steady and expanding cases in all dimensions. In particular, we prove that a three dimensional gradient steady soliton with third order divergence-free Cotton tensor, i.e. with vanishing double divergence of the Bach tensor, is either flat or isometric to the Bryant soliton.