On Kähler metrisability of two-dimensional complex projective structures

Abstract

We derive necessary conditions for a complex projective structure on a complex surface to arise via the Levi-Civita connection of a (pseudo-)Kähler metric. Furthermore we show that the (pseudo-)Kähler metrics defined on some domain in the projective plane which are compatible with the standard complex projective structure are in one-to-one correspondence with the hermitian forms on $$\mathbb {C}^3$$ whose rank is at least two. This is achieved by prolonging the relevant finite-type first order linear differential system to closed form. Along the way we derive the complex projective Weyl and Liouville curvature using the language of Cartan geometries.