We study the 8 natural GL equivariant geometric realization questions for the space of generalized algebraic curvature tensors. All but one of them is solvable; a non-zero projectively flat Ricci antisymmetric generalized algebraic curvature is not geometrically realizable by a projectively flat Ricci antisymmetric torsion free connection.
We examine questions of geometric realizability for algebraic structures which arise naturally in affine and Riemannian geometry. Suppose given an algebraic curvature operator R at a point P of a manifold M and suppose given a real analytic (resp. C-k for finite k at least 2) pseudo-Riemannian metric on M defined near P. We construct a torsion free real analytic (resp. C-k) connection D which is defined near P on the tangent bundle of M whose curvature operator is the given operator R at P and so that D has constant scalar curvature. We show that if R is Ricci symmetric, then D can be chosen to be Ricci symmetric; if R has trace free Ricci tensor, then D can be chosen to have trace free Ricci tensor; if R is Ricci alternating, then D can be chosen to be Ricci alternating.
We study geometric realization questions of curvature in the affine, Riemannian, almost Hermitian, almost para Hermitian, almost hyper Hermitian, almost hyper para Hermitian, Hermitian, and para Hermitian settings. We also express questions in Ivanov-Petrova geometry, Osserman geometry, and curvature homogeneity in terms of geometric realizations.
We show that a Hermitian algebraic curvature model satisfies the Gray identity if and only if it is geometrically realizable by a Hermitian manifold. Furthermore, such a curvature model can in fact be realized by a Hermitian manifold of constant scalar curvature and constant *-scalar curvature which satisfies the Kaehler condition at the point in question.
We show that a para-Hermitian algebraic curvature model satisfies the para-Gray identity if and only if it is geometrically realizable by a para-Hermitian manifold. This requires extending the Tricerri-Vanhecke curvature decomposition to the para-Hermitian setting. Additionally, the geometric realization can be chosen to have constant scalar curvature and constant *-scalar curvature.