We give a concise proof that large classes of optimal (constant curvature or Einstein) pseudo-Riemannian metrics are maximally symmetric within their conformal class.
We consider geometries on the space of Riemannian metrics conformally equivalent to the widely studied Ebin L^2 metric. Among these we characterize a distinguished metric that can be regarded as a generalization of Calabis metric on the space of Kahl
er metrics to the space of Riemannian metrics, and we study its geometry in detail. Unlike the Ebin metric, the geodesic equation involves non-local terms, and we solve it explicitly by using a constant of the motion. We then determine its completion, which gives the first example of a metric on the space of Riemannian metrics whose completion is strictly smaller than that of the Ebin metric.
Given a fixed closed manifold M, we exhibit an explicit formula for the distance function of the canonical L^2 Riemannian metric on the manifold of all smooth Riemannian metrics on M. Additionally, we examine the (metric) completion of the manifold o
f metrics with respect to the L^2 metric and show that there exists a unique minimal path between any two points. This path is also given explicitly. As an application of these formulas, we show that the metric completion of the manifold of metrics is a CAT(0) space.
