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We classify closed, conformally flat Lorentzian manifolds of dimension $n \geq 3$ with unipotent holonomy in PO(2,n). They are all Kleinian and fall into four different geometric types according to the intersection of the image of the developing map with a holonomy-invariant isotropic flag. They are homeomorphic to $S^{n-1} \times S^1$ or a nilmanifold of degree at most three, up to a finite cover. We classify those admitting an essential conformal flow; these fall into two geometric types, both homeomorphic to $S^{n-1} \times S^1$ up to finite cover., Comment: 34 pages, 3 figures

The main result is a classification of smooth actions of $SL(n,{\bf R})$, $n \geq 3$, or connected groups locally isomorphic to it, on closed $n$-manifolds, extending a theorem of Uchida. We construct new exotic actions of $SL(n,{\bf Z})$ on the $n$-torus and connected sums of $n$-tori, and we formulate a conjectural classification of actions of lattices in $SL(n,{\bf R})$ on closed $n$-manifolds. We prove some results about invariant rigid geometric structures for $SL(n,{\bf R})$-actions., Comment: 29 pp.; In memory of Fuichi Uchida (1938--2021). Minor changes in second version

Given a compact, three-dimensional, real-analytic Lorentzian manifold $(M,g)$, we prove that the identity component of the conformal group preserves a metric in the conformal class $[g]$, or $(M,g)$ is conformally flat., Comment: 41 pp

In this survey, symmetry provides a framework for classification of manifolds with differential-geometric structures. We highlight pseudo-Riemannian metrics, conformal structures, and projective structures. A range of techniques have been developed and successfully deployed in this subject, some of them based on algebra and dynamics and some based on analysis. We aim to illustrate this variety., Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures; submitted to Notices of the American Mathematical Society; references are limited by the journal; comments welcome

We prove that the conformal group of a closed, simply connected, real analytic Lorentzian manifold is compact. D'Ambra proved in 1988 that the isometry group of such a manifold is compact. Our result implies the Lorentzian Lichnerowicz Conjecture for real analytic Lorentzian manifolds with finite fundamental group. Third version includes corrections and clarifications, particularly in section 6., Comment: 45 pages. To appear in Journal of the AMS

We construct a family of $(2,n)$-almost Grassmannian structures of regularity $C^1$, each admitting a one-parameter group of strongly essential automorphisms, and each not flat on any neighborhood of the higher-order fixed point. This shows that Theorem 1.3 of [9] does not hold assuming only $C^1$ regularity of the structure (see also [2, Prop 3.5])., Comment: 24 pp

We implement a differential-geometric approach to normal forms for contracting measurable cocycles to $\mbox{Diff}^q({\bf R}^n, {\bf 0})$, $q \geq 2$. We obtain resonance polynomial normal forms for the contracting cocycle and its centralizer, via $C^q$ changes of coordinates. These are interpreted as nonstationary invariant differential-geometric structures. We also consider the case of contracted foliations in a manifold, and obtain $C^q$ homogeneous structures on leaves for an action of the group of subresonance polynomial diffeomorphisms together with translations., Comment: various corrections made and remarks added; 38 pp; to appear in revised form subject to editorial input in Ergodic Theory and Dynamical Systems (see DOI)

We study the local geometry of irreducible parabolic geometries admitting strongly essential flows; these are flows by local automorphisms with higher-order fixed points. We prove several new rigidity results, and recover some old ones for projective and conformal structures, which show that in many cases the existence of a strongly essential flow implies local flatness of the geometry on an open set having the fixed point in its closure. For almost c-projective and almost quaternionic structures we can moreover show flatness of the geometry on a neighborhood of the fixed point., Comment: 34 pages. Proof of Proposition 3.1 significantly shortened, under slightly less general hypotheses (see Remark 3.1). Typos corrected and references updated. To appear in Transactions of the AMS

We show that a germ of a real analytic Lorentz metric on ${\bf R}^3$ which is locally homogeneous on an open set containing the origin in its closure is necessarily locally homogeneous. We classifiy Lie algebras that can act quasihomogeneously---meaning they act transitively on an open set admitting the origin in its closure, but not at the origin---and isometrically for such a metric. In the case that the isotropy at the origin of a quasihomogeneous action is semisimple, we provide a complete set of normal forms of the metric and the action., Comment: 23 pp. Took the place of "Quasihomogeneous three-dimensional real analytic Lorentz metrics" (arXiv:1401.6272), which was withdrawn by the first author. Revised version incorporates several minor corrections, including those suggested by the referee

We use the general theory developed in our article arXiv:1208.5510 in the setting of parabolic geometries to reprove known results on special infinitesimal automorphisms of projective and conformal geometries., Comment: 15 pages v2: small corrections, final version, to appear in Cent. Eur. J. Math

We study vector fields generating a local flow by automorphisms of a parabolic geometry with higher order fixed points. We develop general tools extending the techniques of [1], [2], and [3]. We apply these tools to almost Grassmannian, almost quaternionic, and contact parabolic geometries, including CR structures, to obtain descriptions of the possible dynamics of such flows near the fixed point and strong restrictions on the curvature. In some cases, we can show vanishing of the curvature on a nonempty open set. Deriving consequences for a specific geometry entails evaluating purely algebraic and representation-theoretic criteria in the model homogeneous space. Published in Indiana University Mathematics Journal., Comment: 50 pages. Minor corrections, references updated

We establish normal forms for conformal vector fields on pseudo-Riemannian manifolds in the neighborhood of a singularity. For real-analytic Lorentzian manifolds, we show that the vector field is analytically linearizable or the manifold is conformally flat. In either case, the vector field is locally conjugate to a normal form on a model space. For smooth metrics of general signature, we obtain the analogous result under the additional assumption that the differential of the flow at the fixed point is bounded., Comment: 49 pages, Minor modifications according to referee's comments. To appear in Bulletin de la SMF

We prove analogues for Cartan geometries of Gromov's major theorems on automorphisms of rigid geometric structures. The starting point is a Frobenius theorem, which says that infinitesimal automorphisms of sufficiently high order integrate to local automorphisms. Consequences include a stratification theorem describing the configuration of orbits for local Killing fields in a compact real-analytic Cartan geometry, and an open-dense theorem in the smooth case, which says that if there is a dense orbit, then there is an open, dense, locally homogeneus subset. Combining the Frobenius theorem with the embedding theorem of Bader, Frances, and the author gives a representation theorem that relates the fundamental group of the manifold with the automorphism group., Comment: 32 pages. Several minor corrections in new version

We study conformal actions of connected nilpotent Lie groups on compact pseudo-Riemannian manifolds. We prove that if a type-(p,q) compact manifold M supports a conformal action of a connected nilpotent group H, then the degree of nilpotence of H is at most 2p+1, assuming p <= q; further, if this maximal degree is attained, then M is conformally equivalent to the universal type-(p,q), compact, conformally flat space, up to finite covers. The proofs make use of the canonical Cartan geometry associated to a pseudo-Riemannian conformal structure., Comment: 41 pages, 3 figures. Article has been shortened from previous version, and several corrections have been made according to referees' suggestions

We prove a theorem relating the automorphism group of a Cartan geometry to the group on which the geometry is modeled: a component of the adjoint representation of the first embeds in the adjoint representation of the second. Consequences of the theorem include general bounds on the rank and nilpotence degree of an automorphism group; a result asserting local homogeneity and completeness of parabolic geometries admitting a maximal-rank group of automorphisms; and a local freeness theorem for actions additionally preserving a continuous volume form., Comment: 33 pages

The Einstein universe is the conformal compactification of Minkowski space. It also arises as the ideal boundary of anti-de Sitter space. The purpose of this article is to develop the synthetic geometry of the Einstein universe in terms of its homogeneous submanifolds and causal structure, with particular emphasis on dimension $2 + 1$, in which there is a rich interplay with symplectic geometry., Comment: 56 pages, 6 figures

We prove a structure theorem for compact aspherical Lorentz manifolds with abundant local symmetry. If M is a compact, aspherical, real-analytic, complete Lorentz manifold such that the isometry group of the universal cover has semisimple identity component, then the local isometry orbits in M are roughly fibers of a fiber bundle. A corollary is that if M has a dense local isometry orbit then M is locally homogeneous. The main result is analogous to a theorem of Farb and Weinberger on compact aspherical Riemannian manifolds, and an exposition of their arguments on rational cohomological dimension is included. Some aspects of dynamics on Lorentz manifolds are also presented, including totally geodesic, lightlike, codimension-one foliations associated to unbounded sequences of isometries., Comment: dissertation; 64 pages

The above title is the same, but with "semisimple" instead of "simple," as that of a notice by N. Kowalsky. There, she announced many theorems on the subject of actions of simple Lie groups preserving a Lorentz structure. Unfortunately, she published proofs for essentially only half of the announced results before her premature death. Here, using a different, geometric approach, we generalize her results to the semisimple case, and give proofs of all her announced results., Comment: 25 pp, to appear in Geometric and Functional Analysis sharpened thm 1.9 to give global description of actions in all cases; added section 8 on structure of orbits of Riemannian type and how Riemannian and Lorentzian orbits meet around degenerate set; many minor corrections and improvements thanks to referee's comments

We prove results toward classifying compact Lorentz manifolds on which Heisenberg groups act isometrically. We give a general construction, leading to a new example, of codimension-one actions--those for which the dimension of the Heisenberg group is one less than the dimension of the manifold. The main result is a classification of codimension-one actions, under the assumption they are real-analytic., Comment: 27 pages; to appear in Geometriae Dedicata; added section 3.3 on constructing codimension-one actions from metric-defining paths; classification now phrased in terms of these