THE DIRAC EQUATION ON METRICS OF

EGUCHI-HANSON TYPE
arXiv:2305.18344v1 [math.DG] 26 May 2023

ZHUOHUA CAI† AND XIAO ZHANG♭

Abstract. We investigate parallel spinors on the Eguchi-Hanson met-

rics and find the space of complex parallel spinors are complex 2-dimensional.
For the metrics of Eguchi-Hanson type with the zero scalar curvature,
we separate variables for the harmonic spinors and obtain the solutions
explicitly.

PASC numbers: 03.60.Pm, 04.20.Gz, 04.60.-m

Key words: Parallel spinors, Dirac equation, Eguchi-Hanson metric

1. Introduction

Eguchi-Hanson metrics were constructed in [1, 2], which are complete 4-

dimensional Ricci flat, anti-self-dual ALE Riemannian metrics on R≥0 × P 3 .
They are one type of gravitational instantons, and play important roles
in the Euclidean approach of gravitational quantization [3]. Since then,
gravitational instantons including the Eguchi-Hanson metrics attract much
attention both in geometry and in general relativity.
In order to investigate the physical behaviour of spin- 12 particles in general
relativity, Chandrasekhar solved the Dirac equation in Kerr spacetimes by
separating variables [4]. We refer to [5, 6] and references therein for further
developments of the the Dirac equation in various spacetimes. In [7], Sucu
and Ünal solved the Dirac equation on Eguchi-Hanson and Bianchi V II0
gravitational instanton metrics. In particular, the solutions are obtained as
the product of two hypergeometric functions for the Eguchi-Hanson gravi-
tational instanton metric.
As it actually relates to manifold’s scalar curvature, it is interesting to
study the Dirac equation on much more general metrics of Eguchi-Hanson
type with the zero scalar curvature. This type of metrics were constructed
by LeBrun using the method of algebraic geometry [8] and by the second
author solving an ordinary differential equation [9] on R≥0 × S 3 /Zd (d > 2),
and they provides the counter-examples of Hawking and Pope’s generalized
positive action conjecture.
In this note we first introduce the Eguchi-Hanson metrics, the metrics of
Eguchi-Hanson type with the zero scalar curvature as well as the spin con-
nections on them. Then we investigate the parallel spinors and the harmonic
spinors. As the existence of a nontrivial parallel spinor on a Riemannian
1
2 Z CAI AND X ZHANG

spin manifold implies that the manifold is Ricci-flat, parallel spinors only
exist on the Eguchi-Hanson metrics, and we find the space of complex par-
allel spinors are complex 2-dimensional. For the metrics of Eguchi-Hanson
type with the zero scalar curvature, we separate variables for the harmonic
spinors and obtain the solutions explicitly.

2. Metrics of Eguchi-Hanson Type

Metrics of Eguchi-Hanson type are given by

g = f −2 dr 2 + r 2 σ12 + σ22 + f 2 σ32 ,


(2.1)
where f is a real function of r, σ1 , σ2 and σ3 are the Cartan-Maurer forms
for SU (2) ∼
= S3
1
(sin ψdθ − sin θ cos ψdφ) ,
σ1 =
2
1
σ2 = (− cos ψdθ − sin θ sin ψdφ) ,
2
1
σ3 = (dψ + cos θdφ)
2
with three Euler angles θ, φ, ψ. The frame and coframe are
e1 = f −1 dr, e2 = rσ1 , e3 = rσ2 , e4 = rf σ3 , (2.2)
and
 
2 cos ψ cos θ cos ψ
e1 = f ∂r , e2 = sin ψ∂θ − ∂φ + ∂ψ ,
r sin θ sin θ
  (2.3)
2 sin ψ cos θ sin ψ 2
e3 = − cos ψ∂θ − ∂φ + ∂ψ , e4 = ∂ψ
r sin θ sin θ rf
respectively.
Let {ωji } be the connection 1-forms given by dei = −ωji ∧ ej . Then [9]
 
2 f 2 3 f 3 4 f
ω1 = e , ω1 = e , ω1 = + f e4 ,
′
r r r
  (2.4)
f f 2 f
ω43 = e2 , ω24 = e3 , ω32 = − e4 .
r r rf r

Let B > 0 be certain positive constant. Taking

r
B
f = 1 − 4,
r
and
√
4
r≥ B, 0 ≤ θ ≤ π, 0 ≤ φ ≤ 2π, 0 ≤ ψ ≤ 2π,
 THE DIRAC EQUATION 3

metric (2.1) is the Eguchi-Hanson metric [1, 2]

B −1 2
     
B
g = 1− 4 2 2 2
dr + r σ1 + σ2 + 1 − 4 σ32 , (2.5)
r r
which is Ricci-flat and geodesically complete. Topologically, it is
R≥0 × SU (2)/Z2 ∼
= R≥0 × SO(3) ∼
= R≥0 × P3 .
Let d > 2 be a positive integer. Taking
r r r
2A B d−2 B 4 B
f = 1 − 2 − 4, A = − , r0 =
r r 2 d−1 d−1
and
4π
r ≥ r0 , 0 ≤ θ ≤ π, 0 ≤ φ ≤ 2π, 0≤ψ≤ ,
d
metric (2.1) is

2A B −1 2
     
2A B
g = 1− 2 − 4 2
dr + r σ1 + σ2 + 1 − 2 − 4 σ32 ,
2 2
(2.6)
r r r r
which is scalar-flat and geodesically complete, constructed in [8, 9]. Topo-
logically, it is
R≥0 × SU (2)/Zd ∼
= R≥0 × S 3 /Zd .

3. Spin Connection and Parallel Spinors

We refer to [10] for an introductory knowledge of spin geometry. It is

clear that the underline manifolds of both metric (2.5) and metric (2.6) are
spin and their complex spinor bundles are complex 4-dimensional equipped
with spin connection
4
1 X
∇ek Φ = ek Φ + g (∇ek ei , ej ) ei · ej · Φ
4
i,j=1

for spinor Φ = (Φ1 , Φ2 , Φ3 , Φ4 )t . Using (2.4), we obtain

∇e1 Φ = e1 Φ,
f
∇e2 Φ = e2 Φ + (e1 · e2 − e3 · e4 ) · Φ,
2r
f (3.1)
∇e3 Φ = e3 Φ + (e1 · e3 + e2 · e4 ) · Φ,
2r    
1 f f 2
∇e4 Φ = e4 Φ + + f ′ e1 · e4 + − e2 · e3 · Φ.
2 r r rf
4 Z CAI AND X ZHANG

Throughout the paper, we fix the following representations for ei in Spin(4).

   
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 i
0 0 0 1 0 0 i 0
e1 7→ 
-1 0 0 0  ,
 e2 7→ 
0 i 0 0,


0 -1 0 0 i 0 0 0
    (3.2)
0 0 0 -1 0 0 i 0
0 0 1 0  0 0 0 -i 
e3 7→ 
 0 -1 0 0  ,
 e4 7→ 
 i 0 0 0.


1 0 0 0 0 -i 0 0

Spinor Φ is parallel if ∇X Φ = 0 for any tangent vector X. Any Riemann-

ian metric carried a parallel spinor must be Ricci-flat, see, e.g. [10]. Thus
it is interesting to investigate the parallel spinors for the Eguchi-Hanson
metric.
Theorem 3.1. Parallel spinors for the Eguchi-Hanson metric (2.5) are
complex constant spinors which form a complex 2-dimensional space.

Proof: Under (3.2), we have

 
Φ1
Φ2 
∇e1 Φ = e1 
Φ3  = 0,
 (3.3)
Φ4
   
Φ1 0
 + f  0  = 0,
Φ2   
∇e2 Φ = e2 
Φ3  2r −2iΦ4  (3.4)
Φ4 −2iΦ3
   
Φ1 0
Φ2  f 
 0 

∇e3 Φ = e3 
Φ3  + 2r  2Φ4  = 0,
 (3.5)
Φ4 −2Φ3
   
Φ1 0
′ 
 
 + 1 + f  0  = 0.
Φ2  
∇e4 Φ = e4 
Φ3  (3.6)
rf 2 −iΦ3 
Φ4 iΦ4
Firstly, (3.3) implies
∂r Φ = 0.
Secondly, (3.4) gives
    
cos ψ cos θ cos ψ Φ3 f iΦ4
sin ψ∂θ − ∂φ + ∂ψ = .
sin θ sin θ Φ4 r iΦ3
 THE DIRAC EQUATION 5

Since the left hand side is independent on r, but the right hand side contains
function f (r), it must be

Φ3 = Φ4 = 0.

Now (3.6) gives

∂ψ Φ = 0.

Thus (3.4), (3.5) give

  
2 cos ψ Φ1
sin ψ∂θ − ∂φ = 0,
r sin θ Φ2
  
2 sin ψ Φ1
− cos ψ∂θ − ∂φ = 0.
r sin θ Φ2

Therefore
   
Φ1 Φ1
∂θ = ∂φ = 0.
Φ2 Φ2

So Φ1 and Φ2 are arbitrary complex constants and the proof of the theorem
is complete. Q.E.D.

4. Harmonic Spinors

Harmonic spinors are the solutions of the Dirac equation

4
X
D= ek · ∇ek = 0.
k=1

We shall find the explicit solutions of harmonic spinors on metric (2.6) of

Eguchi-Hanson type with zero scalar curvature (d > 2). In the case d = 2,
harmonic spinors on Eguchi-Hanson metric (2.5) were solved by Sucu and
Ünal in [7], and the solutions can be obtained in terms of hypergeometric
functions.
Theorem 4.1. Let positive integer d > 2. There exists harmonic spinors
d 1
C1 ei 2 (m+ 2 )ψ u1 (r)v1 (θ)
 
i d (m− 21 )ψ
i(n+ 21 )φ C2 e 2 u2 (r)v2 (θ)
 
Φ=e d 1 ,
C3 ei 2 (m+ 2 )ψ u3 (r)v3 (θ)

d 1
C4 ei 2 (m− 2 )ψ u4 (r)v4 (θ)
6 Z CAI AND X ZHANG

on metric (2.6) of Eguchi-Hanson type with zero scalar curvature, where m,

n are integers, Ci are complex constants,

  1−d−dm  − 1−d−dm − d(1+2m)
 2 2 2d 2 2 2d 4



 u1 (r) = r − r0 r + (d − 1)r0 ,

d(1−2m)
 1−d+dm − 1−d+dm
−

   
u (r) = r 2 − r 2 2d 2d 4
r 2 + (d − 1)r02 ,

 2 0
(4.1)
1 2 1
− −
2
1−d−dm
2d
 1
− +
2
1−d−dm
2d
+ d(1+2m)
4
2 2 2

u3 (r) = r − r0 r + (d − 1)r0 ,


r




− 1 − 1−d+dm  − 1 + 1−d+dm + d(1−2m)
1 2


2 2d 2 2d 4
r − r02 r 2 + (d − 1)r02

u4 (r) =
 ,
r
  1 d 1  1 d 1
θ n+ 2 − 2 (m+ 2 ) θ −n− 2 − 2 (m+ 2 )
  

v1 (θ) = v3 (θ) = sin 2 cos ,


2
1 d 1   1 d 1
(4.2)
θ −n− 2 + 2 (m− 2 ) θ n+ 2 + 2 (m− 2 )
  

v2 (θ) = v4 (θ) = sin cos .


2 2

Proof: Denote
f f′ 1 2f f′ 1
F1 = + − , F2 = + + .
r 2 rf r 2 rf
Under (3.2), harmonic spinors satisfy
 
2i 2
f ∂r − ∂ψ + F1 Φ1 − eiψ (∂θ − i csc θ∂φ + i cot θ∂ψ ) Φ2 = 0,
rf r
 
2i 2
f ∂r + ∂ψ + F1 Φ2 + e−iψ (∂θ + i csc θ∂φ − i cot θ∂ψ ) Φ1 = 0,
rf r
  (4.3)
2i 2 iψ
f ∂r + ∂ψ + F2 Φ3 + e (∂θ − i csc θ∂φ + i cot θ∂ψ ) Φ4 = 0,
rf r
 
2i 2
f ∂r − ∂ψ + F2 Φ4 − e−iψ (∂θ + i csc θ∂φ − i cot θ∂ψ ) Φ3 = 0.
rf r

Separating variables
 i d (m+ 1 )ψ 
e2 h1 (r, θ)
  2
Φ1
Φ2   i d2 (m− 12 )ψ
e h2 (r, θ)

  = ei(n+ 21 )φ  d 1 , (4.4)
Φ3  ei 2 (m+ 2 )ψ h3 (r, θ)

Φ4 d 1
ei 2 (m− 2 )ψ h4 (r, θ)
where m, n are integers, the Dirac equation gives
d
ei( 2 −1)ψ L(r,
~ θ) = R(r,
~ θ), (4.5)
 THE DIRAC EQUATION 7

where

f′
   
rf d (2m + 1) 1 1
 2 ∂r + 2rf 2
+ + −
r 2f rf 2  
h1
   
 ∂θ − n + 1 csc θ + d m + 1 cot θ h1 
 
~ θ) = 
 2 2 2 
L(r,  rf
 ′
 ,
− d (2m + 1) 2 f 1 
 2 ∂r − 2
+ + + 2 h3 
  2rf r 2f  rf  
 
 1 d 1 
∂θ − n + csc θ + m+ cot θ h3
2 2 2
      
1 d 1
 ∂θ + n + 2 csc θ − 2 m − 2 cot θ h2 
f′
   
 rf d (2m − 1) 1 1 
−
 2 ∂r − 2
+ + − 2 h2 
~ θ) = 
R(r,  2rf r 2f  rf  
 .

 ∂θ + n + 1 d 1 
csc θ − m− cot θ h4 
 2 2 2 
′
   
 rf d (2m − 1) 2 f 1 
∂r + 2
+ + + 2 h4
2 2rf r 2f rf

~ θ) and R(r,
Note that L(r, ~ θ) are independent with ψ, and d ≥ 3, we
obtain

~ θ) = R(r,
L(r, ~ θ) = 0. (4.6)

Thus, for i = 1, 3, j = 2, 4, we have

    
1 d 1
∂θ hi = n+ csc θ − m+ cot θ hi ,
2 2 2
     
1 d 1
∂θ hj = − n + csc θ + m− cot θ hj .
2 2 2

Solving these ordinary differential equations, we obtain

 1 d 1  1 d 1
θ n+ 2 − 2 (m+ 2 ) θ −n− 2 − 2 (m+ 2 )
 
hi = ui (r) sin cos ,
2 2
1 d 1   1 d 1
θ −n− 2 + 2 (m− 2 ) θ n+ 2 + 2 (m− 2 )
 
hj = uj (r) sin cos .
2 2
8 Z CAI AND X ZHANG

Substituting them into (4.6), we have

   
1 1
u′1 = 4 Ar − d m + r 3 u1 ,
r − 2Ar 2 − B 2
   
1 1
′
u2 = 4 Ar + d m − r 3 u2 ,
r − 2Ar 2 − B 2
     
1 2 1
′
u3 = 3Ar + B + d m + − 3 r 4 u3 ,
r (r 4 − 2Ar 2 − B) 2
     
1 2 1
′
u4 = 3Ar + B − d m − + 3 r 4 u4 .
r (r 4 − 2Ar 2 − B) 2
Solving these ordinary differential equations, we obtain (4.1) and (4.2). This
gives the proof of theorem. Q.E.D.

Finally we study the singular sets of harmonic spinors constructed in

Theorem 4.1. The singularity occurs when at least one of the power indices
θ
of r − r0 is negative in (4.1) or at least one of the power indices of sin or
2
θ
cos is negative in (4.2). The relations between polar coordinates {r, θ, ψ, φ}
2
and Cartesian coordinates {x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 } of the metric (2.6) are [9]
θ ψ+φ θ ψ+φ
x1 = r cos cos , x2 = r cos sin ,
2 2 2 2
θ ψ−φ θ ψ−φ
x3 = r sin cos , x0 = r sin sin .
2 2 2 2
Since r ≥ r0 , we obtain
θ θ
sin = 0 ⇐⇒ x3 = x0 = 0, cos = 0 ⇐⇒ x1 = x2 = 0. (4.7)
2 2
Now we denote
1 − d ± dm
a±
m = ,
2d
1 d 1
a±
mn = n + + −m± ,
2 2 2
1 d  1 
b±
mn = n + + m± .
2 2 2
It is clearly
d d
a+ −
mn − amn = , b+ −
mn − bmn = . (4.8)
2 2
Proposition 4.1. The harmonic spinor Φ, constructed in Theorem 4.1, as
well as its norm |Φ| are singular at r = r0 . Moreover, it holds that

(1) If − d2 < a− d −
mn < 0, − 2 < bmn < 0, v1 , v2 , v3 , v4 and |Φ| are singular
either at x1 x2 -plane, or at x3 x0 -plane;
 THE DIRAC EQUATION 9

(2) If − d2 < a− −
mn < 0, bmn ≥ 0, either v1 , v2 , v3 , v4 , |Φ| are singular at
x1 x2 -plane, or v1 , v3 , |Φ| are singular at x3 x0 -plane;

(3) If − d2 < a− − d
mn < 0, bmn ≤ − 2 , either v1 , v2 , v3 , v4 , |Φ| are singular
at x1 x2 -plane, or v2 , v4 , |Φ| are singular at x3 x0 -plane;
d
(4) If a− −
mn ≥ 0, − 2 < bmn < 0, either v2 , v4 , |Φ| are singular at x1 x2 -
plane, or v1 , v2 , v3 , v4 , |Φ| are singular at x3 x0 -plane;

(5) If a− −
mn ≥ 0, bmn ≥ 0, v2 , v4 , |Φ| are singular at x1 x2 -plane, or v1 ,
v3 , |Φ| are singular at x3 x0 -plane,
d
(6) If a− −
mn ≥ 0, bmn ≤ − 2 , v2 , v4 , |Φ| are singular either at x1 x2 -plane
or at x3 x0 -plane;
d d
(7) If a− −
mn ≤ − 2 , − 2 < bmn < 0, either v1 , v3 , |Φ| are singular at x1 x2 -
plane, or v1 , v2 , v3 , v4 , |Φ| are singular at x3 x0 -plane;
d
(8) If a− −
mn ≤ − 2 , bmn ≥ 0, v1 , v3 , |Φ| are singular either at x1 x2 -plane,
or at x3 x0 -plane;
d d
(9) If a− −
mn ≤ − 2 , bmn ≤ − 2 , either v1 , v3 , |Φ| are singular at x1 x2 -
plane, or v2 , v4 , |Φ| are singular at x3 x0 -plane.

Proof: The norm of harmonic spinors in Theorem 4.1 is

4
X 4
X
|Φ|2 = |Φi |2 = |Ci |2 u2i vi2 .
i=1 i=1

If any ui or vi goes to ∞ at some subset of the space, the harmonic spinors

and their norm become singular there.
The power orders of r − r0 in ui are
1 1
a−
m, a+
m, − − a−
m, − − a+
m
2 2
respectively. Note that m, d are integers and d > 2. Thus
1
m = 0 =⇒ a±
m < 0, − − a±
m < 0,
2
1 1
m ≤ −1 =⇒ a−
m > 0, − − a+
m > 0, a+
m < 0, − − a−
m < 0,
2 2
1 1
m ≥ 1 =⇒ a−
m < 0, − − a+
m < 0, a+
m > 0, − − a−
m > 0.
2 2
This indicates that r0 is the singular point of the harmonic spinor Φ as well
as its norm |Φ|.
10 Z CAI AND X ZHANG

From (4.2), we obtain

a−  − d
θ −bmn − 2
 mn

θ
v1 (θ) = v3 (θ) = sin cos ,
2 2
 − d −
θ −amn − 2 θ bmn

v2 (θ) = v4 (θ) = sin cos .
2 2
Therefore the rest parts of the theorem follow from the above formulas, (4.7)
and the fact that sin 2θ , cos 2θ can not be both zero. Q.E.D.

Acknowledgement. The authors would like to thank referee’s valuable suggestions. This
work is supported by Chinese NSF grants 11731001, the special foundations for Guangxi
Ba Gui Scholars and Junwu Scholars of Guangxi University.

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169.

†
School of Mathematics and Information Science, Guangxi University, Nan-
ning, Guangxi 530004, PR China

Email address: 2006301001@st.gxu.edu.cn

♭
Guangxi Center for Mathematical Research, Guangxi University, Nan-
ning, Guangxi 530004, PR China
 THE DIRAC EQUATION 11

♭
Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sci-
ences, Beijing 100190, PR China

♭
School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sci-
ences, Beijing 100049, PR China

Email address: xzhang@gxu.edu.cn, xzhang@amss.ac.cn