Quaternionic Kaehler and Spin(7) metrics arising from quaternionic contact Einstein structures

Abstract: We construct left invariant quaternionic contact (qc) structures on Lie groups with zero and non-zero torsion and with non-vanishing quaternionic contact conformal curvature tensor, thus showing the existence of non-flat quaternionic contact manifolds. We prove that the product of the real line with a seven dimensional manifold, equipped with a certain qc structure, has a quaternionic Kaehler metric as well as a metric with holonomy contained in Spin(7). As a consequence we determine explicit quaternionic Kaehler metrics and Spin(7)-holonomy metrics which seem to be new. Moreover, we give explicit non-compact eight dimensional almost quaternion hermitian manifolds with either a closed fundamental four form or fundamental two forms defining a differential ideal that are not quaternionic Kaehler.