Commuting Pairs, Generalized para-Kähler Geometry and Born Geometry

Abstract: In this paper, we study the geometries given by commuting pairs of generalized endomorphisms ${\cal A} \in \text{End}(T\oplus T^*)$ with the property that their product defines a generalized metric. There are four types of such commuting pairs: generalized K\"ahler (GK), generalized para-K\"ahler (GpK), generalized chiral and generalized anti-K\"ahler geometries. We show that GpK geometry is equivalent to a pair of para-Hermitian structures and we derive the integrability conditions in terms of these. From the physics point of view, this is the geometry of $2D$ $(2,2)$ twisted supersymmetric sigma models. The generalized chiral structures are equivalent to a pair of tangent bundle product structures that also appear in physics applications of $2D$ sigma models. We show that the case when the two product structures anti-commute corresponds to Born geometry. Lastly, the generalized anti-K\"ahler structures are equivalent to a pair of anti-Hermitian structures (sometimes called Hermitian with Norden metric). The generalized chiral and anti-K\"ahler geometries do not have isotropic eigenbundles and therefore do not admit the usual description of integrability in terms of the Dorfman bracket. We therefore use an alternative definition of integrability in terms of the generalized Bismut connection of the corresponding metric, which for GK and GpK commuting pairs recovers the usual integrability conditions and can also be used to define the integrability of generalized chiral and anti-K\"ahler structures. In addition, it allows for a weakening of the integrability condition, which has various applications in physics.