HKT manifolds: Hodge theory, formality and balanced metrics

Abstract: Let $(M,I,J,K,\Omega)$ be a compact HKT manifold and denote with $\partial$ the conjugate Dolbeault operator with respect to $I$, $\partial_J:=J^{{-1}\overline\partial} J$, $\partial<sup>\Lambda:=[\partial,\Lambda]$ where $\Lambda$ is the adjoint of $L:=\Omega\wedge-$. Under suitable assumptions, we study Hodge theory for the complexes $(A<sup>{\bullet,0},\partial,\partial_J)$ and $(A<sup>{\bullet,0},\partial,\partial<sup>\Lambda)$ showing a similar behavior to K\"ahler manifolds. In particular, several relations among the Laplacians, the spaces of harmonic forms and the associated cohomology groups, together with Hard Lefschetz properties, are proved. Moreover, we show that for a compact HKT $\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbb{H})$-manifold the differential graded algebra $(A<sup>{\bullet,0},\partial)$ is formal and this will lead to an obstruction for the existence of an HKT $\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbb{H})$-structure $(I,J,K,\Omega)$ on a compact complex manifold $(M,I)$. Finally, balanced HKT structures on solvmanifolds are studied.