Holonomy restrictions from the curvature operator of the second kind

Abstract: We show that an $n$-dimensional Riemannian manifold with $n$-nonnegative or $n$-nonpositive curvature operator of the second kind has restricted holonomy $SO(n)$ or is flat. The result does not depend on completeness and can be improved provided the space is Einstein or K\"ahler. In particular, if a locally symmetric space has $n$-nonnegative or $n$-nonpositive curvature operator of the second kind, then it has constant curvature. When the locally symmetric space is irreducible this can be improved to $\frac{3n}{2}\frac{n+2}{n+4}$-nonnegative or $\frac{3n}{2}\frac{n+2}{n+4}$-nonpositive curvature operator of the second kind.