A Variational Characterization of Positive Scalar Curvature Kähler metrics

Abstract: We introduce the prescribed scalar curvature measure equation on a compact Kähler manifold. For a Kähler class of positive total scalar curvature, we prove that the following are equivalent: the existence of a positive scalar curvature Kähler metric, solvability of this equation for every admissible measure, $d_1$-coercivity of the associated functionals, and uniform geodesic stability along finite-energy $d_1$-geodesic rays. As a consequence, in each fixed Kähler class, the space of positive scalar curvature Kähler metrics is either empty or contractible. We further prove that every Kähler class on a positive-dimensional compact smooth toric Kähler manifold contains a torus-invariant metric of positive scalar curvature. Therefore, for every Kähler class, the prescribed scalar curvature measure equation admits a smooth solution for every admissible measure, unique modulo constants.