The Mabuchi Completion of the Space of K\"ahler Potentials

Abstract

Suppose $(X,\omega)$ is a compact K\"ahler manifold. Following Mabuchi, the space of smooth K\"ahler potentials $\mathcal H$ can be endowed with a Riemannian structure, which induces an infinite dimensional path length metric space $(\mathcal H,d)$. We prove that the metric completion of $(\mathcal H,d)$ can be identified with $(\mathcal E^2(X,\omega),\tilde d)$, and this latter space is a complete non-positively curved geodesic metric space. In obtaining this result, we will rely on envelope techniques which allow for a treatment in a very general context. Profiting from this, we will characterize the pairs of potentials in $\text{PSH}(X,\omega)$ that can be connected by weak geodesics and we will also give a characterization of $\mathcal E(X,\omega)$ in this context.