On Complete Gradient Steady Ricci Solitons with Vanishing D-tensor

Abstract

In this paper, we extend the work of Cao-Chen [9] on Bach-flat gradient Ricci solitons to classify $n$-dimensional ($n\ge 5$) complete $D$-flat gradient steady Ricci solitons. More precisely, we prove that any $n$-dimensional complete noncompact gradient steady Ricci soliton with vanishing $D$-tensor is either Ricci-flat, or isometric to the Bryant soliton. Furthermore, the proof extends to the shrinking case and the expanding case as well.