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We develop deformation theory for abelian invariant complex structures on a nilmanifold, and prove that in this case the invariance property is preserved by the Kuranishi process. A purely algebraic condition characterizes the deformations leading again to abelian structures, and we prove that such deformations are unobstructed. Various examples illustrate the resulting theory, and the behavior possible in three complex dimensions.

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The limiting behavior of the normalized KÄahler-Ricci °ow for manifolds with positive ¯rst Chern class is examined under certain stability conditions. First, it is shown that if the Mabuchi Kenergy is bounded from below, then the scalar curvature converges uniformly to a constant. Second, it is shown that if the Mabuchi Kenergy is bounded from below and if the lowest positive eigenvalue of the ¹@y ¹@ operator on smooth vector ¯elds is bounded away from0 along the °ow, then the metrics converge exponentially fast in C1 to a KÄahler-Einstein metric.

Let φ∈C^0∩W_{1,2}(Σ,X) where Σ is a compact Riemann surface, X is a compact locally CAT(1) space, and W_{1,2}(Σ,X) is defined as in Korevaar-Schoen. We use the technique of harmonic replacement to prove that either there exists a harmonic map u: Σ → X homotopic to φ or there exists a nontrivial conformal harmonic map v: S^2 → X. To complete the argument, we prove compactness for energy minimizers and a removable singularity theorem for conformal harmonic maps.