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We introduce a systematic method to produce left-invariant, non-Ricci-flat Einstein metrics of indefinite signature on nice nilpotent Lie groups. On a nice nilpotent Lie group, we give a simple algebraic characterization of non-Ricci-flat left-invariant Einstein metrics in both the class of metrics for which the nice basis is orthogonal and a more general class associated to order two permutations of the nice basis. We obtain classifications in dimension 8 and, under the assumption that the root matrix is surjective, dimension 9; moreover, we prove that Einstein nilpotent Lie groups of nonzero scalar curvature exist in every dimension $\geq 8$., 29 pages, 5 tables. v2: presentation improved, definition of sigma-compatible metrics replaced with the more general definition of sigma-diagonal metric. v3: misprints corrected

This is partly an expository paper, where the authors' work on pseudoriemannian Einstein metrics on nilpotent Lie groups is reviewed. A new criterion is given for the existence of a diagonal Einstein metric on a nice nilpotent Lie group. Classifications of special classes of Ricci-flat metrics on nilpotent Lie groups of dimension $\leq8$ are obtained. Some related open questions are presented., 30 pages, 1 figure. v2: added a comment on a recent example of an Einstein nilpotent Lie algebra of dimension 7; added a remark and a question concerning the characteristically nilpotent case; replaced the "\sigma-compatible" condition with the more general "\sigma-diagonal"; added 3 references

We study the Ricci tensor of left-invariant pseudoriemannian metrics on Lie groups. For an appropriate class of Lie groups that contains nilpotent Lie groups, we introduce a variety with a natural $\mathrm{GL}(n,\mathbb{R})$ action, whose orbits parametrize Lie groups with a left-invariant metric; we show that the Ricci operator can be identified with the moment map relative to a natural symplectic structure. From this description we deduce that the Ricci operator is the derivative of the scalar curvature $s$ under gauge transformations of the metric, and show that Lie algebra derivations with nonzero trace obstruct the existence of Einstein metrics with $s\neq0$. Using the notion of nice Lie algebra, we give the first example of a left-invariant Einstein metric with $s\neq0$ on a nilpotent Lie group. We show that nilpotent Lie groups of dimension $\leq 6$ do not admit such a metric, and a similar result holds in dimension $7$ with the extra assumption that the Lie algebra is nice., 24 pages; v2, improved criterion for nonexistence added (Theorem 4.1), proofs simplified and contents reorganized accordingly, two references added; v3, corrected a constant in Theorem 3.8 and Corollary 3.10, minor correction in the proofs, added examples of Einstein metrics in any indefinite signature, presentation improved, three references added. To appear in J. Pure Appl. Algebra

We study the pseudoriemannian geometry of almost parahermitian manifolds, obtaining a formula for the Ricci tensor of the Levi-Civita connection. The formula uses the intrinsic torsion of an underlying SL(n,R)-structure; we express it in terms of exterior derivatives of some appropriately defined differential forms. As an application, we construct Einstein and Ricci-flat examples on Lie groups. We disprove the parak\"ahler version of the Goldberg conjecture, and obtain the first compact examples of a non-flat, Ricci-flat nearly parak\"ahler structure. We study the paracomplex analogue of the first Chern class in complex geometry, which obstructs the existence of Ricci-flat parak\"ahler metrics., Comment: 36 pages; v2, minor corrections, two references added, presentation improved; v3, clarified definition of \overline{F}; corrected coefficients in Proposition 12, fixed typos in statements of Lemma 13 and Theorem 14