We prove the existence of a (unique) S1-invariant Ricci-flat Kähler metric on a neighbourhood of the zero section in the canonical bundle of a real-analytic Kähler manifold X, extending the metric on X.

We give a formula for the Betti numbers of 3-Sasakian manifolds or orbifolds which can be obtained as 3-Sasakian quotients of a sphere by a torus. This answers a question of Galicki and Salamon about the topology of 3-Sasakian manifolds.

We give a hyperkähler analogue of the classification of compact homogeneous Kähler manifolds. Namely we show that, for a compact semisimple Lie group G, the complete G-invariant hyperkähler manifolds which are also locally Gc-homogeneous with respect to one of the complex structures are precisely the hyperkähler metrics of Kronheimer, Biquard and Kovalev on coadjoint semisimple orbits of Gc. As a consequence the only complete hyperkähler metrics which are of cohomogeneity one with respect to a triholomorphic action of compact semisimple Lie group are the flat metric on ℍn and the Calabi metric on T*[Copf]Pn.

A 4n-dimensional Riemannian manifold (M, g) is hyperkähler if it possesses three anti-commuting complex structures I, J, K such that the metric g is Kähler with respect to each of them. The reduced holonomy group of such a manifold is necessarily a subgroup of Sp(n) so the Ricci tensor of g vanishes and (M, g) can be regarded as a positive definite solution to Einstein's equations in vacuum.