Form-Type Calabi-Yau Equations

Motivated from mathematical aspects of the superstring theory, we introduce a new equation on a balanced, hermitian manifold, with zero first Chern class. Solving the equation, one will obtain, in each Bott--Chern cohomology class, a balanced metric which is hermitian Ricci--flat. This can be viewed as a differential form level generalization of the classical Calabi--Yau equation. We establish the existence and uniqueness of the equation on complex tori, and prove certain uniqueness and openness on a general K\"ahler manifold.