All Questions
Tagged with dg.differential-geometry riemannian-geometry
237 questions
44
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Finding a 1-form adapted to a smooth flow
Let $M$ be a smooth compact manifold, and let $X$ be a smooth vector field of $M$ that is nowhere vanishing, thus one can think of the pair $(M,X)$ as a smooth flow with no fixed points. Let us say ...
- 114k
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Limit cycles as closed geodesics (in negatively or positively curved space)
Updated 1/25/2023 I just added a related post below:
Jacobi fields, Conjugate points and limit cycle theory
EDIT: Here is a related post which concern quadratic vector fields rather than Van ...
- 356
73
votes
10
answers
11k
views
Riemannian surfaces with an explicit distance function?
I'm looking for explicit examples of Riemannian surfaces (two-dimensional Riemannian manifolds $(M,g)$) for which the distance function d(x,y) can be given explicitly in terms of local coordinates of ...
- 114k
46
votes
2
answers
11k
views
Does the curvature determine the metric?
I ask myself, whether the curvature determines the metric.
Concretely: Given a compact manifold $M$, are there two metrics $g_1$ and $g_2$, which are not everywhere flat, such that they are
not ...
- 1,755
14
votes
2
answers
871
views
Are all maps $\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2$ with fixed singular values affine?
Let $f:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2$ be a smooth map whose differential has fixed distinct singular values $0<\sigma_1<\sigma_2$ and an everywhere positive determinant (which is the product $\...
- 6,741
7
votes
0
answers
521
views
Limit cycles as closed geodesics(2)
Hilbert 16th problem asks for a uniform upper bound $H(n)$ for the number of limit cycles of a polynomial vector field of degree $n$ on the plane. Here is an updated proof of the ...
- 356
2
votes
1
answer
467
views
A curvature description for center condition for quadratic vector field
We consider the quadratic vector field $V$ $$\begin{cases} x'=P(x,y)\\ y'=Q(x,y)
\end {cases}\;\;\;\;(V)$$
where $P,Q \in \mathbb{R}[x,y]$ are polynomials of degree $2$ with $P(0,0)=Q(0,0)=...
- 356
36
votes
10
answers
6k
views
Determining a surface in $\mathbb{R}^3$ by its Gaussian curvature
A curve in the plane is determined, up to orientation-preserving
Euclidean
motions, by its curvature function, $\kappa(s)$.
Here is one of my favorite examples, from
Alfred Gray's book,
Modern ...
- 151k
19
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Equations satisfied by the Riemann curvature tensor
It is well known that the Riemann curvature tensor of a metric satisfies
\begin{eqnarray}
R_{jikl}=-R_{ijkl}=R_{ijlk},(1)\\
R_{klij}=R_{ijkl},(2)\\
R_{i[jkl]}=0 \mbox{(1st Bianchi identity)}.(3)
\end{...
- 21.8k
10
votes
2
answers
926
views
Is there a volume-preserving diffeomorphism of the disk with prescribed singular values?
This is a cross-post. While working on a variational problem, I have reached to the following question.
Let $0<\sigma_1<\sigma_2$ satisfy $\sigma_1\sigma_2=1$, and let $D \subseteq \mathbb{R}^2$...
- 6,741
7
votes
1
answer
898
views
Sharp Gaussian upper bounds on Heat Kernel
I am looking for references (with proof) for the following statement:
Let $(M, g)$ be a Riemannian manifold with bounded curvature and let $p_t(x , y)$ be the heat kernel of $M$. Let $K$ be compact ...
- 9,853
110
votes
6
answers
16k
views
When can a connection Induce a Riemannian metric for which it is the Levi-Civita connection?
As we all know, for a Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$, there exists a unique torsion-free connection $\nabla_g$, the Levi-Civita connection, that is compatible with the metric.
I was wondering if one can ...
- 3,399
17
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Square of the distance function on a Riemannian manifold
Let $(M^n,g)$ be a smooth Riemannian manifold. Consider the square of the distance function
$$dist^2\colon M\times M\to \mathbb{R}$$
given by $(x,y)\mapsto dist^2(x,y)$. It is easy to see that this ...
- 21.8k
4
votes
0
answers
495
views
Limit cycles of quadratic systems and closed geodesics(Finitness of $H(2)$)
This question is inspired by this answer to the question Finding a 1-form adapted to a smooth flow.
Assume that $V$ is a polynomial vector field of degree $2$ as follows:$$\begin{cases} x'=P(...
- 356
43
votes
5
answers
8k
views
A geometric interpretation of the Levi-Civita connection?
Let $M$ be a Riemannian manifold. There exists a unique torsion-free connection in the (co)tangent bundle of $M$ such that the metric of $M$ is covariantly constant. This connection is called the Levi-...
- 23.5k
24
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Obtain Lorentzian manifolds from Riemannian ones by Wick rotation
In some cases, Wick rotation of a metric, formally consisting in substituting a coordinate with i times the coordinate itself, allows one to construct a Riemannian manifold starting from a Lorentzian ...
- 639
19
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Does a Kähler manifold always admit a complete Kähler metric?
Every smooth manifold admits a complete Riemannian metric. In fact, every Riemannian metric is conformal to a complete Riemannian metric, see this note. What about in the Kähler case?
Does a Kähler ...
- 19.3k
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
When is a flow geodesic and how to construct the connection from it
Let $(M,\Gamma)$ be a $C^\infty$ $n$ dimensional real manifold with a linear connection $\Gamma$ on it. I know the following:
If $\gamma:[t_0,t_1]\rightarrow M$ is a smooth curve and is a geodesic, ...
- 2,792
14
votes
4
answers
6k
views
When is a Riemannian metric equivalent to the flat metric on $\mathbb R^n$?
I'm looking for an easily-checked, local condition on an $n$-dimensional Riemannian manifold to determine whether small neighborhoods are isometric to neighborhoods in $\mathbb R^n$. For example, for ...
- 54.6k
9
votes
1
answer
589
views
Injectivity radius of the Sasaki metric
Let $(Q,g)$ be a (compact) Riemannian manifold with injectivity radius $\rho>0$. There is a natural metric $\tilde g$ on the tangent bundle $TQ$ which is known as the Sasaki metric and which makes $...
- 125
8
votes
1
answer
599
views
Can we perturb a map $\mathbb{R}^n \to \mathbb{R}^n$ to have distinct singular values?
$\newcommand{\SO}[1]{\text{SO}(#1)}$
$\newcommand{\dist}{\operatorname{dist}}$
Let $\mathbb{D}^n$ be the closed $n$-dimensional unit ball, and let $f:\mathbb{D}^n \to \mathbb{R}^n$ be smooth.
Set
$$...
- 6,741
7
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Do cotangent bundles have "bounded geometry"?
I have often heard the phrase "a manifold $M$ has bounded geometry" thrown around without ever seeing a precise definition of what this means. Apparent examples are compact manifolds and $\mathbb{R}^n$...
- 71
6
votes
1
answer
475
views
Differentiability of distance function at first conjugate point
Formulation of question: Consider a complete, simply connected Riemannian manifold $M$ with Riemannian metric $d$. For $x,y \in M$ that are distinct but close enough to each other, there is a geodesic ...
- 984
3
votes
0
answers
210
views
Jacobi equation and conjugate points on solution curves of the Van der Pol vector field
Let $X$ be a geodesible non vanishing vector field on a manifold $M$. Namely there is a Riemannian structure $(M,g)$ such that all integral curves of $M$ are unparametrized geodesics of the ...
- 356
3
votes
0
answers
165
views
Flat Riemannian metrics adapted to quadratic vector fields with center
Assume that $P(x,y),Q(x,y)\in \mathbb{R}[x,y]$ are two polynomials of degree $2$ with $P(0,0)=Q(0,0)=0.$
Suppose that the vector field $$\begin{cases} x'=P(x,y)\\ y'=Q(x,y) \end{cases}$$ has a center ...
- 356
3
votes
0
answers
360
views
(Some possible obstructions to ) Limit cycles as closed geodesics(3)
First we explain our Motivation:
Motivation:
First note that there is no a Riemannian metric on an open set of the plane which possess two nested closed geodesics $\gamma_1, \gamma_2$ ...
- 356
43
votes
11
answers
15k
views
Open questions in Riemannian geometry
What are some major open problems in Riemannian Geometry? I tried googling it, but couldn't find any resources.
32
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Largest hyperbolic disk embeddable in Euclidean 3-space?
Hilbert proved that there's no complete regular ($C^k$ for sufficiently large $k$) isometric embedding of the hyperbolic plane into $\mathbb{R}^3$. On the other hand, the pseudosphere is locally ...
- 13.6k
24
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Curvature and Parallel Transport
Here is an updated formulation of the question, which is more precise and I think completely correct:
Suppose $M$ is a Riemannian manifold. Pick a point $p$ in $M$ and let $U$ be a neighborhood of ...
- 29.2k
22
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What is the analog of the "Fundamental Theorem of Space Curves," for surfaces, and beyond?
The "Fundamental Theorem of Space Curves"
(Wikipedia link; MathWorld link)
states that there is a unique (up to congruence)
curve in space that simultaneously realizes
given continuous curvature $\...
- 151k
20
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Smoothness of the closest point on a submanifold
Let $(M,g)$ be a smooth Riemannian manifold, and let $S \subseteq M$ be a compact submanifold.
Assume that for each $p \in M$, there exist a unique closest point on $S$, i.e a unique point $\tilde s(...
- 6,741
20
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Curvature of a Lie group
Since a lie group is a manifold with the structure of a continuous group, then each point of the manifold [Edit: provided we fix a metric, for example an invariant or bi-invariant one] has some scalar ...
- 251
20
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Can a manifold have a curvature-free connection that is not torsion-free?
Suppose I have a smooth manifold with a tangent bundle, and I have a connection. If this connection is curvature-free, is it guaranteed to be torsion-free? (I am not assuming a metric, just a finite-...
- 1,491
17
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Green's operator of elliptic differential operator
Let $P:\Gamma(E)\rightarrow\Gamma(F)$ be an elliptic partial differential operator, with index $=0$ and closed image of codimension $=1$, between spaces $\Gamma(E)$ and $\Gamma(F)$ of smooth sections ...
- 376
15
votes
4
answers
918
views
Minimizing geodesics in incomplete Riemannian manifolds
Let $(M, g)$ be a Riemannian manifold, not necessarily complete. Let $x$ be a point in $M$, and let $r>0$ be such that the exponential map $\operatorname{exp}_x$ is defined on an open ball $B=B(0,r)...
- 3,212
15
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Characterizing Hessians among symmetric bilinear tensors
I apologize in advance if this is somewhat elementary, but:
Let $(M,g)$ be a compact Riemannian manifold. Is there a "characterization" of which symmetric bilinear tensors $B\in Sym^2(M)$ ...
- 5,891
14
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is the cotangent bundle to a Kahler manifold hyperkahler?
Let me be more specific. Let $M$ be a Kahler manifold with Riemannian metric $g$ and complex structure $I$. Then $T^\ast M$ will also be Kahler with metric and complex structure induced from $M$ (I ...
- 6,829
12
votes
1
answer
3k
views
how to define the injectivity radius of manifolds with boundary?
For manifolds without boundary one defines the injectivity radius as the maximal radius where the exponential map is a diffeomorphism. One can then show that the injectivity radius is the maximum ...
- 687
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Isometry group of pseudo Riemannian manifold always a Lie group? (Myers-Steenrod)
Myers-Steenrod states that the isometry group of a Riemannian manifold is a Lie group. Is that also true for pseudo Riemannian manifolds? I didn't find anything related to that.
Cheers
- 123
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Retraction of a Riemannian manifold with boundary to its cut locus
This question is edited following the comment of Joseph. He pointed out that the main object of the first version of this question is the cut locus.
Recall that the cut locus of a set $S$ in a ...
- 28.9k
10
votes
3
answers
757
views
Spin-H structures
Let us define a Spin-H structure as a reduction of a SO(n)-bundle by the group: $$Spin^H (n)=Spin(n) \times SU(2)/\{ 1,-1\}$$ The Spin-H structures are analogous to the well-known Spin-C structures ...
- 187
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What does it mean that the Hessian is proportional to the metric?
Let $(M,g)$ be a smooth manifold equipped with a metric tensor $g$, and $f\in C^\infty(M)$ a regular function (i.e., with nowhere vanishing differential).
Denote by $\mathrm{Hess}_g(f):=\nabla df$ ...
- 2,527
8
votes
3
answers
419
views
Extension of a vector field to an orthonormal frame for a flat metric
Assume that $U$ is an open set in the plane and $X$ is a non vanishing vector field on $U$.
Is there a non vanishing vector field $Y$ on $U$ such that the pair $\{X,Y \}$ plays the role of an ...
- 356
6
votes
0
answers
283
views
A concept weaker than geodesibility of flows which is possibly useful in limit cycle theory
The main objective of this post is to apply the Gauss Bonnet Theorem to count the number of limit cycles of a polynomial vector field as described in this MO post and its linked MO posts But in this ...
- 356
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Vector Fields in a Riemannian Manifold
Suppose $(M,g)$ is a Riemannian manifold.
Is there a way to classify manifolds where there exists a vector field that commutes with the laplace beltrami operator?
Thanks
- 4,135
6
votes
2
answers
624
views
On equation $\Delta \circ \partial/\partial X=\partial/\partial X \circ \Delta$ on a Riemannian manifold
Assume that $M$ is a compact Riemannian manifold whose Laplacian is denoted by $\Delta$. Assume that the Euler characteristic of $M$ is zero. Does $M$ admit a non vanishing vector field ...
- 356
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Continuity of Hausdorff measure on level sets
Let $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^2$ a open and bounded set with smooth boundary and $\phi:\Omega\to\mathbb{R}$ a smooth function such that:
$\bullet$ $\phi^{-1}(0)\neq\emptyset$;
$\bullet$ $\nabla\phi(x)\...
- 1,759
5
votes
2
answers
909
views
A Converse to the Gauss Bonnet Theorem
Let $S$ be a compact surface in $\mathbb{R}^{3}$ with the gauss normal map $N:S\to \mathbb{S}^{2}$. Assme that $\phi;\mathbb{S}^{2}\to S$ is a diffeomorphism. Put $F=N\circ \phi$ and represent $F:\...
- 356
5
votes
2
answers
480
views
Maximum symmetry metric on $ \mathbb{C}P^n $
Let $ M $ be a compact connected manifold. The degree of symmetry of $ M $, denoted $ N(M) $, is the maximum of the dimensions of the isometry groups of all possible Riemannian structures on $ M $. ...
- 4,081
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Curvature as metric invariant
This is quite well-known: the ONLY metric invariants are curvature, its higher
derivatives, and any possible contractions between them.
The meaning of an invariant is, to put it simply, a tensor ...
- 133