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2 votes
0 answers
195 views

Reference for connection of a Hessian metric

Let $(M,\langle \cdot,\cdot\rangle)$ be a pseudo-Riemannian manifold and $f: M \to \Bbb R$ be a smooth function. One can consider the covariant Hessian $\nabla ({\rm d}f)$. Some time ago I had seen a ...
3 votes
0 answers
348 views

The uniqueness of Poincaré metric

The Poincaré metric $ds=\frac{\sqrt{dx^2+dy^2}}{y}$ has the proprety that the action of the group $PSL(2,\mathbb{R})=SL(2,\mathbb{R})/\{\pm I_{2}\}$ on $\mathbb{H}$ preserves the hyperbolic distance. ...
1 vote
0 answers
272 views

A cohomology associated to a Riemannian manifold

Let $N$ be a compact Riemanian manifold and $G$ be its isometry group. Let $M=\chi^{\infty}(N)$ be the space of smooth vector fields on $N$. There is a natural right action of $G$ on $M$ with $X.g=g^*(...
3 votes
0 answers
112 views

Is the square root of curl^2-1/2 a natural (Dirac-)operator?

In current computations on a particular $3$-dimensional Riemannian manifold, a first order differential operator $D:\Gamma^\infty(TM,M)\to \Gamma^\infty(TM,M)$ acting on vector fiels shows up, with ...
1 vote
1 answer
291 views

What is the status of the smooth version of bellows conjecture

Bellows conjecture for polyhedra was setteled in 1997. How about the smooth version of it, ie bending of closed 2D submanifolds in $\mathbb{R}^3$ while preserving the Riemannian structure/intrinsic ...
2 votes
3 answers
613 views

Manifolds with special holonomy especially $G_2$

I am interested in learning about $G_2$ manifolds and am aware that one of the canonical references is Joyce's Compact Manifolds with Special Holonomy. I am certain that my background is, at this ...
0 votes
1 answer
339 views

Polarisation in a neighbourhood of a Lagrangian submanifold

Let $(X, \omega)$ be a symplectic manifold of dimension $2n$ and $\omega$ is an exact symplectic form i.e. $\omega = -d\alpha$. Let furthermore $M \subset X$ be a compact Lagrangian submanifold such ...
4 votes
0 answers
343 views

Riemannian metrics on a manifold with corners

For a smooth manifold with corners (although maybe there is no universally agreed definition of it), is there always a Riemannian metric making every face totally geodesic? Is there any reference ...
1 vote
0 answers
162 views

Gromov-Hausdorff relative compactness without curvature restrictions

A famous theorem of Gromov says that the set of compact Riemannian manifolds with $Ric \geq c$ and $\text{diam} \leq D$ is relatively compact in the Gromov-Hausdorff metric. Chapter 10 of the book by ...
3 votes
0 answers
74 views

Deforming a non-positively curved Riemannian manifold into a negatively curved one

Cheeger deformations can be used to deform some non-negatively curved Riemannian manifolds into positively curved manifolds (e.g., sectional curvatures strictly positve), see What is a Cheeger ...
18 votes
2 answers
1k views

The geometry of Nadirashvili's complete, bounded, negative curvature surface

I would like to understand the geometric structure of a surface that Nadirashvili constructed which resolved what was known as Hadamard's Conjecture. Perhaps in the 15 years since his construction, ...
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is there a book on differential geometry that doesn't mention the notion of charts?

What are some books/texts that use chart free coordinate free language for things otherwise written in a coordinate based formulation? I would like to learn about covariant differentiation, curvature, ...
3 votes
1 answer
704 views

Bishop-Gromov volume comparison on manifolds with negligible negative Ricci curvature

Let us consider a complete Riemannian manifold $M$ of dimension $n$ with $Ric \geq 0$. Then the Bishop-Gromov volume comparison theorem says that for any $p \in M$, the function $$ \frac{\text{Vol}(B(...
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

Non-compact manifolds of positive/non-negative Ricci curvature

Consider a non-compact complete Riemannian manifold $(M, g)$ with smooth compact boundary $\partial M$. Suppose also that $M \setminus \partial M$ has positive/non-negative Ricci curvature. My ...
1 vote
0 answers
133 views

Reference for example of gradient steady Ricci solitons

Recently I read a paper about Ricci solitons. I quote a paragraph of it here: In dimension three, the classification of complete gradient steady Ricci solitons is still open. Known examples are ...
1 vote
0 answers
156 views

Proof of Berger in "Sur les variétés d’Einstein compactes"

I would appreciate any reference that contains either a translation or proof of the following interesting observation of Berger (Sur les variétés d’Einstein compactes, M. Berger paper (in French)). ...
3 votes
1 answer
432 views

Is there a characterization of Riemannian manifolds that split off two factors?

Some Riemannian manifolds are expressed as a product manifold. Recently, I have read two articles about space-times. In both articles, the authors prove that a Riemannian manifold $\bar{M}^n$ is ...
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

When a Killing vector field on Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$ is gradient?

Let $(M^n,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold that admit a unit Killing vector field $X$. i.e., $\mathscr{L}_Xg=0$. Is it possible that there exist a smooth function $f$ on $M$ such that $X=\mathrm{grad}f$? ...
8 votes
1 answer
400 views

Multidimensional gluing theorem for Riemannian manifolds

I would like to understand whether the following multidimensional (partial) generalization of the A.D. Alexandrov gluing theorem is true and, if yes, whether there is a reference. (The original ...
1 vote
1 answer
220 views

Question on $\alpha-$Einstein manifolds

A Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$ is called $\alpha-$Einstein if there exist a non-zero $1-$form $\alpha$ such $$\rho=ag+b\alpha\otimes\alpha$$ where $a,b$ are smooth functions on $M$ and $\rho$ is ricci ...
4 votes
1 answer
139 views

Convex hull of a connected subset on a complete surface of non-positive curvature

Let $S$ be a simply connected surface, possibly with boundary components, with a smooth complete metric of non-positive curvature. Let $X\subset S$ be a closed connected subset. I would like to know ...
6 votes
2 answers
381 views

Sources for Alexandrov surfaces

There are two distinct notions in differential geometry associated with A. D. Alexandrov: (1) Alexandrov spaces of courvature bounded from below; (2) Alexandrov surfaces of bounded total curvature (...
2 votes
0 answers
305 views

"Riemannian" collar theorem

Let $(M,g)$ be a compact manifold of dimension $n$ with boundary. If $\partial M$ is smooth then one has a control on the determinant of the Jacobian of the diffeomorphism in the collar theorem, i.e....
8 votes
1 answer
336 views

Short examples that are/are not quantum-ergodic

Are there any considerably short examples of manifolds that are/aren't quantum ergodic, or quantum unique ergodic? Note that a (compact) Riemannian manifold is said to be quantum ergodic if almost ...
18 votes
2 answers
4k views

Reference request: Geodesic flow on a manifold with negative curvature is ergodic

I'm reading about the Mostow's rigidity theorem, and the proof uses the following (maybe well-known) result: The geodesic flow on a manifold with negative curvature is ergodic. The lecture note that ...
7 votes
4 answers
3k views

Levy-Gromov Isoperimetric Inequality

In his paper "Paul Levy's Isoperimetric Inequality", Gromov gives the following isoperimetric inequality: Let $V$ be a closed $(n+1)$-dimensional Riemannian Manifold with $\mathrm{Ric}(V) \geq n \...
2 votes
0 answers
127 views

Functional inequality under mean curvature flow

Let $\Sigma$ be a hypersurface in $\mathbb R^n$ and $\Sigma_t$ be a variation of $\Sigma$ under the mean curvature flow under an extra condition that ${\rm vol}_{n-1}(\Sigma)={\rm vol}_{n-1}(\Sigma_t)$...
4 votes
1 answer
565 views

Riccati equation and principal curvatures

Let $\Omega$ be an open subset of a Riemannian manifold $M$. Assume that $\Sigma:=\partial \Omega$ is $C^2$. Let $U$ be a neighborhood of $\Omega$ such that $\exp_p(t\nu(p))$ is diffieomorphism, ...
8 votes
1 answer
682 views

Geometry of convex sets in Riemannian manifolds

Let $M$ be a smooth Riemannian manifold without boundary. Let $X\subset M$ be a closed subset which is a smooth submanifold with boundary, $\dim X=\dim M$. Assume that $X$ is locally convex, i.e. any ...
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Reference for homogeneous spaces

I am a graduate student of differential geometry. I would like to get an overview over the way, how results are usually obtained for homogeneous spaces by Lie algebraic methods. By definition a ...
2 votes
3 answers
397 views

Reference request for structure equations

Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold and let $\lbrace e_1,...,e_n\rbrace$ be a locally frame field on $M$ and $\omega _1 ,...,\omega _n$ be the dual $1$-forms of it. If $\omega _{ij}$ be the ...
5 votes
1 answer
328 views

Is a space with p-norm a Finsler manifold?

Suppose $\mathbb{R}^n$ is equipped with the p-norm $\left\Vert x \right\Vert_p$. Let $x\in \mathbb{R}^n$ and let $y$ be in a neighborhood of $x$. The distance between $x$ and $y$ can be defined as $\...
3 votes
1 answer
496 views

Ricci flow preserves holonomy

Could someone please give me a reference where I can find a complete proof of the result Ricci flow preserves holonomy? Is there any way to prove that Ricci flow preserves Kahler condition without ...
3 votes
1 answer
205 views

Reference: Finsler Derivative?

On the wikipedia page "Generalizations of derivative" the author mentions: " in Finsler geometry, one studies spaces which look locally like Banach spaces. Thus one might want a derivative with some ...
13 votes
4 answers
3k views

General Relativity and Differential Geometry intuitions of Second Bianchi Identity

In General Relativity, one uses the Riemann Tensor in its coordinate form $R_{abcd}$, and proves the Second Bianchi Identity- $R_{abcd;e} + R_{abde;c} + R_{abec;d} = 0$ It is said that ...
5 votes
1 answer
345 views

Convergence of Riemannian metrics spectra

Consider a one-parameter real analytic family of metrics $g_t$ on a compact manifold $M$ converging to a metric $g$ in $C^k$-norm, for some $k$. It is known that the Laplace spectrum of $g_t$ will ...
4 votes
2 answers
219 views

Is $\mathbb{P}T^*M$ a sub-Riemannian manifold if $M$ is Riemannian?

(this question is about a particular aspect of a previous question, which was not duly stressed) Let $(M,g)$ a Riemannian $n$-dimensional manifold, and let $$ \widetilde{M}:=\mathbb{P}T^*M $$ be the $...
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

On the complexification of a Riemannian manifold

Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold and $TM$ be its tangent bundle. If we suppose $TM\otimes\mathbb{C}$ is the complexification of $TM$ then how can we define a natural metric on the complex bundle $...
1 vote
0 answers
82 views

Scattering in (pseudo-)Riemannian spaces

I will ask my question in a broad way, leaving a lot of freedom for answers. Suppose that we have a (pseudo-)Riemannian space $(M,g)$ and we fix some ball-like domain $B \subset M$. Suppose you are ...
2 votes
0 answers
232 views

Intuitive understanding of the mean curvature flow [closed]

I am trying to develop some intuition into the properties of mean curvature flow of a surface in $\mathbb{R}^3$. As an example, I am trying to understand what happens to a surface of revolution $S = (...
5 votes
0 answers
179 views

Some questions on the nodal geometry of Dirac operators

Let me begin by quoting a well-known result of Christian Baer (see here). The result goes as follows: Theorem (Baer): Consider a connected $n$-dimensional Riemannian manifold with Dirac bundle $S$ ...
4 votes
2 answers
281 views

Heat kernel asymptotics for small distances

I heard a talk where the speaker said that on a Riemannian manifold, for small values of $\text{dist }(x, y)$, the heat kernel $p_t(x, y)$ satisfies $$p_t(x, y) = \frac{1}{(4\pi t)^{n/2}}e^{-\frac{\...
3 votes
0 answers
153 views

Gaussian heat kernel bounds on Riemannian manifolds [duplicate]

I wish to know if we have Gaussian lower and upper bounds for the heat kernel,i.e. $$ t^{-n/2}e^{-\frac{\rho(x,y)^2}{C_1t}} \lesssim p_t(x,y) \lesssim t^{-n/2}e^{-\frac{\rho(x,y)^2}{C_2t}}, $$ on a ...
2 votes
1 answer
262 views

A clarification regarding analytic perturbation of metrics and Laplacian

This question is in reference to the following Mathoverflow question and the accepted answer to it. It seems to me that it is taken for granted that if the metric $g_t$ perturbs real analytically in ...
3 votes
1 answer
560 views

Prescribing an induced metric

We know that, if we have a surface $z=f(x,y)$ with Euclidean space being ambient manifold, the induced metric is as follows (in matrix form): $$g=\begin{bmatrix} 1+\left ( \frac{\partial f(x,y)}{\...
5 votes
2 answers
307 views

Compact surface with arbitrarily large eigenvalue

Consider a compact surface $M$ with genus $\gamma \geq 2$ and fix a positive real number $V$. Is it known whether it is possible to produce a metric $g$ on the surface $M$ such that $(M. g)$ has ...
9 votes
5 answers
1k views

List of generic properties of Riemannian metrics

I am highly interested in compiling a list of generic properties of Riemannian metrics on a (may be compact) manifold in general, or under "relatively broad" assumptions, like generic properties of ...
13 votes
3 answers
2k views

Isometry group of a compact hyperbolic surface

Consider a compact surface $M$ of genus $g \geq 2$ with a metric of constant negative curvature. My question is, is it known under what sorts of sufficient conditions such a metric will have non-...
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

Multiplicity of Laplace eigenvalues

Disclaimer: This is a very heuristic question and I will be satisfied with heuristic insights, if rigorous and precise answers are not possible. All the examples of closed surfaces (or higher ...
7 votes
2 answers
725 views

Ricci flow and isometry group

It is known (via Kotschwar's uniqueness of backwards Ricci flows) that the isometry group of a Riemannian metric remains unchanged under the Ricci flow. But, one can easily observe that it can change ...