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26 votes
2 answers
4k views

Questions on J. F. Nash's answer about his errors in the proof of embedding theorem

In the interview of John Nash taken by Christian Skau and Martin Gaussen, in EMS Newsletter, September, 2015 when asked Is it true, as rumours have it, that you started to work on the embedding ...
2 votes
0 answers
205 views

Can a non-compact manifold become compact by cutting it?

I'm trying to understand a step in a proof, where one starts with a non-compact manifold $V$ containing a trapped (2-sided, closed) surface $\Sigma$ that's non-separating. In order to complete the ...
2 votes
0 answers
137 views

Heat-Flow on continuous differential forms and the Feller peroperty

Let (M,g) be a complete Riemannian manifold. It is well known that the Laplace operator is essentially self-adjoint on $C^\infty_c(M)$. This extends to the (de Rahm) Laplace operator on forms. Thus in ...
0 votes
0 answers
466 views

Example metrics for exotic R4

I'm a physics student trying to understand what exotic manifolds, such as exotic R4, means. Is there known examples what the Riemannian metric of some exotic R4 (or some exotic sphere) would be? Does ...
6 votes
1 answer
310 views

Asymptotic bound on minimum epsilon cover of arbitrary manifolds

Let $M \subset \mathbb{R}^d$ be a compact smooth $k$-dimensional manifold embedded in $\mathbb{R}^d$. Let $\mathcal{N}(\varepsilon)$ denote the minimal cardinal of an $\varepsilon$-cover $P$ of $M$; ...
3 votes
0 answers
531 views

Geodesics (Local vs Global)

Let $M$ be a Riemannian manifold, and $p,q\in M$ two points. Now, if $M$ is a complete metric space the Hopf–Rinow theorem ensures that there is a geodesic $C\subset M$ joining $p$ and $q$ that ...
1 vote
0 answers
123 views

Subdividing a Compact Bounded Curvature Manifold into Charts with Bounded Lipschitz Constant

Let $M \subset \mathbb{R}^d$ be a compact smooth $k$-dimensional manifold embedded in $\mathbb{R}^d$. Let $\mathcal{N}(\epsilon)$ denote the size of the minimum $\epsilon$ cover $P$ of $M$; that is ...
5 votes
1 answer
495 views

Volume comparison on Grassmannian

Let $G(r,n-r)$ be the Grassmannian, which can be identified with the space of all rank $r$ projection matrices in $\mathbb{R}^n$. Let $\mu$ be the uniform measure on $G(r,n-r)$. For any $\lambda_1,......
0 votes
0 answers
90 views

The idealizer of the space of vector fields with vanishing divergence

The space of smooth vector fields on a manifold is counted as a Lie algebra with the usual Lie bracket structure. Is there a Riemannian manifold of dimension at least $2$ which satisfies either of ...
5 votes
2 answers
377 views

Existence of an isotopy in Riemannian manifold

Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold, and $p,q\in M$ be two fixed points. We assume $p,q$ are close enough. Say, we assume $p$ and $q$ are in the same normal coordinate chart. It is clear that there ...
18 votes
3 answers
2k views

Can the Laplace operator on $n-$ manifolds be represented as a sum of $n$ second order derivational operators

EDIT: According to some comments on this post I revise the title to remove the misunderestanding. Assume that $M$ is a Riemannian manifold of dimension $n$. The natural Laplace operator associated ...
2 votes
0 answers
216 views

A geometric rank of Riemannian manifolds

There are various ranks which have been assigned to a smooth manifold. The following ranks are two examples of such ranks: The maximum number of global independent vector fields which can be defined ...
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(...
4 votes
0 answers
116 views

$\ell_p$ geodesic distance on smooth Riemannian manifold and Logarithmic Sobolev Inequalities

Bear with me, I'm not a professional geometer. Recently, I've been studying Logarithmic Sobolev Inequalities (LSI) for probability distributions on manifolds (e.g as done in works of Bobkvo et al. ...
1 vote
0 answers
54 views

Extension of a function from a subset of a manifold to the unit sphere

There is a line in this following paper (page no- 221, the paragraph before the Lemma 2.2) Otsu, Yukio; Shiohama, Katsuhiro; Yamaguchi, Takao, A new version of differentiable sphere theorem, Invent. ...
2 votes
1 answer
720 views

Riemannian manifolds: every compact subset is contained in a connected relatively compact open subset [closed]

While working on some problem (not relevant here), it turned out to be convenient to be able to enclose arbitrary compact subsets in "nicer" compact subsets, hence the question: if $(M,g)$ is a ...
-2 votes
1 answer
112 views

Bochner theorem for complete manifolds

Let $(M,g)$ be a complete oriented Riemannian manifold. If $Ric ≥ 0$ on $M$, then any harmonic 1-form $\alpha$ is parallel i.e $x\to |\alpha|^2_{g,x}$ constant?
2 votes
1 answer
126 views

Stokes theorem outside of divisor

Let $X$ be a compact Kähler manifold and $D$ be a snc divisor on it. Then on $X\setminus D$ Stokes theorem holds true $\int_{X\setminus D}\Delta\alpha=0\; \; \; ?$ In this case $X\setminus D$ is non-...
4 votes
1 answer
137 views

Geodesic-like curves stemming from the heat kernel on a manifold

Consider a smooth $n$-dimensional Riemannian manifold $M$ with sufficiently nice geometric and topological properties such that there exist a unique heat kernel $(t,x,y) \mapsto p(t,x,y)$ on it ($t>...
5 votes
1 answer
264 views

What are the minimal local models for Riemannian manifolds? A local question about isometric embeddings

There are many results about isometric embeddings of Riemannian manifolds but I haven't been able to find one that quite answers this question (which I believe must have some kind answer in the ...
1 vote
0 answers
225 views

Extending fibre metrics of submanifolds to Riemannian metrics

Let $M$ be a smooth manifold and $S\subseteq M$ a properly embedded smooth submanifold. Suppose that we have a fibre metric on $TM|_S$, i.e. a positive definite real inner-product on $T_pM$ for all $p\...
0 votes
2 answers
535 views

Lie algebra of Gradient vector fields(2)

Motivated by this question, is there a $n$ dimensional Riemannian manfold $M$, $n>1$ such that the space of all gradient vector fields is a Lie algebra under the usual Lie bracket ...
3 votes
1 answer
367 views

Is there such a connection on the punctured plane?

Is there a connection on $\mathbb{R}^2 \setminus \{0\}$ for which all operators of parallel transports are in the form $$\begin{pmatrix}a&-b\\b&a \end{pmatrix}$$ but the parallel ...
10 votes
2 answers
767 views

Intuition for the Drift Term of the Laplace-Beltrami Operator

In coordinates, the Laplace-Beltrami operator on a Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$ can be written as: $$ \Delta_g = g^{ij}\partial_{ij} - g^{jk}\Gamma^\ell_{jk}\partial_\ell $$ The second term: $$ \mu^\...
4 votes
0 answers
191 views

A quantity associated with a Riemannian surface

Assume that $E$ is a Riemannian vector bundle, then its structure group is reduced to $O(n)$. Then the structure group of $E \oplus E$ is reduced to $D(O(n) \oplus O(n)) \subset Sp(2n)$ ...
2 votes
1 answer
429 views

The Lie algebra of gradient vector fields

Assume that $M$ is a differentiable manifold. Is there a Riemannian metric on $M$ such that the space of all gradient vector fields on $M$ would be closed under the Lie bracket?
5 votes
1 answer
444 views

heat kernel on closed manifolds - error in Chavel's book?

first of all, I am not sure if this question fits here. I asked this question on math.stackexchange also but didn't get an answer so far. In Isaac Chavel's book Eigenvalues in Riemannian Geometry, ...
7 votes
1 answer
259 views

Harmonic function with injective boundary conditions is an immersion?

Let $(M,g)$ be an $n$-dimensional, connected, compact Riemannian manifold with boundary. Assume we are given an immersion $f:M \to \mathbb{R}^n$. (i.e $df$ is invertible at every point $p \in M$, note ...
1 vote
0 answers
84 views

A problem of defining addition in a Quotient space

Let $\mathcal{C}$ be the space of all parametric curves $x:[0,1]\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^2$. Let the set of all re-parameterizations of curves is $\Gamma = \{\gamma : [0, 1] \rightarrow [0, 1]| \gamma (...
1 vote
1 answer
321 views

Soliton equation and non-killing potential vector field

I am searching for a non-Killing vector field $\zeta \in\frak X\rm (M)$ where $(M,g)$ is a Riemannian manifold such that $$\frac12 \frak L_\zeta \rm g+Ric=\lambda g$$ $$ \frak L_\zeta \rm Ric=\lambda \...
4 votes
2 answers
666 views

Unique Kahler-Einstein metric $g$ with $\mathrm{Ricc}(g)=-g$ when first Chern class $C_1(M)<0$: $\mathrm{Ricc}(h)=-g\,\Rightarrow\,h=cg$ for $c>0$?

On a compact Kahler manifold, let $g$ be the unique Kahler-Einstein metric with $\mathrm{Ricc}(g)=-g$, proved to exist by Yau and Aubin when the first Chern class $C_1(M)<0$. Question: Does $g$ ...
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Riemannian metrics preserved by diffeomorphisms

Let $f \neq Id$ be a diffeomorphism (of a smooth manifold $M$) which admits some Riemannain metric on $M$ making it an isometry. How many different metrics are preserved by $f$? Note that $Met(f)=\{g|...
2 votes
1 answer
420 views

Nowhere vanishing, normalized vector field with bounded derivatives

It is well-known that any non-compact manifold admits a nowhere vanishing vector field. If we have a Riemannian metric we may pick such a vector field and normalize it so that at every point it has ...
8 votes
1 answer
696 views

Geodesics on manifolds with boundary

Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold with non-empty boundary. Is there any notion of injectivity radius on $(M,g)$ in points away from the boundary? By this I mean points lying in $M- \partial M$. ...
1 vote
1 answer
348 views

Linearisation of Einstein operator

Let $(M,g)$ be a $(m+1)$-dimensional Riemannian manifold with Levi-Civita connection $\nabla$. The Ricci curvature can be viewed as a differential operator $\text{Rc}:\Gamma(S^2_+M)\rightarrow\...
4 votes
1 answer
797 views

The heat kernel as an exponential of an integral

In $\mathbb{R}^n$, if $\gamma$ is a line segment between $x_0 = \gamma (0)$ and $x = \gamma (t)$, one has the following formula: $$\frac {\mathbb{e}^{- \frac{1}{4} \int_0^t <\dot{\gamma}, \dot{\...
26 votes
2 answers
2k views

Ellipses on spheres (and other surfaces)

Define an ellipse $E$ on a sphere as the locus of points whose sum of shortest geodesic distances to two foci $p_1$ and $p_2$ is a constant $d$. There are conditions on $\{ p_1, p_2, d \}$ for this ...
1 vote
1 answer
237 views

A special type of transitivity

Let $M$ be a smooth orientable manifold with volume form $\Omega$. Fix two pints $x,y \in M$. Put $A$=all volume preserving diffeomorphism of M which maps $x$ to $y$. Define $B$=All linear volume ...
1 vote
0 answers
127 views

Riemann normal coordiantes and change of metric

Le $(M,g)$ be Riemannian manifold. Fix point $p\in M$. We can define the map $$\exp: U \subset T_p M \rightarrow M$$ $$\exp(X) = \gamma_{p,X}(1)$$ where $t\mapsto \gamma_{p,X}(t)$ is geodesic such ...
11 votes
1 answer
1k views

Does the gluing procedure in Robert Wald’s book *General Relativity* yield a Hausdorff spacetime?

Before I state my problem, let me provide some definitions pertaining to the Cauchy Problem in General Relativity. Definition 1: A triplet $ (\Sigma,h,k) $ is called an initial data set if $ (\Sigma,...
1 vote
1 answer
510 views

The space of generalized complex structures in sense of N.Hitchin is contractible?

Generalized complex structures were introduced by Nigel Hitchin in 2002. A generalized almost complex structure is an almost complex structure of the generalized tangent bundle which preserves the ...
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 $B\in Sym^2(M)$ ...
3 votes
2 answers
669 views

Real analytic submanifolds of $\mathbb{R}^{n}$

Hallo, Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian $k$-dim real analytic submanifold of $\mathbb{R}^{n}$. Is it true that $M$ in $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ looks locally (in a small neigbourhood around some point in $M$) as ...
4 votes
2 answers
575 views

Do transvers foliations induce complex structure?

Hallo, I have the following question: Let $M$ smooth analytic manifold of dimension 4n. Assume furthermore that $M$ admits two foliations $A$, $B$, both with leaves of dimension 2n such that the ...
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

Holonomy of a Kähler manifold

Hi, I have the following question: Let $(M,J, \omega)$ be a Kähler manifold (not necessary compact). We know that the holonomy group is a subgroup of $U_{n}$. Let $\Omega$ be a constant ($\nabla \...
2 votes
1 answer
425 views

holomorphic extension of forms

hallo, I have the following question: Let $M$ be a $n-$dimensional complex manifold and $X \subset M$ be a compact $n-$dimensional totally real analytic Riemannian submanifold. Let furthermore $\...
0 votes
1 answer
194 views

relation with jacobifields in a small neighbourhood

hi, I have the following question: Let $(M,g)$ be a complete Riemannian manifold with all sectional curvatures non-positive. Let $p \in M$ and consider the function $d(x)=dist_{g}(x,p)$ in a ...
5 votes
1 answer
817 views

Partitions of Unity

Fix a metric $g$ on a smooth, closed manifold $\mathcal{M}$. Take a finite subcover of the manifold from its atlas. Is it true that any smooth partition of unity subordinate to this cover has ...
4 votes
4 answers
3k views

space of geodesics

hallo, i have the following problem: Let $(M,g)$ be a compact Riemannian manifold with metric $g$ and $\nabla$ be the Levi-Civita Connection. Denote by $G(M) =${$\gamma: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow M | \...
3 votes
1 answer
778 views

Conformally-flat

Assume given a smooth manifold $(\mathbb{R}^n, g)$, where the metric is a scaled identity $g = e^{2f}I$. Is there a way to know if this is always a non-positive (sectional) curvature manifold? Note ...