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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 ...
2 votes
0 answers
174 views

Special Riemannian metric on the product

Let $M^2$ be an orientable surface with boundary endowed with a Riemannian metric $g$. We know that if we put in the manifold $M \times \mathbb{R}$ the product metric $\overline{g} = g + dt^2$, then ...
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 ...
4 votes
1 answer
382 views

Are complete minimal submanifolds closed?

Is it true that any complete minimal submanifold of some Riemannian manifold is closed as a subset? What about the case in which the ambient manifold is an euclidean space?
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 ...
3 votes
1 answer
159 views

Special spheres: principal curvatures with different signs

For $\varepsilon > 0$, we say that a closed, connected and oriented immersed hypersurface $M^n$ of a riemannian manifold $(N^{n+1},g)$ is $\varepsilon$-convex whenever all principal curvatures of $...
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
1 answer
423 views

Riemannian Manifolds of Bounded Curvature

I am a complete newbie Riemannian Geometry with a particular application in mind so please excuse a lack of rigor in the question. Suppose I have a manifold with sectional curvature everywhere ...
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-...
0 votes
0 answers
128 views

Is this possible to calculate norm of a vector using its inner product with another vector

Given a manifold $M$ with two Riemannian metrics $g_1$ and $g_2$ on $M$, a vector field $\xi$, and a smooth function $f:M\to \mathbb{R}$, is this possible to calculate $g_2(\xi,\xi)$ having the ...
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>...
2 votes
0 answers
124 views

How do conformal maps affect curvature?

Let $(\overline{M}^{n+1}, \langle \cdot, \cdot \rangle)$ be a riemannian manifold with riemannian connection $\overline{\nabla}$ and consider $M^n \subset \overline{M}$ an orientable hypersurface with ...
6 votes
0 answers
197 views

Regarding a proof in the surgery theorem by Gromov and Lawson

I have a question regarding a proof in the article The classification of simply connected manifolds of positive scalar curvature written by Gromov and Lawson. The precise reference is: Gromov, ...
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
373 views

Are metric isometries smooth at the boundary?

Let $M,N$ be smooth Riemannian manifolds with boundary (In particular, we assume the boundaries are smooth). Suppose we have a map $\phi:M \to N$ which satisfies the following properties: $$(1) \, \,...
12 votes
0 answers
381 views

Two ways a manifold can have little symmetry

Let $M$ be a closed connected smooth oriented manifold. The following two properties - that $M$ can either enjoy or not - intuitively both mean that $M$ has very little symmetry: (a) Every self-map $...
16 votes
1 answer
600 views

If all balls around two points are isometric... -- manifold version

This question is a natural follow-up of this other question, asked earlier today by wspin. Let's say that a metric space $(X,d)$ has two poles if: there are two distinct points $x$, $y$ such that ...
2 votes
0 answers
217 views

If $X$ is a compact smooth Riemannian manifold, why don't we integrate on a fundamental domain in the universal cover? [closed]

Let $X$ be a compact connected Riemannian manifold. The metric gives a local volume form. The universal cover is orientable, and has a precompact subspace locally isometric (with the covering metric) ...
25 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is there a smooth manifold which admits only rigid metrics?

Does there exist a (finite dimensional) smooth manifold $M$, such that every Riemannian metric on $M$ has no isometries except the identity? Of course, such a manifold must not admit a diffeomorphism ...
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 (...
16 votes
1 answer
2k views

Hodge de Rham operator and orientability

Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold. One can consider the exterior algebra bundle $\Lambda(T^*M)$. The sections of this bundle are differential forms, to be noted by $\Omega^k(M)$. One can consider ...
1 vote
1 answer
326 views

material derivative and relation to Riemannian metric

For each $n$ let $N_t$ be an embedded smooth hypersurface in $\mathbb{R}^n$ of dimension $n-1$. $\{N_t\}_t$ is a family of hypersurface that is evolving with some velocity $V$. Smooth functions on $N$...
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|...
4 votes
1 answer
434 views

Smooth manifolds for which every metric is geodesically convex

Are there non compact smooth manifolds which have the property that every Riemannian metric is geodesically convex? Note that a manifold for which every Riemannian metric is complete must be compact. ...
1 vote
0 answers
485 views

Taylor expansion in Riemannian foliations

Take: $M$ a Riemannian manifold, ${X_0}\in M$, $N_{X_0}$ a submanifold of $M$ going through ${X_0}$, and $Z \in N_{X_0}$ in a neighborhood of ${X_0}$. At ${X_0} \in N_{X_0}$, we consider the ...
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 ...
1 vote
1 answer
250 views

Global geometry measures for Riemannian manifolds

I'm working on a stochastic algorithm and considering it to apply in case of any curved space (manifolds). But in order to make the algorithm as efficient as possible I want to include in it some ...
1 vote
1 answer
213 views

Some quantities which definitions are (somehow) similar to the classical Divergence

Motivated by classical formulas $L_{X}=d\circ i_{X}+i_{X}\circ d$ and $L_{X} \Omega=Div(X) \Omega$ and the essential role of the diff operator $d$ in definition of divergence, we define some ...
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{\...
4 votes
1 answer
265 views

New setting for tensor definition

This is the standard definition for a tensor in a smooth manifold (Nakahara, for example): But while reading Salamon's Riemannian Geometry and Holonomy Groups I have found this rather different ...