We study a class of fourth order curvature flows on a compact Riemannian manifold, which includes the gradient flows of a number of quadratic geometric functionals, as for instance the L2 norm of the curvature. Such flows can develop a special kind of singularities, that could not appear in the Ricci flow, namely singularities where the manifold collapses with bounded curvature. We show that this phenomenon cannot occur if we assume a uniform positive lower bound on the Yamabe invariant. In particular, for a number of gradient flows in dimension four, such a lower bound exists if we assume a bound on the initial energy. This implies that these flows can only develop singularities where the curvature blows up, and that blowing-up sequences converge (up to a subsequence) to a "singularity model", namely a complete Bach-flat, scalar-flat manifold. We prove a rigidity result for those model manifolds and show that if the initial energy is smaller than an explicit bound, then no singularity can occur. Under those assumptions, the flow exists for all time, and converges up to a subsequence to the sphere or the real projective space. This gives an alternative proof, under a slightly stronger assumption, of a result from Chang, Gursky and Yang asserting that integral pinched 4-manifolds with positive Yamabe constant are space forms.
We introduce fourth fundamental form $IV,$ and $i$-th curvature formulas of hypersurfaces in the four dimensional Euclidean geometry ${\mathbb{E}}^{4}$. Defining fourth fundamental form and $i$-th curvatures for hypersurfaces, we calculate them on rotational hypersurface. In addition we study rotational hypersurface satisfying $Δ^{IV}\mathbf{x=Ax}$ for some $4\times 4$ matrix $\mathbf{A.}$
We show precompactness results for solutions to parabolic fourth order geometric evolution equations. As part of the proof we obtain smoothing estimates for these flows in the presence of a curvature bound, an improvement on prior results which also require a Sobolev constant bound. As consequences of these results we show that for any solution with a finite time singularity, the $L^{\infty}$ norm of the curvature must go to infinity. Furthermore, we characterize the behavior at infinity of solutions with bounded curvature.
We prove the compactness of solutions to general fourth order elliptic equations which are L^1-perturbations of the Q-curvature equation on compact Riemannian 4-maniods. Consequently, we prove the global existence and convergence of the Q-curvature flow on a generic class of Riemannian 4-manifolds. As a by product, we give a positive answer to an open question by A. Malchiodi on the existence of bounded Palais-Smale sequences for the Q-curvature problem when the Paneitz operator is positive with trivial kernel.
We study a class of fourth order geometric equations defined on a 4-dimensional compact Riemannian manifold which includes the Q-curvature equation. We obtain sharp estimates on the difference near the blow-up points between a bubbling sequence of solutions and the standard bubble.
It is well known that a system of homogeneous second-order ordinary differential equations (spray) is necessarily isotropic in order to be metrizable by a Finsler function of scalar flag curvature. In Theorem 3.1 we show that the isotropy condition, together with three other conditions on the Jacobi endomorphism, characterize sprays that are metrizable by Finsler functions of scalar flag curvature. The proof of Theorem 3.1 provides an algorithm to construct the Finsler function of scalar flag curvature, in the case when a given spray is metrizable. One condition of Theorem 3.1, regarding the r…
Let $(\mathbf{M}^{3},J,θ_{0})$ be a closed pseudohermitian 3-manifold. Suppose the associated torsion vanishes and the associated $Q$-curvature has no kernel part with respect to the associated Paneitz operator. On such a background pseudohermitian 3-manifold, we study the change of the contact form according to a certain version of normalized $Q$-curvature flow. This is a fourth order evolution equation. We prove that the solution exists for all time and converges smoothly to a contact form of zero $Q$ -curvature. We also consider other background conditions and obtain a priori bounds up to h…
We study the biharmonic Steklov eigenvalue problem on a compact Riemannian manifold $Ω$ with smooth boundary. We give a computable, sharp lower bound of the first eigenvalue of this problem, which depends only on the dimension, a lower bound of the Ricci curvature of the domain, a lower bound of the mean curvature of its boundary and the inner radius. The proof is obtained by estimating the isoperimetric ratio of non-negative subharmonic functions on $Ω$, which is of independent interest. We also give a comparison theorem for geodesic balls.
This is a preliminary note on a family of minimal surfaces in the 3-sphere defined by a compatible fourth order equation. The minimal surfaces are geometrically characterized either by having a surface of revolution like induced metric, or by having a flat structure 3-web. We observe that the structure equation un-couples for a natural choice of frame. The analysis is reduced to the associated curves in the 2-sphere defined by a rational third order ODE on the curvature.
We prove that the moduli space of complete Riemannian metrics of bounded geometry and uniformly positive scalar curvature on an orientable 3-manifold is path-connected. This generalizes the main result of the fourth author [Mar12] in the compact case. The proof uses Ricci flow with surgery as well as arguments involving performing infinite connected sums with control on the geometry.
We show any Riemannian curvature model can be geometrically realized by a manifold with constant scalar curvature. We also show that any pseudo-Hermitian curvature model, para-Hermitian curvature model, hyper-pseudo-Hermitian curvature model, or hyper-para-Hermitian curvature model can be realized by a manifold with constant scalar and *-scalar curvature.
We show that every Kaehler algebraic curvature tensor is geometrically realizable by a Kaehler manifold of constant scalar curvature. We also show that every para-Kaehler algebraic curvature tensor is geometrically realizable by a para-Kaehler manifold of constant scalar curvature
We examine geometric representability results for various classes of equiaffine curvature operators. We show every Ricci flat algebraic curvature operator is geometrically realizable by a Ricci flat torsion free connection on the tangent bundle of some smooth manifold.
We show that a para-Hermitian algebraic curvature model satisfies the para-Gray identity if and only if it is geometrically realizable by a para-Hermitian manifold. This requires extending the Tricerri-Vanhecke curvature decomposition to the para-Hermitian setting. Additionally, the geometric realization can be chosen to have constant scalar curvature and constant *-scalar curvature.
The aim of this paper is to study complete (noncompact) steady $m$-quasi-Einstein manifolds satisfying a fourth-order vanishing condition on the Weyl tensor. In this case, we are able to prove that a steady $m$-quasi-Einstein manifold ($m>1$) on a simply connected $n$-dimensional manifold $(M^{n},g)$, $(n\geq4),$ with nonnegative Ricci curvature and zero radial Weyl curvature must be a warped product with $(n-1)-$dimensional Einstein fiber, provided that $M$ has fourth order divergence-free Weyl tensor (i.e., ${\rm div}^{4}W=0$).
We study geometric realization questions of curvature in the affine, Riemannian, almost Hermitian, almost para Hermitian, almost hyper Hermitian, almost hyper para Hermitian, Hermitian, and para Hermitian settings. We also express questions in Ivanov-Petrova geometry, Osserman geometry, and curvature homogeneity in terms of geometric realizations.
We study the 8 natural GL equivariant geometric realization questions for the space of generalized algebraic curvature tensors. All but one of them is solvable; a non-zero projectively flat Ricci antisymmetric generalized algebraic curvature is not geometrically realizable by a projectively flat Ricci antisymmetric torsion free connection.
We show that a Hermitian algebraic curvature model satisfies the Gray identity if and only if it is geometrically realizable by a Hermitian manifold. Furthermore, such a curvature model can in fact be realized by a Hermitian manifold of constant scalar curvature and constant *-scalar curvature which satisfies the Kaehler condition at the point in question.
We consider a 4-dimensional Riemannian manifold M endowed with a right skew-circulant tensor structure S, which is an isometry with respect to the metric g and the fourth power of S is minus identity. We determine a class of manifolds (M, g, S), whose curvature tensors are invariant under S. For such manifolds we obtain properties of the Ricci tensor. Also we get expressions of the sectional curvatures of some special 2-planes in a tangent space of (M, g, S).
The projective curvature tensor $P$ is invariant under a geodesic preserving transformation on a semi-Riemannian manifold. It is well known that $P$ is not a generalized curvature tensor and hence it possesses different geometric properties than other generalized curvature tensors. The main object of the present paper is to study some semisymmetric type and pseudosymmetric type curvature restricted geometric structures due to projective curvature tensor. The reduced pseudosymmetric type structures for various Walker type conditions are deduced and the existence of Venzi space is ensured. It is…
We present an algebraic investigation of generalized and equiaffine curvature tensors in a given pseudo-Euclidean vector space and study different orthogonal, irreducible decompositions in analogy to the known decomposition of algebraic curvature tensors. We apply the decomposition results to characterize geometric properties of Codazzi structures and relative hypersurfaces; particular emphasis is on projectively flat structures.
We estimate from below by geometric data the eigenvalues of the periodic Sturm-Liouville operator $- 4 d^2/ds^2 + κ^2 (s)$ with potential given by the curvature of a closed curve.
Chen's flow is a fourth-order curvature flow motivated by the spectral decomposition of immersions, a program classically pushed by B.-Y. Chen since the 1970s. In curvature flow terms the flow sits at the critical level of scaling together with the most popular extrinsic fourth-order curvature flow, the Willmore and surface diffusion flows. Unlike them however the famous Chen conjecture indicates that there should be no stationary nonminimal data, and so in particular the flow should drive all closed submanifolds to singularities. We investigate this idea, proving that (1) closed data becomes …
We obtain an Euclidean volume growth results for complete Riemannian manifolds satisfying a Euclidean Sobolev inequality and a spectral type condition on the Ricci curvature. We also obtain eigenvalue estimates, heat kernel estimates, Betti number estimates for closed manifolds whose Ricci curvature is controlled in the Kato class.
A Riemannian manifold is called geometrically formal if the wedge product of harmonic forms is again harmonic, which implies in the compact case that the manifold is topologically formal in the sense of rational homotopy theory. A manifold admitting a Riemannian metric of positive sectional curvature is conjectured to be topologically formal. Nonetheless, we show that among the homogeneous Riemannian metrics of positive sectional curvature a geometrically formal metric is either symmetric, or a metric on a rational homology sphere.
A Riemannian manifold is called geometrically formal if the wedge product of any two harmonic forms is again harmonic. We classify geometrically formal compact 4-manifolds with nonnegative sectional curvature. If the sectional curvature is strictly positive, the manifold must be homeomorphic to S^4 or diffeomorphic to CP^2. This conclusion stills holds true if the sectional curvature is strictly positive and we relax the condition of geometric formality to the requirement that the length of harmonic 2-forms is not too nonconstant. In particular, the Hopf conjecture on S^2 x S^2 holds in this c…
In this paper we prove a positive energy theorem related to fourth-order gravitational theories, which is a higher-order analogue of the classical ADM positive energy theorem of general relativity. We will also show that, in parallel to the corresponding situation in general relativity, this result intersects several important problems in geometric analysis. For instance, it underlies positive mass theorems associated to the Paneitz operator, playing a similar role in the positive $Q$-curvature conformal prescription problem as the Schoen-Yau positive energy theorem does for the Yamabe problem…
We consider the hyperbolic geometric flow $\frac{\partial^2}{\partial t^2}g(t)=-2Ric_{g(t)}$ introduced by Kong and Liu [KL]. When the Riemannian metric evolve, then so does its curvature. Using the techniques and ideas of S.Brendle [Br,BS], we derive evolution equations for the Levi-Civita connection and the curvature tensors along the hyperbolic geometric flow. The method and results are computed and written in global tensor form, different from the local normal coordinate method in [DKL1]. In addition, we further show that any solution to the hyperbolic geometric flow that develops a singul…
We obtain a Bonnet-Myers theorem under a spectral condition: a closed Riemannian manifold $(M^n,g)$ for which the lowest eigenvalue of the Ricci tensor $ρ$ is such that the Schrödinger operator $(n-2)Δ+ ρ$ is positive has finite fundamental group. As a continuation of our earlier results, we obtain isoperimetric inequalities from a Kato condition on the Ricci curvature. Furthermore, we obtain the Kato condition for the Ricci curvature under purely geometric assumptions.
In the literature we see that after introducing a geometric structure by imposing some restrictions on Riemann-Christoffel curvature tensor, the same type structure given by imposing same restriction on other curvature tensors being studied. The main object of the present paper is to study the equivalency of various geometric structures obtained by same restriction imposing on different curvature tensors. In this purpose we present a tensor by combining Riemann-Christoffel curvature tensor, Ricci tensor, the metric tensor and scalar curvature which describe various curvature tensors as its par…
We consider solutions (M,g(t)), 0 <= t <T, to Ricci flow on compact, four dimensional manifolds without boundary. We prove integral curvature estimates which are valid for any such solution. In the case that the scalar curvature is bounded and T is finite, we show that these estimates imply that the (spatial) integral of the square of the norm of the Riemannian curvature is bounded by a constant independent of time t for all 0 <= t<T and that the space time integral over M x [0,T) of the fourth power of the norm of the Ricci curvature is bounded.
We show the existence of a deformation process of hypersurfaces from a product space $M_1\times R$ into another product space $M_2\times R$ such that the relation of the principal curvatures of the deformed hypersurfaces can be controlled in terms of the sectional curvatures or Ricci curvatures of $M_1$ and $M_2$. In this way, we obtain barriers which are used for proving existence or non existence of hypersurfaces with prescribed curvatures in a general product space $M\times R$.
At any point of a surface in the four-dimensional Euclidean space we consider the geometric configuration consisting of two figures: the tangent indicatrix, which is a conic in the tangent plane, and the normal curvature ellipse. We show that the basic geometric classes of surfaces in the four-dimensional Euclidean space, determined by conditions on their invariants, can be interpreted in terms of the properties of the two geometric figures. We give some non-trivial examples of surfaces from the classes in consideration.
We develop a compactness result near the boundary for families of locally convex immersions. We also develop a mod 2 degree theory for immersion of constant (and prescribed) Gaussian curvature with prescribed boundary. These are then used to solve the Plateau problem for immersions of constant (and prescribed) Gaussian curvature in general Hadamard manifolds.
The aim of this paper is to investigate uniqueness of conic constant scalar curvature Kaehler (cscK) metrics, when the cone angle is less than $π$. We introduce a new Hölder space called $\cC^{4,\a,\b}$ to study the regularities of this fourth order elliptic equation, and prove that any $\cC^{2,\a,\b}$ conic cscK metric is indeed of class $\cC^{4,\a,\b}$. Finally, the reductivity is established by a careful study of the conic Lichnerowicz operator.
We introduce the discrete Einstein metrics as critical points of discrete energy on triangulated 3-manifolds, and study them by discrete curvature flow of second (fourth) order. We also study the convergence of the discrete curvature flow. Discrete curvature flow of second order is an analogue of smooth Ricci flow.
We introduce two invariants called the secondary cuspidal curvature and the bias on $5/2$-cuspidal edges, and investigate their basic properties. While the secondary cuspidal curvature is an analog of the cuspidal curvature of (ordinary) cuspidal edges, there are no invariants corresponding to the bias. We prove that the product (called the secondary product curvature) of the secondary cuspidal curvature and the limiting normal curvature is an intrinsic invariant. Using this intrinsity, we show that any real analytic $5/2$-cuspidal edges with non-vanishing limiting normal curvature admits non-…
We investigate fourth order Paneitz equations of critical growth in the case of $n$-dimensional closed conformally flat manifolds, $n \ge 5$. Such equations arise from conformal geometry and are modelized on the Einstein case of the geometric equation describing the effects of conformal changes of metrics on the $Q$-curvature. We obtain sharp asymptotics for arbitrary bounded energy sequences of solutions of our equations from which we derive stability and compactness properties. In doing so we establish the criticality of the geometric equation with respect to the trace of its second order te…
We show that the theory of geometric structures proposed in the recent book "An Alternative Approach to Lie Groups and Geometric Structures" can be developed independently of connections.
Long-time existence of some geometric flows with bounded scalar curvature
Shanghai Institute for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences (SIMIS)（上海数学与交叉学科研究院）；Research Institute of Intelligent Complex Systems, Fudan University（复旦大学智能复杂系统研究所）；Center for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Fudan University（复旦大学数学与交叉学科中心）
We consider Ricci flow invariant cones C in the space of curvature operators lying between nonnegative Ricci curvature and nonnegative curvature operator. Assuming some mild control on the scalar curvature of the Ricci flow, we show that if a solution to Ricci flow has its curvature operator which satsisfies R+εI \in C at the initial time, then it satisfies R +KεI \in C on some time interval depending only on the scalar curvature control. This allows us to link Gromov-Hausdorff convergence and Ricci flow convergence when the limit is smooth and R + I \in C along the sequence of initial conditi…
We classify $n$-dimensional geometric graph manifolds with nonnegative scalar curvature, and first show that if $n>3$, the universal cover splits off a codimension 3 Euclidean factor. We then proceed with the classification of the 3-dimensional case by showing that such a manifold is either a lens space or a prism manifold with a very rigid metric. This allows us to also classify the moduli space of such metrics: it has infinitely many connected components for lens spaces, while it is connected for prism manifolds.
In this paper we establish a gap phenomenon for immersed surfaces with arbitrary codimension, topology and boundaries that satisfy one of a family of systems of fourth-order anisotropic geometric partial differential equations. Examples include Willmore surfaces, stationary solitons for the surface diffusion flow, and biharmonic immersed surfaces in the sense of Chen. On the boundary we enforce either umbilic or flat boundary conditions: that the tracefree second fundamental form and its derivative or the full second fundamental form and its derivative vanish. For the umbilic boundary conditio…
We examine questions of geometric realizability for algebraic structures which arise naturally in affine and Riemannian geometry. Suppose given an algebraic curvature operator R at a point P of a manifold M and suppose given a real analytic (resp. C-k for finite k at least 2) pseudo-Riemannian metric on M defined near P. We construct a torsion free real analytic (resp. C-k) connection D which is defined near P on the tangent bundle of M whose curvature operator is the given operator R at P and so that D has constant scalar curvature. We show that if R is Ricci symmetric, then D can be chosen t…
We study compactness for nonnegative solutions of the fourth order constant $Q$-curvature equations on smooth compact Riemannian manifolds of dimension $\ge 5$. If the $Q$-curvature equals $-1$, we prove that all solutions are universally bounded. If the $Q$-curvature is $1$, assuming that Paneitz operator's kernel is trivial and its Green function is positive, we establish universal energy bounds on manifolds which are either locally conformally flat (LCF) or of dimension $\le 9$. Moreover, assuming in addition that a positive mass type theorem holds for the Paneitz operator, we prove compact…
In this paper we derive a refined asymptotic expansion, near an isolated singularity, for conformally flat metrics with constant positive Q-curvature and positive scalar curvature. The condition that the metric has constant Q-curvature forces the conformal factor to satisfy a fourth order nonlinear partial differential equation with critical Sobolev growth, whose leading term is the bilaplacian. We model our results on a similar asymptotic expansion for conformally flat, constant scalar curvature metrics proven by Korevaar, Mazzeo, Pacard, and Schoen. Along the way we analyze the linearization…
Here are studied pairs of transversal foliations with singularities, defined on the Elliptic region (where the Gaussian curvature $\mathcal K$ is positive) of an oriented surface immersed in $\mathbb R^3$. The leaves of the foliations are the lines of geometric mean curvature, along which the normal curvature is given by $\sqrt {\mathcal K}$, which is the geometric mean curvature of the principal curvatures $ k_1, k_2$ of the immersion. The singularities of the foliations are the umbilic points and parabolic curves}, where $ k_1 = k_2$ and ${\mathcal K} = 0$, respectively. Here are determined …
Over forty years ago, Paneitz, and independently Fradkin and Tseytlin, discovered a fourth-order conformally-invariant differential operator, intrinsically defined on a conformal manifold, mapping scalars to scalars. This operator is a special case of the so-termed extrinsic Paneitz operator defined in the case when the conformal manifold is itself a conformally embedded hypersurface. In particular, this encodes the obstruction to smoothly solving the five-dimensional scalar Laplace equation, and suitable higher dimensional analogs, on conformally compact structures with constant scalar curvat…
The recently discovered fourth class of Frobenius manifolds by Combe--Manin in opened and highlighted new geometric domains to explore. The guiding mantra of this article is to show the existence of hidden geometric aspects of the fourth Frobenius manifold, which turns out to be related to so-called causality conditions. Firstly, it is proved that the fourth class of Frobenius manifolds is a Pseudo-Elliptic one. Secondly, this manifold turns out to be a sub-manifold of a non-orientable Lorentzian projective manifold. Thirdly, Maurer--Cartan structures for this manifold and hidden geometrical p…
