In this paper, we establish the first variational formula and its Euler-Lagrange equation for the total $2p$-th mean curvature functional $\mathcal {M}_{2p}$ of a submanifold $M^n$ in a general Riemannian manifold $N^{n+m}$ for $p=0,1,...,[\frac{n}{2}]$. As an example, we prove that closed complex submanifolds in complex projective spaces are critical points of the functional $\mathcal {M}_{2p}$, called relatively $2p$-minimal submanifolds, for all $p$. At last, we discuss the relations between relatively $2p$-minimal submanifolds and austere submanifolds in real space forms, as well as a special variational problem.
The objet of this paper is the study of variations of a functional whose integrant is the $σ_u$-curvature of closed submanifolds of arbitrary codimension in Riemannian manifolds.
Motivated by recent progress on a spinorial analogue of the Yamabe problem in the geometric literature, we study a conformally invariant spinor field equation on the $m$-sphere, $m\geq2$. Via variational methods and the spinorial Weierstraß representation, we study the problem of prescribing mean curvature for the immersion $S^2\to\mathbb{R}^3$.
In this paper, we investigate a class of quadratic Riemannian curvature functionals on closed smooth manifold $M$ of dimension $n\ge 3$ on the space of Riemannian metrics on $M$ with unit volume. We study the stability of these functionals at the metric with constant sectional curvature as its critical point.
The objet of this paper is the study of the variations of a functional whose integrant is the r-th weighted curvature on the hypersurface of a closed Riemannian manifold. Some applications to hypersurfaces of the Euclidean space and the unit round sphère are given.
Given an smooth function $K <0$ we prove a result by Berger, Kazhdan and others that in every conformal class there exists a metric which attains this function as its Gaussian curvature for a compact Riemann surface of genus $g>1$. We do so by minimizing an appropriate functional using elementary analysis. In particular for $K$ a negative constant, this provides an elementary proof of the uniformization theorem for compact Riemann surfaces of genus $g >1$.
Conformally variational Riemannian invariants (CVIs), such as the scalar curvature, are homogeneous scalar invariants which arise as the gradient of a Riemannian functional. We establish a wide range of stability and rigidity results involving CVIs, generalizing many such results for the scalar curvature.
We use variational methods and a modified curvature flow to give an alternative proof of the existence of a self-shrinking torus under mean curvature flow. As a consequence of the proof, we establish an upper bound for the weighted energy of our shrinking doughnuts.
For the dual operator $s_g'^*$ of the linearization $s_g'$ of the scalar curvature function, it is well-known that if $\ker s_g'^*\neq 0$, then $s_g$ is a non-negative constant. In particular, if the Ricci curvature is not flat, then $ {s_g}/(n-1)$ is an eigenvalue of the Laplacian of the metric $g$. In this work, some variational characterizations were performed for the space $\ker s_g'^*$. To accomplish this task, we introduce a fourth-order elliptic differential operator $\mathcal A$ and a related geometric invariant $ν$. We prove that $ν$ vanishes if and only if $\ker s_g'^* \ne 0$, and if…
In this short note we prove that, in dimension three, flat metrics are the only complete metrics with non-negative scalar curvature which are critical for the $σ_{2}$-curvature functional.
In this paper, close surfaces are considered in 3-dimensional harmonic conformally flat space in point of the variation. It is shown that if the conformal vector field be tangent to surface and the sign of the mean curvature does not change then surface is minimal. Also, it is determined that the critical point of mean curvature functional is homeomorphic to the sphere. Furthermore, the Euler-Lagrange equations associated to the mean curvature and Willmore functionals are determined.
We study the supremum of the total mean curvature on the boundary of compact, mean-convex 3-manifolds with nonnegative scalar curvature, and a prescribed boundary metric. We establish an additivity property for this supremum and exhibit rigidity for maximizers assuming the supremum is attained. When the boundary consists of 2-spheres, we demonstrate that the finiteness of the supremum follows from the previous work of Shi-Tam and Wang-Yau on the quasi-local mass problem in general relativity. In turn, we define a variational analog of Brown-York quasi-local mass without assuming that the bound…
We introduce a new geometric evolution equation for hypersurfaces in asymptotically flat spacetime initial data sets, that unites the theory of marginally outer trapped surfaces (MOTS) with the study of inverse mean curvature flow in asymptotically flat Riemannian manifolds. A theory of weak solutions is developed using level-set methods and an appropriate variational principle. This new flow has a natural application as a variational-type approach to constructing MOTS, and this work also gives new insights into the theory of weak solutions of inverse mean curvature flow.
In this paper, we study the prescribed $Q$-curvature problem on closed four-dimensional Riemannian manifolds when the total integral of the $Q$-curvature is a positive integer multiple of the one of the four-dimensional round sphere. This problem has a variational structure with a lack of compactness. Using some topological tools of the theory of "critical points at infinity" combined with a refined blow-up analysis and some dynamical arguments, we identify the accumulations points of all noncompact flow lines of a pseudogradient flow, the so called critical points at infinity of the associate…
Prescribing, by conformal transformation, the kth-elementary symmetric polynomial of the Schouten tensor $P$ to be constant is a generalisation of the Yamabe problem. On compact Riemannian n-manifolds we show that, for k between and including 3 and n, this prescription equation is an Euler-Lagrange equation of some action if and only if the structure is locally conformally flat.
In this note we continue the analysis of metric measure space with variable ricci curvature bounds. First, we study $(κ,N)$-convex functions on metric spaces where $κ$ is a lower semi-continuous function, and gradient flow curves in the sense of a new evolution variational inequality that captures the information that is provided by $κ$. Then, in the spirit of previous work by Erbar, Kuwada and Sturm \cite{erbarkuwadasturm} we introduce an entropic curvature-dimension condition $CD^e(κ,N)$ for metric measure spaces and lower semi-continuous $κ$. This condition is stable with respect to Gromov …
We study the spectrum of phase transitions with prescribed mean curvature in Riemannian manifolds. These phase transitions are solutions to an inhomogeneous semilinear elliptic PDE that give rise to diffuse objects (varifolds) that limit to hypersurfaces, possibly with singularities, whose mean curvature is determined by the "prescribed mean curvature" function and the limiting multiplicity. We establish upper bounds for the eigenvalues of the diffuse problem, as well as the more subtle lower bounds when the diffuse problem converges with multiplicity one. For the latter, we also establish asy…
We prove that the quotient space of a variationally complete group action is a good Riemannian orbifold. The result is generalized to singular Riemannian foliations without horizontal conjugate points.
It is shown that the variational derivative of the integral of Branson's Q-curvature is the ambient obstruction tensor of Fefferman-Graham. A classification of irreducible conformally invariant tensors modulo quadratic and higher degree terms in curvature is established.
We study the resonant prescribed T-curvature problem on a compact 4-dimensional Riemannian manifold with boundary. We derive sharp energy and gradient estimates of the associated Euler-Lagrange functional to characterize the critical points at infinity of the associated variational problem under a non-degeneracy on a naturally associated Hamiltonian function. Using this, we derive a Morse type lemma around the critical points at infinity. Using the Morse lemma at infinity, we prove new existence results of Morse theoretical type. Combining the Morse lemma at infinity and the Liouville version …
By resorting to Noether's Second Theorem, we relate the generalized Bianchi identities for Lagrangian field theories on gauge-natural bundles with the kernel of the associated gauge-natural Jacobi morphism. A suitable definition of the curvature of gauge-natural variational principles can be consequently formulated in terms of the Hamiltonian connection canonically associated with a generalized Lagrangian obtained by contracting field equations.
After having given the general variational formula for the functionals indicated in the title, the critical points of the integral of the equi-affine curvature under area constraint and the critical points of the full-affine arc-length are studied in greater detail.
We extend the idea and techniques in \cite{Miao} to study variational effect of the boundary geometry on the ADM mass of an asymptotically flat manifold. We show that, for a Lipschitz asymptotically flat metric extension of a bounded Riemannian domain with quasi-convex boundary, if the boundary mean curvature of the extension is dominated by but not identically equal to the one determined by the given domain, we can decrease its ADM mass while raising its boundary mean curvature. Thus our analysis implies that, for a domain with quasi-convex boundary, the geometric boundary condition holds in …
We consider the reduced Allen-Cahn action functional, which appears as the sharp interface limit of the Allen-Cahn action functional and can be understood as a formal action functional for a stochastically perturbed mean curvature flow. For suitable evolutions of generalized hypersurfaces this functional consists of the sum of the squares of the mean curvature and of the velocity vector, integrated over time and space. For given initial and final conditions we investigate the corresponding action minimization problem. We give a generalized formulation and prove compactness and lower semicontin…
The Gauss-Bonnet curvature of order $2k$ is a generalization to higher dimensions of the Gauss-Bonnet integrand in dimension $2k$, as the usual scalar curvature generalizes the two dimensional Gauss-Bonnet integrand. In this paper, we evaluate the first variation of the integrals of these curvatures seen as functionals on the space of all Riemannian metrics on the manifold under consideration. An important property of this derivative is that it depends only on the curvature tensor and not on its covariant derivatives. We show that the critical points of this functional once restricted to metri…
We investigate the minimal and isoperimetric surface problems in a large class of sub-Riemannian manifolds, the so-called Vertically Rigid spaces. We construct an adapted connection for such spaces and, using the variational tools of Bryant, Griffiths and Grossman, derive succinct forms of the Euler-Lagrange equations for critical points for the associated variational problems. Using the Euler-Lagrange equations, we show that minimal and isoperimetric surfaces satisfy a constant horizontal mean curvature conditions away from characteristic points. Moreover, we use the formalism to construct a …
We give a variational proof of the existence and uniqueness of a convex cap with the given upper boundary. The proof uses the concavity of the total scalar curvature functional on the space of generalized convex caps. As a byproduct, we prove that generalized convex caps with the fixed boundary are globally rigid, that is uniquely determined by their curvatures.
The curvature discussed in this paper is a rather far going generalization of the Riemannian sectional curvature. We define it for a wide class of optimal control problems: a unified framework including geometric structures such as Riemannian, sub-Riemannian, Finsler and sub-Finsler structures; a special attention is paid to the sub-Riemannian (or Carnot-Caratheodory) metric spaces. Our construction of the curvature is direct and naive, and it is similar to the original approach of Riemann. Surprisingly, it works in a very general setting and, in particular, for all sub-Riemannian spaces.
We establish variational formulas for Ricci upper and lower bounds, as well as a derivative formula for the Ricci curvature. As applications, constant curvature manifolds, Einstein manifolds and Ricci parallel manifolds are identified, respectively, with different integral-differential formulas and semigroup inequalities. Moreover, by using derivative and Hessian formulas for the heat semigroup $P_t$ developed from stochastic analysis, explicit Hessian estimates are derived on Einstein and Ricci parallel manifolds.
Consider a compact Lie group $G$ and a closed Lie subgroup $H<G$. Let $\mathcal M$ be the set of $G$-invariant Riemannian metrics on the homogeneous space $M=G/H$. By studying variational properties of the scalar curvature functional on $\mathcal M$, we obtain an existence theorem for solutions to the prescribed Ricci curvature problem on $M$. To illustrate the applicability of this result, we explore cases where $M$ is a generalised Wallach space and a generalised flag manifold.
In this paper, we classify the rotational surfaces with constant skew curvature in $3$-space forms. We also give a variational characterization of the profile curves of these surfaces as critical points of a curvature energy involving the exponential of the curvature of the curve. Finally, we provide a converse process to produce all rotational surfaces with constant skew curvature based on the evolution of a critical curve under the flow of its binormal vector field with prescribed velocity.
We propose a definition of the weighted $σ_k$-curvature of a smooth metric measure space and justify it in two ways. First, we show that the weighted $σ_k$-curvature prescription problem is governed by a fully nonlinear second order elliptic PDE which is variational when $k=1,2$ or the smooth metric measure space is locally conformally flat in the weighted sense. Second, we show that, in the variational cases, quasi-Einstein metrics are stable with respect to the total weighted $σ_k$-curvature functional. We also discuss related conjectures for weighted Einstein manifolds.
In this article we study constrained variational problems in one independent variable defined on the space of integral curves of a Frenet system in a homogeneous space G/H. We prove that if the Lagrangian is G-invariant and coisotropic then the extremal curves can be found by quadratures. Our proof is constructive and relies on the reduction theory for coisotropic optimal control problems. This gives a unified explanation of the integrability of several classical variational problems such as the total squared curvature functional, the projective, conformal and pseudo-conformal arc-length funct…
In his book on Convex Polyhedra (section 7.2), A.D. Aleksandrov raised a general question of finding variational statements and proofs of existence of polytopes with given geometric data. The first goal of this paper is to give a variational solution to the problem of existence and uniqueness of a closed convex hypersurface in Euclidean space with prescribed integral Gauss curvature. Our solution includes the case of a convex polytope. This problem was also first considered by Aleksandrov and below it is referred to as Aleksandrov's problem. The second goal of this paper is to show that in var…
J.Eells and L. Lemaire introduced $k$-harmonic maps, and Wang Shaobo showed the first variation formula. In this paper, we give the second variation formula of $k$-energy, and give a notion of index, nullity and weakly stable. We also study $k$-harmonic maps into the product Riemannian manifold, and $k$-harmonic curves into a Riemannian manifold with constant sectional curvature, and show their non-trivial solutions.
We derive variational formulas for the total Q-prime curvature under the deformation of strictly pseudoconvex domains in a complex manifold. We also show that the total Q-prime curvature agrees with the renormalized volume of such domains with respect to the complete Einstein-Kähler metric. In the appendix, by Rod Gover and the first author, we study the property of CR invariant differential operator of order 2(n+3) on 2n+1 dimensional CR manifolds that appears in the second variational formula of the total Q-prime curvature.
In this paper, the dual Orlicz curvature measure is proposed and its basic properties are provided. A variational formula for the dual Orlicz-quermassintegral is established in order to give a geometric interpretation of the dual Orlicz curvature measure. Based on the established variational formula, a solution to the dual Orlicz-Minkowski problem regarding the dual Orlicz curvature measure is provided.
Following work of Ecker, we consider a weighted Gibbons-Hawking-York functional on a Riemannian manifold-with-boundary. We compute its variational properties and its time derivative under Perelman's modified Ricci flow. The answer has a boundary term which involves an extension of Hamilton's Harnack expression for the mean curvature flow in Euclidean space. We also derive the evolution equations for the second fundamental form and the mean curvature, under a mean curvature flow in a Ricci flow background. In the case of a gradient Ricci soliton background, we discuss mean curvature solitons an…
In this paper, we introduce a monotonicity formula for the mean curvature flow. We also apply this monotonicity formula to study the asymptotic behavior of eternal solutions.
We prove an equivariant implicit function theorem for variational problems that are invariant under a varying symmetry group (corresponding to a bundle of Lie groups). Motivated by applications to families of geometric variational problems lacking regularity, several non-smooth extensions of the result are discussed. Among such applications is the submanifold problem of deforming the ambient metric preserving a given variational property of a prescribed family of submanifolds, e.g., constant mean curvature, up to the action of the corresponding ambient isometry groups.
Motivated and inspired by the recent work of Colding [5] and Colding-Minicozzi [6] we derive several families of monotonicity formulas for manifolds with nonnegative Bakry-Emery Ricci curvature, extending the formulas in [5, 6].
This paper derives an explicit formula for Branson's Q-curvature in even-dimensional conformal geometry. The ingredients in the formula come from the Poincare metric in one higher dimension; hence the formula is called holographic. When specialized to the conformally flat case, the holographic formula expresses Q-curvature as a multiple of the Pfaffian and the divergence of a natural one-form. The paper also outlines the relation between holographic formulae for Q-curvature and a new theory of conformally covariant families of differential operators due to the second author.
We prove a monotonicity formula for mean curvature flow with surgery. This formula differs from Huisken's monotonicity formula by an extra term involving the mean curvature. As a consequence, we show that a surgically modified flow which is sufficiently close to a smooth flow in the sense of geometric measure theory is, in fact, free of surgeries. This result has applications to the longtime behavior of mean curvature flow with surgery in Riemannian three-manifolds.
Conformal invariance plays a significant role in many areas of Physics, such as conformal field theory, renormalization theory, turbulence, general relativity. Naturally, it also plays an important role in geometry: theory of Riemannian surfaces, Weyl tensors, $Q$-curvature, Yang-Mills fields, etc... We shall be concerned with the study of conformal invariance in analysis. More precisely, we will focus on the study of nonlinear PDEs arising from conformally invariant two dimensional variational problems (e.g. harmonic maps, prescribed mean curvature surfaces, Willmore and Constrained conformal…
We propose a natural definition of the weighted $σ_k$-curvature for a manifold with density; i.e.\ a triple $(M^n,g,e^{-ϕ}\mathrm{dvol})$. This definition is intended to capture the key properties of the $σ_k$-curvatures in conformal geometry with the role of pointwise conformal changes of the metric replaced by pointwise changes of the measure. We justify our definition through three main results. First, we show that shrinking gradient Ricci solitons are local extrema of the total weighted $σ_k$-curvature functionals when the weighted $σ_k$-curvature is variational. Second, we characterize th…
Given a compact four-dimensional Riemannian manifold $(M, g)$ with boundary, we study the problem of existence of Riemannian metrics on $M$ conformal to $g$ with prescribed $Q$-curvature in the interior $\mathring{M}$ of $M$, and zero $T$-curvature and mean curvature on the boundary $\partial M$ of $M$. This geometric problem is equivalent to solving a fourth-order elliptic boundary value problem (BVP) involving the Paneitz operator with boundary conditions of Chang-Qing and Neumann operators. The corresponding BVP has a variational formulation but the corresponding variational problem, in the…
By variational methods, for a kind of Webster scalar curvature problems on the CR sphere with cylindrically symmetric curvature, we construct some multi-peak solutions as the parameter is sufficiently small under certain assumptions. We also obtain the asymptotic behaviors of the solutions.
This is a survey on rigidity and geometrization results obtained with the help of the discrete Hilbert-Einstein functional, written for the proceedings of the "Discrete Curvature" colloquium in Luminy.
We establish a second order smooth variational principle valid for functions defined on (possibly infinite-dimensional) Riemannian manifolds which are uniformly locally convex and have a strictly positive injectivity radius and bounded sectional curvature.
