Perelman’s λ-functional and Seiberg-Witten equations

In this paper, we estimate the supremum of Perelman’s λ-functional λ _M (g) on Riemannian 4-manifold (M, g) by using the Seiberg-Witten equations. Among other things, we prove that, for a compact Kähler-Einstein complex surface (M, J, g ₀) with negative scalar curvature, (i) if g ₁ is a Riemannian metric on M with λ _M (g ₁) = λ _M (g ₀), then $Vol_{g_1 } $ (M) ? $Vol_{g_0 } $ (M). Moreover, the equality holds if and only if g ₁ is also a Kähler-Einstein metric with negative scalar curvature. (ii) If {g _t}, t ∈ [?1, 1], is a family of Einstein metrics on M with initial metric g ₀, then g _t is a Kähler-Einstein metric with negative scalar curvature.     

The Kähler Ricci flow on Fano surfaces (I)

Suppose {(M, g(t)), 0 ≤ t < ∞} is a Kähler Ricci flow solution on a Fano surface. If |Rm| is not uniformly bounded along this flow, we can blowup at the maximal curvature points to obtain a limit complete Riemannian manifold X. We show that X must have certain topological and geometric properties. Using these properties, we are able to prove that |Rm| is uniformly bounded along every Kähler Ricci flow on toric Fano surface, whose initial metric has toric symmetry. In particular, such a Kähler Ricci flow must converge to a Kähler Ricci soliton metric. Therefore we give a new Ricci flow proof of the existence of Kähler Ricci soliton metrics on toric Fano surfaces.     

Betti and Tachibana numbers

The Tachibana numbers t _r (M), the Killing numbers k _r (M), and the planarity numbers p _r (M) are considered as the dimensions of the vector spaces of, respectively, all, coclosed, and closed conformal Killing r-forms with 1 ≤ r ≤ n ? 1 “globally” defined on a compact Riemannian n-manifold (M,g), n >- 2. Their relationship with the Betti numbers b _r (M) is investigated. In particular, it is proved that if b _r (M) = 0, then the corresponding Tachibana number has the form t _r (M) = k _r (M) + p _r (M) for t _r (M) > k _r (M) > 0. In the special case where b ₁(M) = 0 and t ₁(M) > k ₁(M) > 0, the manifold (M,g) is conformally diffeomorphic to the Euclidean sphere.     

A direct numerical procedure for the Cauchy problem for the heat equation

For the Cauchy problem, u_t = u_xx, 0 < x < 1, 0 < t ? T, u(0, t) = f(t), 0 < t ? T, u_x(0, t) = g(t), 0 < t ? T, a direct numerical procedure involving the elementary solution of υ_t = υ_xx, 0 < x, 0 < t ? T, υ_x(0, t) = g(t), 0 < t ? T, υ(x, 0) = 0, 0 < x and a Taylor's series computed from f(t) ? υ(0, t) is studied. Continuous dependence better than any power of logarithmic is obtained. Some numerical results are presented.     

Convexity of the bounds induced by Markov's inequality

X is a nonnegative random variable such that EX^t < ∞ for 0≤ t < λ ≤ ∞. The (l??) quantile of the distribution of X is bounded above by [?^?1 EX^t]^1?t. We show that there exist positive ?₁ ≥ ?₂ such that for all 0 <?≤?₁ the function g(t) = [?^-1EX^t]^1?t is log-convex in [0, c] and such that for all 0 < ? ≤ ?₂ the function log g(t) is nonincreasing in [0, c].     

Differential Harnack inequalities for heat equations with potentials under geometric flows

In the paper we consider a closed Riemannian manifold M with a time-dependent Riemannian metric g _ij (t) evolving by ? _t g _ij  = ?2S _ij , where S _ij is a symmetric two-tensor on (M,g(t)). We prove some differential Harnack inequalities for positive solutions of heat equations with potentials on (M,g(t)). Some applications of these inequalities will be obtained.     

The Cauchy problem for a linear parabolic partial differential equation

Numerical approximation of the solution of the Cauchy problem for the linear parabolic partial differential equation is considered. The problem: (p(x)u_x)_x ? q(x)u = p(x)u_t, 0 < x < 1,0 < t? T; $\text{u(0, t) = ?}{}_1\text{(t), 0 < t ? T}$; $\text{u(1,t) = ?}{}_2\text{(t), 0 < t ? T}$; p(0) u_x(0, t) = g(t), 0 < t₀ ? t ? T, is ill-posed in the sense of Hadamard. Complex variable and Dirichlet series techniques are used to establish Hölder continuous dependence of the solution upon the data under the additional assumption of a known uniform bound for ¦ u(x, t)¦ when 0 ? x ? 1 and 0 ? t ? T. Numerical results are obtained for the problem where the data ?₁, ?₂ and g are known only approximately.     

The parametrized family of metric Mahler measures

Let M(α) denote the (logarithmic) Mahler measure of the algebraic number α. Dubickas and Smyth, and later Fili and the author, examined metric versions of M. The author generalized these constructions in order to associate, to each point in t∈(0,∞], a metric version Mt of the Mahler measure, each having a triangle inequality of a different strength. We further examine the functions Mt, using them to present an equivalent form of Lehmer?s conjecture. We show that the function t?Mtt(α) is constructed piecewise from certain sums of exponential functions. We pose a conjecture that, if true, enables us to graph t?Mt(α) for rational α.     

New Logarithmic Sobolev Inequalities and an ɛ‐Regularity Theorem for the Ricci Flow

In this note, we prove an ?‐regularity theorem for the Ricci flow. Let (Mⁿ,g(t)) with t ? [?T,0] be a Ricci flow, and let H_x0(y,s) be the conjugate heat kernel centered at some point (x₀,0) in the final time slice. By substituting H_x0(?,s) into Perelman's W‐functional, we obtain a monotone quantity W_x0(s) that we refer to as the pointed entropy. This satisfies W_x0(s) ≤ 0, and W_x0(s) = 0 if and only if (Mⁿ,g(t)) is isometric to the trivial flow on Rⁿ. Then our main theorem asserts the following: There exists ? > 0, depending only on T and on lower scalar curvature and μ‐entropy bounds for the initial slice (Mⁿ,g(?T)) such that W_x0(s) ≥ ?? implies |Rm| ≤ r^?2 on P_{? r}(x₀,0), where r² ≡ |s| and P_ρ(x,t) ≡ B_ρ(x,t) × (t?ρ²,t] is our notation for parabolic balls. The main technical challenge of the theorem is to prove an effective Lipschitz bound in x for the s‐average of W_x(s). To accomplish this, we require a new log‐Sobolev inequality. Perelman's work implies that the metric measure spaces (Mⁿ,g(t),dvol_g(t)) satisfy a log‐Sobolev; we show that this is also true for the heat kernel weighted spaces (Mⁿ,g(t),H_x0(?,t)dvol_g(t)). Our log‐Sobolev constants for these weighted spaces are in fact universal and sharp. The weighted log‐Sobolev has other consequences as well, including certain average Gaussian upper bounds on the conjugate heat kernel. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Growth estimates for solutions to initial-boundary value problems in viscoelasticity

For the abstract Volterra integro-differential equation u_tt ? Nu + ∝_?∞^t K(t ? τ) u(τ) dτ = 0 in Hilbert space, with prescribed past history u(τ) = U(τ), ? ∞ < τ < 0, and associated initial data u(0) = f, u_t(0) = g, we establish conditions on K(t), ? ∞ < t < + ∞ which yield various growth estimates for solutions u(t), belonging to a certain uniformly bounded class, as well as lower bounds for the rate of decay of solutions. Our results are interpreted in terms of solutions to a class of initial-boundary value problems in isothermal linear viscoelasticity.     

Convergence of Ricci Flow on ℝ2 to Flat Space

We prove that, starting at an initial metric g(0)=e^2u₀(dx²+dy²)g(0)=e^{2u_{0}}(dx^{2}+dy^{2}) on ℝ² with bounded scalar curvature and bounded u ₀, the Ricci flow ∂ _t g(t)=−R _g(t) g(t) converges to a flat metric on ℝ².     

Parameter-dependent operator equations of the Riccati type with application to transport theory

We obtain an existence result for global solutions to initial-value problems for Riccati equations of the form R′(t) + TR(t) + R(t)T = T^ρ A(t)T^1?ρ + T^ρ B(t)T^1?ρ R(t) + R(t)T^ρC(t) T^1?ρ + R(t)T^ρD(t)T^1?ρ R(t), R(0)=R₀, where 0 ? ρ ? 1 and where the functions R and A through D take on values in the cone of non-negative bounded linear operators on L¹ (0, W; μ). T is an unbounded multiplication operator. This problem is of particular interest in case ρ = 1 since it arisess in the theories of particle transport and radiative transfer in a slab. However, in this case there are some serious difficulties associated with this equation, which lead us to define a solution for the case ρ = 1 as the limit of solutions for the cases 0 < ρ < 1.     

The semiclassical resolvent and the propagator for non-trapping scattering metrics

Consider a compact manifold with boundary M with a scattering metric g or, equivalently, an asymptotically conic manifold (M^○,g). (Euclidean Rn, with a compactly supported metric perturbation, is an example of such a space.) Let Δ be the positive Laplacian on (M,g), and V a smooth potential on M which decays to second order at infinity. In this paper we construct the kernel of the operator ⁻¹(h²Δ+V−²(λ₀±i0)), at a non-trapping energy λ₀>0, uniformly for h∈(0,h₀), h₀>0 small, within a class of Legendre distributions on manifolds with codimension three corners. Using this we construct the kernel of the propagator, e−it(Δ/2+V), t∈(0,t₀) as a quadratic Legendre distribution. We also determine the global semiclassical structure of the spectral projector, Poisson operator and scattering matrix.     

Recurrence relations based on minimization and maximization

Explicit and asymptotic solutions are presented to the recurrence M(1) = g(1), M(n + 1) = g(n + 1) + min_{1 ? t ? n}(αM(t) + βM(n + 1 ? t)) for the cases (1) α + β < 1, $\text{log}{}_2\text{α}\text{log}{}_2\text{β}$ is rational, and g(n) = δ_nI. (2) α + β > 1, min(α, β) > 1, $\text{log}{}_2\text{α}\text{log}{}_2\text{β}$ is rational, and (a) g(n) = δ_n1, (b) g(n) = 1. The general form of this recurrence was studied extensively by Fredman and Knuth [J. Math. Anal. Appl.48 (1974), 534–559], who showed, without actually solving the recurrence, that in the above cases $\text{M(n) = Ω(n}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1\; +\; </mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>\gamma </mtext>}}\text{)}$, where γ is defined by α^?γ + β^?γ = 1, and that $\text{lim}{}_{\mathrm{n\; \to \; \infty }}\text{M(n)}\text{n}{}^{\mathrm{1\; +\; \gamma }}$ does not exist. Using similar techniques, the recurrence M(1) = g(1), M(n + 1) = g(n + 1) + max_{1 ? t ? n}(αM(t) + βM(n + 1 ? t)) is also investigated for the special case α = β < 1 and g(n) = 1 if n is odd = 0 if n is even.     

On a continuous analogue of the stochastic difference equation Xn=ρXn-1+Bn

Let B₁, B₂, ... be a sequence of independent, identically distributed random variables, letX₀ be a random variable that is independent ofB_n forn?1, let ρ be a constant such that 0<ρ<1 and letX₁,X₂, ... be another sequence of random variables that are defined recursively by the relationshipsX_n=ρX_n-1+B_n. It can be shown that the sequence of random variablesX₁,X₂, ... converges in law to a random variableX if and only ifE[log⁺¦B₁¦]<∞. In this paper we let {B(t):0≦t<∞} be a stochastic process with independent, homogeneous increments and define another stochastic process {X(t):0?t<∞} that stands in the same relationship to the stochastic process {B(t):0?t<∞} as the sequence of random variablesX₁,X₂,...stands toB₁,B₂,.... It is shown thatX(t) converges in law to a random variableX ast →+∞ if and only ifE[log⁺¦B(1)¦]<∞ in which caseX has a distribution function of class L. Several other related results are obtained. The main analytical tool used to obtain these results is a theorem of Lukacs concerning characteristic functions of certain stochastic integrals.     

Studies of Some Curvature Operators in a Neighborhood of an Asymptotically Hyperbolic Einstein Manifold

On an asymptotically hyperbolic Einstein manifold (M,g₀) for which the Yamabe invariant of the conformal structure on the boundary at infinity is nonnegative, we show that the operators of Ricci curvature, and of Einstein curvature, are locally invertible in a neighborhood of the metric g₀. We deduce in the C^∞ case that the image of the Riemann-Christoffel curvature operator is a submanifold in a neighborhood of g₀.     

Periodic solutions for wave equations with variable coefficients with nonlinear localized damping

We discuss the existence of periodic solutions to the wave equation with variable coefficients utt−div(A(x)∇u)+ρ(x,ut)=f(x,t) with Dirichlet boundary condition. Here ρ(x,v) is a function like ρ(x,v)=a(x)g(v) with g^′(v)?0 where a(x) is nonnegative, being positive only in a neighborhood of a part of the domain.     

Fragmentability of groups and metric-valued function spaces

Let (X,τ) be a topological space and let ρ be a metric defined on X. We shall say that (X,τ) is fragmented by ρ if whenever ε>0 and A is a nonempty subset of X there is a τ-open set U such that U∩A≠∅ and ρ−diam(U∩A)<ε. In this paper we consider the notion of fragmentability, and its generalisation σ-fragmentability, in the setting of topological groups and metric-valued function spaces. We show that in the presence of Baireness fragmentability of a topological group is very close to metrizability of that group. We also show that for a compact Hausdorff space X, σ-fragmentability of (C(X),‖⋅_‖∞) implies that the space Cp(X;M) of all continuous functions from X into a metric space M, endowed with the topology of pointwise convergence on X, is fragmented by a metric whose topology is at least as strong as the uniform topology on C(X;M). The primary tool used is that of topological games.     

Rigidity of Area-Minimizing Hyperbolic Surfaces in Three-Manifolds

We prove that if M is a three-manifold with scalar curvature greater than or equal to ?2 and Σ?M is a two-sided compact embedded Riemann surface of genus greater than 1 which is locally area-minimizing, then the area of Σ is greater than or equal to 4π(g(Σ)?1), where g(Σ) denotes the genus of Σ. In the equality case, we prove that the induced metric on Σ has constant Gauss curvature equal to ?1 and locally M splits along Σ. We also obtain a rigidity result for cylinders (I×Σ,dt ²+g _Σ), where I=[a,b]?? and g _Σ is a Riemannian metric on Σ with constant Gauss curvature equal to ?1.