An extremal theorem of Riemannian geometry

An exact upper estimate for the volume of a tubular neighborhood of a smooth submanifold N of a complete Riemann space M depending upon the volume of N and lower bound for the sectional curvatures of M is given. If N is a closed geodesic, then the equality is attained in the estimate if and only if M is a generalized lens space.Translated from Matematicheskie Zametki, Vol. 19, No. 5, pp. 795–804, May, 1976.The author thanks Yu. D. Burago for help and guidance.     

The geometry of closed conformal vector fields on Riemannian spaces

In this paper we examine different aspects of the geometry of closed conformal vector fields on Riemannian manifolds. We begin by getting obstructions to the existence of closed conformal and nonparallel vector fields on complete manifolds with nonpositive Ricci curvature, thus generalizing a theorem of T.K. Pan. Then we explain why it is so difficult to find examples, other than trivial ones, of spaces having at least two closed, conformal and homothetic vector fields. We then focus on isometric immersions, firstly generalizing a theorem of J. Simons on cones with parallel mean curvature to spaces furnished with a closed, Ricci null conformal vector field; then we prove general Bernstein-type theorems for certain complete, not necessarily cmc, hypersurfaces of Riemannian manifolds furnished with closed conformal vector fields. In particular, we obtain a generalization of theorems J. Jellett and A. Barros and P. Sousa for complete cmc radial graphs over finitely punctured geodesic spheres of Riemannian space forms.     

Reflection quotients in Riemannian geometry. A geometric converse to Chevalley's theorem

Chevalley's theorem and its converse, the Sheppard-Todd theorem, assert that finite reflection groups are distinguished by the fact that the ring of invariant polynomials is freely generated. We show that, in the Euclidean case, a weaker condition suffices to characterize finite reflection groups, namely, that a freely-generated polynomial subring is closed with respect to the gradient product.

     

A short proof of Hua's fundamental theorem of the geometry of hermitian matrices

We present a new and simple proof of Hua's fundamental theorem of the geometry of hermitian matrices which characterizes bijective maps preserving adjacency in both directions on the real vector space of all n × n hermitian matrices.     

Evolution equations in Riemannian geometry

A fundamental question in Riemannian geometry is to find canonical metrics on a given smooth manifold. In the 1980s, R.S. Hamilton proposed an approach to this question based on parabolic partial differential equations. The goal is to start from a given initial metric and deform it to a canonical metric by means of an evolution equation. There are various natural evolution equations for Riemannian metrics, including the Ricci flow and the conformal Yamabe flow. In this survey, we discuss the global behavior of the solutions to these equations. In particular, we describe how these techniques can be used to prove the Differentiable Sphere Theorem.     

Killing vector fields on Riemannian and Lorentzian 3-manifolds

We give a complete local classification of all Riemannian 3-manifolds $(M,g)$ admitting a nonvanishing Killing vector field T. We then extend this classification to timelike Killing vector fields on Lorentzian 3-manifolds, which are automatically nonvanishing. The two key ingredients needed in our classification are the scalar curvature S of g and the function $\text{Ric}(T,T)$, where Ric is the Ricci tensor; in fact their sum appears as the Gaussian curvature of the quotient metric obtained from the action of T. Our classification generalizes that of Sasakian structures, which is the special case when $\text{Ric}(T,T)=2$. We also give necessary, and separately, sufficient conditions, both expressed in terms of $\text{Ric}(T,T)$, for g to be locally conformally flat. We then move from the local to the global setting, and prove two results: in the event that T has unit length and the coordinates derived in our classification are globally defined on ${\mathbb{R}}^3$, we give conditions under which S completely determines when the metric will be geodesically complete. In the event that the 3-manifold M is compact, we give a condition stating when it admits a metric of constant positive sectional curvature.     

Riemannian foliations of bounded geometry

Continuing the study of bounded geometry for Riemannian foliations, begun by Sanguiao, we introduce a chart‐free definition of this concept. Our main theorem states that it is equivalent to a condition involving certain normal foliation charts. For this type of charts, it is also shown that the derivatives of the changes of coordinates are uniformly bounded, and there are nice partitions of unity. Applications to a trace formula for foliated flows will be given in a forthcoming paper.     

Riemannian geometry of quantum computation

A review is given of some recent developments in the differential geometry of quantum computation for which the quantum evolution is described by the special unitary unimodular group, SU(2ⁿ). Using the Lie algebra su(2ⁿ), detailed derivations are given of a useful Riemannian geometry of SU(2ⁿ), including the connection and the geodesic equation for minimal complexity quantum computations.     

Comparison theory in Lorentzian and Riemannian geometry

A survey is given of selected aspects of comparison theory for Lorentzian and Riemannian manifolds, in which both Jacobi equation and Riccati equation techniques have been employed. Specifically, the existence of conjugate points on a complete geodesic in the presence of positive Ricci curvature and the topic of volume comparison are treated.     

Comparison theory in Lorentzian and Riemannian geometry

A survey is given of selected aspects of comparison theory for Lorentzian and Riemannian manifolds, in which both Jacobi equation and Riccati equation techniques have been employed. Specifically, the existence of conjugate points on a complete geodesic in the presence of positive Ricci curvature and the topic of volume comparison are treated.     

Riemannian geometry of Lie algebroids

We introduce Riemannian Lie algebroids as a generalization of Riemannian manifolds and we show that most of the classical tools and results known in Riemannian geometry can be stated in this setting. We give also some new results on the integrability of Riemannian Lie algebroids.     

Euclid and the fundamental theorem of arithmetic

Slight changes or benevolent interpretations of certain theorems and proofs in Euclid's Elements make his demonstration of the fundamental theorem of arithmetic satisfactory for square-free numbers, but Euclid's methods cannot be adapted to prove the uniqueness for numbers containing square factors.     

The Three Gap Theorem and Riemannian geometry

The classical Three Gap Theorem asserts that for a natural number n and a real number p, there are at most three distinct distances between consecutive elements in the subset of [0,1) consisting of the reductions modulo 1 of the first n multiples of p. Regarding it as a statement about rotations of the circle, we find results in a similar spirit pertaining to isometries of compact Riemannian manifolds and the distribution of points along their geodesics.