Volume-preserving mean curvature flow of revolution hypersurfaces in a Rotationally Symmetric Space

In an ambient space with rotational symmetry around an axis (which include the Hyperbolic and Euclidean spaces), we study the evolution under the volume-preserving mean curvature flow of a revolution hypersurface M generated by a graph over the axis of revolution and with boundary in two totally geodesic hypersurfaces (tgh for short). Requiring that, for each time t ≥ 0, the evolving hypersurface M _t meets such tgh orthogonally, we prove that: (a) the flow exists while M _t does not touch the axis of rotation; (b) throughout the time interval of existence, (b1) the generating curve of M _t remains a graph, and (b2) the averaged mean curvature is double side bounded by positive constants; (c) the singularity set (if non-empty) is finite and lies on the axis; (d) under a suitable hypothesis relating the enclosed volume to the n-volume of M, we achieve long time existence and convergence to a revolution hypersurface of constant mean curvature.     

Rate of convergence of the mean curvature flow

We study the flow M_t of a smooth, strictly convex hypersurface by its mean curvature in ?^{n + 1}. The surface remains smooth and convex, shrinking monotonically until it disappears at a critical time T and point x^* (which is due to Huisken). This is equivalent to saying that the corresponding rescaled mean curvature flow converges to a sphere Sⁿ of radius √n. In this paper we will study the rate of exponential convergence of a rescaled flow. We will present here a method that tells us that the rate of the exponential decay is at least 2/n. We can define the “arrival time” u of a smooth, strictly convex, n‐dimensional hypersurface as it moves with normal velocity equal to its mean curvature via u(x) = t if x ∈ M_t for x ∈ Int(M₀). Huisken proved that, for n ≥ 2, u(x) is C² near x^*. The case n = 1 has been treated by Kohn and Serfaty [11]; they proved C³‐regularity of u. As a consequence of the obtained rate of convergence of the mean curvature flow, we prove that u is not necessarily C³ near x^* for n ≥ 2. We also show that the obtained rate of convergence 2/n, which arises from linearizing a mean curvature flow, is the optimal one, at least for n ≥ 2. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Blow-up Locus of Heat Flows for Harmonic Maps

Abstract Let M and N be two compact Riemannian manifolds. Let u _k (x, t) be a sequence of strong stationary weak heat flows from M×R ⁺ to N with bounded energies. Assume that u _k→u weakly in H ^{1, 2}(M×R ⁺, N) and that Σ^t is the blow-up set for a fixed t > 0. In this paper we first prove Σ^t is an H ^m−2-rectifiable set for almost all t∈R ⁺. And then we prove two blow-up formulas for the blow-up set and the limiting map. From the formulas, we can see that if the limiting map u is also a strong stationary weak heat flow, Σ^t is a distance solution of the (m− 2)-dimensional mean curvature flow [1]. If a smooth heat flow blows-up at a finite time, we derive a tangent map or a weakly quasi-harmonic sphere and a blow-up set ∪_t<0Σ^t× {t}. We prove the blow-up map is stationary if and only if the blow-up locus is a Brakke motion. This work is supported by NSF grant     

On the conditions to control curvature tensors of Ricci flow

An important problem in the study of Ricci flow is to find the weakest conditions that provide control of the norm of the full Riemannian curvature tensor. In this article, supposing (M ⁿ , g(t)) is a solution to the Ricci flow on a Riemmannian manifold on time interval [0, T), we show that L^\fracn+22{L^\frac{n+2}{2}} norm bound of scalar curvature and Weyl tensor can control the norm of the full Riemannian curvature tensor if M is closed and T < ∞. Next we prove, without condition T < ∞, that C ⁰ bound of scalar curvature and Weyl tensor can control the norm of the full Riemannian curvature tensor on complete manifolds. Finally, we show that to the Ricci flow on a complete non-compact Riemannian manifold with bounded curvature at t = 0 and with the uniformly bounded Ricci curvature tensor on M ⁿ  × [0, T), the curvature tensor stays uniformly bounded on M ⁿ  × [0, T). Hence we can extend the Ricci flow up to the time T. Some other results are also presented.     

The Hyperbolic Geometric Flow on Riemann Surfaces

In this paper the authors study the hyperbolic geometric flow on Riemann surfaces. This new nonlinear geometric evolution equation was recently introduced by the first two authors, motivated by Einstein equation and Hamilton's Ricci flow. We prove that, for any given initial metric on ?² in certain class of metrics, one can always choose suitable initial velocity symmetric tensor such that the solution exists for all time, and the scalar curvature corresponding to the solution metric g _ij keeps uniformly bounded for all time; moreover, if the initial velocity tensor is suitably “large", then the solution metric g _ij converges to the flat metric at an algebraic rate. If the initial velocity tensor does not satisfy the condition, then the solution blows up at a finite time, and the scalar curvature R(t, x) goes to positive infinity as (t, x) tends to the blowup points, and a flow with surgery has to be considered. The authors attempt to show that, comparing to Ricci flow, the hyperbolic geometric flow has the following advantage: the surgery technique may be replaced by choosing suitable initial velocity tensor. Some geometric properties of hyperbolic geometric flow on general open and closed Riemann surfaces are also discussed.     

Long-time existence and convergence of graphic mean curvature flow in arbitrary codimension

Let f:Σ₁↦Σ₂ be a map between compact Riemannian manifolds of constant curvature. This article considers the evolution of the graph of f in Σ₁×Σ₂ by the mean curvature flow. Under suitable conditions on the curvature of Σ₁ and Σ₂ and the differential of the initial map, we show that the flow exists smoothly for all time. At each instant t, the flow remains the graph of a map f _t and f _t converges to a constant map as t approaches infinity. This also provides a regularity estimate for Lipschitz initial data. Oblatum 30-I-2001 & 24-X-2001?Published online: 1 February 2002     

The Extension of the H~k Mean Curvature Flow in Riemannian Manifolds

In this paper,the authors consider a family of smooth immersions Ft : Mn→Nn+1of closed hypersurfaces in Riemannian manifold Nn+1with bounded geometry,moving by the Hkmean curvature flow.The authors show that if the second fundamental form stays bounded from below,then the Hkmean curvature flow solution with finite total mean curvature on a finite time interval [0,Tmax)can be extended over Tmax.This result generalizes the extension theorems in the paper of Li(see "On an extension of the Hkmean curvature flow,Sci.China Math.,55,2012,99–118").     

On Asymptotic Behavior for Singularities of the Powers of Mean Curvature Flow

Let M^n be a smooth, compact manifold without boundary, and F0 ： M^n→ R^n＋1 a smooth immersion which is convex. The one-parameter families F（·, t） ： M^n× [0, T） → R^n＋1 of hypersurfaces Mt^n= F（·,t）（M^n） satisfy an initial value problem dF/dt （·,t） = -H^k（· ,t）v（· ,t）, F（· ,0） = F0（· ）, where H is the mean curvature and u（·,t） is the outer unit normal at F（·, t）, such that -Hu = H is the mean curvature vector, and k 〉 0 is a constant. This problem is called H^k-fiow. Such flow will develop singularities after finite time. According to the blow-up rate of the square norm of the second fundamental forms, the authors analyze the structure of the rescaled limit by classifying the singularities as two types, i.e., Type Ⅰ and Type Ⅱ. It is proved that for Type Ⅰ singularity, the limiting hypersurface satisfies an elliptic equation; for Type Ⅱ singularity, the limiting hypersurface must be a translating soliton.     

On the Conditions of Extending Mean Curvature Flow

The authors consider a family of smooth immersions F(·,t):Mn → Rn+1 of closed hypersurfaces in Rn+1 moving by the mean curvature flow F∈(pt,t)=-H(p,t)·ν(p,t) for t ∈ [0,T).They show that if the norm of the second fundamental form is bounded above by some power of mean curvature and the certain subcritical quantities concerning the mean curvature integral are bounded,then the flow can extend past time T.The result is similar to that in [6-9].     

Volume preserving mean curvature flow of revolution hypersurfaces between two equidistants

In a rotationally symmetric space ${{\overline M}}$ around an axis ${\mathcal{A}}$ (whose precise definition is satisfied by all real space forms), we consider a domain G limited by two equidistant hypersurfaces orthogonal to ${\mathcal{A}}$ . Let ${M \subset {\overline M}}$ be a revolution hypersurface generated by a graph over ${\mathcal{A}}$ , with boundary in ?G and orthogonal to it. We study the evolution M _t of M under the volume-preserving mean curvature flow requiring that the boundary of M _t rests on ?G and stays orthogonal to it. We prove that: (a) the generating curve of M _t remains a graph; (b) the flow exists as long as M _t does not touch the rotation axis; (c) under a suitable hypothesis relating the enclosed volume and the area of M, the flow is defined for every ${t\in [0,\infty[}$ and a sequence of hypersurfaces ${M_{t_n}}$ converges to a revolution hypersurface of constant mean curvature. Some key points are: (i) the results are true even for ambient spaces with positive curvature, (ii) the averaged mean curvature does not need to be positive and (iii) for the proof it is necessary to carry out a detailed study of the boundary conditions.     

A note on the oblique derivative problem for graphical mean curvature flow in Minkowski space

We show that a solution to graphical mean curvature flow with a perpendicular boundary condition over a convex domain in Minkowski space exists for all time. We additionally show that this solution will converge to a hyperplane as t→∞.     

The second Sobolev best constant along the Ricci flow

In this work we present some properties satisfied by the second L ²-Riemannian Sobolev best constant along the Ricci flow on compact manifolds of dimensions n ≥ 4. We prove that, along the Ricci flow g(t), the second best constant B ₀(2, g(t)) depends continuously on t and blows-up in finite time. In certain cases, the speed of the explosion is, at least, the same one of the curvature operator. We also show that, on manifolds with positive curvature operator or pointwise 1/4-pinched curvature, one of the situations holds: B ₀(2, g(t)) converges to an explicit constant or extremal functions there exists for t large.      

Blow up of subcritical quantities at the first singular time of the mean curvature flow

Consider a family of smooth immersions F(·,t) : Mⁿ? \mathbbRⁿ⁺¹{F(\cdot,t)\,:\,{M^n\to \mathbb{R}^{n+1}}} of closed hypersurfaces in \mathbbRⁿ⁺¹{\mathbb{R}^{n+1}} moving by the mean curvature flow \frac?F(p,t)?t = -H(p,t)·n(p,t){\frac{\partial F(p,t)}{\partial t} = -H(p,t)\cdot \nu(p,t)}, for t ? [0,T){t\in [0,T)}. We show that at the first singular time of the mean curvature flow, certain subcritical quantities concerning the second fundamental form, for example ò₀^tò_Ms\frac|A|^{n + 2} log (2 + |A|) dmds,{\int_{0}^{t}\int_{M_{s}}\frac{{\vert{\it A}\vert}^{n + 2}}{ log (2 + {\vert{\it A}\vert})}} d\mu ds, blow up. Our result is a log improvement of recent results of Le-Sesum, Xu-Ye-Zhao where the scaling invariant quantities were considered.     

Lagrangian mean curvature flow for entire Lipschitz graphs

We consider the mean curvature flow of entire Lagrangian graphs with Lipschitz continuous initial data. Assuming only a certain bound on the Lipschitz norm of an initial entire Lagrangian graph in ${{\mathbb R}^{2n}}$ , we show that the parabolic Eq. 1.1 has a longtime solution which is smooth for all positive time and satisfies uniform estimates away from time t?=?0. In particular, under the mean curvature flow (1.2) the graph immediately becomes smooth and the solution exists for all time such that the second fundamental form decays uniformly to 0 on the graph as t → ∞. Our assumption on the Lipschitz norm is equivalent to the underlying Lagrangian potential u being uniformly convex with its Hessian bounded in L ^∞. As an application of this result we provide conditions under which an entire Lipschitz Lagrangian graph converges after rescaling to a self-expanding solution to the mean curvature flow.     

On the mean curvature of semi-Riemannian graphs in semi-Riemannian warped products

We investigate the mean curvature of semi-Riemannian graphs in the semi-Riemannian warped product M× _f ? _?? , where M is a semi-Riemannian manifold, ? _?? is the real line ? with metric ??dt ² (???=?±1), and f: M???^?+? is the warping function. We obtain an integral formula for mean curvature and some results dealing with estimates of mean curvature, among these results is a Heinz?CChern type inequality.     

Minimal helix surfaces in <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Superscript>×ℝ

An immersed surface M in N ⁿ ×ℝ is a helix if its tangent planes make constant angle with ∂ _t . We prove that a minimal helix surface M, of arbitrary codimension is flat. If the codimension is one, it is totally geodesic. If the sectional curvature of N is positive, a minimal helix surfaces in N ⁿ ×ℝ is not necessarily totally geodesic. When the sectional curvature of N is nonpositive, then M is totally geodesic. In particular, minimal helix surfaces in Euclidean n-space are planes. We also investigate the case when M has parallel mean curvature vector: A complete helix surface with parallel mean curvature vector in Euclidean n-space is a plane or a cylinder of revolution. Finally, we use Eikonal f functions to construct locally any helix surface. In particular every minimal one can be constructed taking f with zero Hessian.     

Mean Curvature Flow Closes Open Ends of Noncompact Surfaces of Rotation

We discuss the motion of noncompact axisymmetric hypersurfaces Γ _t evolved by mean curvature flow. Our study provides a class of hypersurfaces that share the same quenching time with the shrinking cylinder evolved by the flow and prove that they tend to a smooth hypersurface having no pinching neck and having closed ends at infinity of the axis of rotation as the quenching time is approached. Moreover, they are completely characterized by a condition on initial hypersurface.     

The limiting angle of certain riemannian brownian motions

Let M be a Cartan-Hadamard manifold of dimension d ≧ 3, let p ? M and x = exp {r(x)θ(x)} be geodesic polar coordinates with pole p and let X be the Brownian motion on M. Let Sect_M(x) denote the sectional curvature of any plane section in M_x. We prove that for each c > 2, there is a 0 < β < 1 such that if - L²r(x)^2β ≦ Sect_M(x) ≦ -cr(x)^?2 for all x in the complement of a compact set, then lim_{t → ∞} θ(X_t) exists a.s. and defines a nontrivial invariant random variable. The Dirichlet problem at infinity and a conjecture of Greene and Wu are also discussed.     

Two-Dimensional Graphs Moving by Mean Curvature Flow

A surface Σ is a graph in ?⁴ if there is a unit constant 2-form ω on ?⁴ such that <e ₁∧e ₂, ω≥v ₀>0 where {e ₁, e ₂} is an orthonormal frame on Σ. We prove that, if $ \vartheta _{0} \geqslant \frac{1} {{{\sqrt 2 }}} A surface Σ is a graph in ℝ⁴ if there is a unit constant 2-form ω on ℝ⁴ such that <e ₁∧e ₂, ω>≥v ₀>0 where {e ₁, e ₂} is an orthonormal frame on Σ. We prove that, if v ₀≥ on the initial surface, then the mean curvature flow has a global solution and the scaled surfaces converge to a self-similar solution. A surface Σ is a graph in M ₁×M ₂ where M ₁ and M ₂ are Riemann surfaces, if <e ₁∧e ₂, ω₁>≥v ₀>0 where ω₁ is a K?hler form on M ₁. We prove that, if M is a K?hler-Einstein surface with scalar curvature R, v ₀≥ on the initial surface, then the mean curvature flow has a global solution and it sub-converges to a minimal surface, if, in addition, R≥0 it converges to a totally geodesic surface which is holomorphic. Received July 25, 2001, Accepted October 11, 2001     

The Li-Yau-Hamilton estimate and the Yang-Mills heat equation on manifolds with boundary

The paper pursues two connected goals. Firstly, we establish the Li-Yau-Hamilton estimate for the heat equation on a manifold M with nonempty boundary. Results of this kind are typically used to prove monotonicity formulas related to geometric flows. Secondly, we establish bounds for a solution ∇(t) of the Yang-Mills heat equation in a vector bundle over M. The Li-Yau-Hamilton estimate is utilized in the proofs. Our results imply that the curvature of ∇(t) does not blow up if the dimension of M is less than 4 or if the initial energy of ∇(t) is sufficiently small.