Asymptotically harmonic spaces in dimension 3

Let be a Hadamard manifold of dimension whose sectional curvature satisfies and whose curvature tensor satisfies for suitable constants and . We show that is of constant sectional curvature provided is asymptotically harmonic. This was previously only known if admits a compact quotient.

     

Convexity of spheres in a manifold without conjugate points

For a non-compact, complete and simply connected manifoldM without conjugate points, we prove that if the determinant of the second fundamental form of the geodesic spheres inM is a radial function, then the geodesic spheres are convex. We also show that ifM is two or three dimensional and without conjugate points, then, at every point there exists a ray with no focal points on it relative to the initial point of the ray. The proofs use a result from the theory of vector bundles combined with the index lemma.     

Busemann Functions in a Harmonic Manifold

For a noncompact complete and simply connected harmonic manifold M, we prove the analyticity of Busemann functionson M. This is the main result of this paper. An application of it shows that the harmonic spaces having minimal horospheres have the bi-asymptotic property. Finally, we prove that the total Busemann functionis continuous in C topology. As a consequence, we show that the uniform divergence of geodesics holds in these spaces.