We prove a Bonnet-Myers type theorem for quaternionic contact manifolds of dimension bigger than 7. If the manifold is complete with respect to the natural sub-Riemannian distance and satisfies a natural Ricci-type bound expressed in terms of derivatives up to the third order of the fundamental tensors, then the manifold is compact and we give a sharp bound on its sub-Riemannian diameter.
In this paper, we first prove the $f$-mean curvature comparison in a smooth metric measure space when the Bakry-Emery Ricci tensor is bounded from below and $|f|$ is bounded. Based on this, we define a Myers-type compactness theorem by generalizing the results of Cheeger, Gromov, and Taylor and of Wan for the Bakry-Emery Ricci tensor. Moreover, we improve a result from Soylu by using a weaker condition on a derivative $f(t)$.
We investigate quaternionic contact (qc) manifolds from the point of view of intrinsic torsion. We argue that the natural structure group for this geometry is a non-compact Lie group K containing Sp(n)H^*, and show that any qc structure gives rise to a canonical K-structure with constant intrinsic torsion, except in seven dimensions, when this condition is equivalent to integrability in the sense of Duchemin. We prove that the choice of a reduction to Sp(n)H^* (or equivalently, a complement of the qc distribution) yields a unique K-connection satisfying natural conditions on torsion and curvature. We show that the choice of a compatible metric on the qc distribution determines a canonical reduction to Sp(n)Sp(1) and a canonical Sp(n)Sp(1)-connection whose curvature is almost entirely determined by its torsion. We show that its Ricci tensor, as well as the Ricci tensor of the Biquard connection, has an interpretation in terms of intrinsic torsion.
The $pi_2$-diffeomorphism finiteness result (cite{FR1,2}, cite{PT}) asserts that the diffeomorphic types of compact $n$-manifolds $M$ with vanishing first and second homotopy groups can be bounded above in terms of $n$, and upper bounds on the absolute value of sectional curvature and diameter of $M$. In this paper, we will generalize this $pi_2$-diffeomorphism finiteness by removing the condition that $pi_1(M)=0$ and asserting the diffeomorphism finiteness on the Riemannian universal cover of $M$.
We answer in the affirmative a question posed by Ivanov and Vassilev on the existence of a seven dimensional quaternionic contact manifold with closed fundamental 4-form and non-vanishing torsion endomorphism. Moreover, we show an approach to the classification of seven dimensional solvable Lie groups having an integrable left invariant quaternionic contact structure. In particular, we prove that the unique seven dimensional nilpotent Lie group admitting such a structure is the quaternionic Heisenberg group.
We show that the emerging field of discrete differential geometry can be usefully brought to bear on crystallization problems. In particular, we give a simplified proof of the Heitmann-Radin crystallization theorem (R. C. Heitmann, C. Radin, J. Stat. Phys. 22, 281-287, 1980), which concerns a system of $N$ identical atoms in two dimensions interacting via the idealized pair potential $V(r)=+infty$ if $r<1$, $-1$ if $r=1$, $0$ if $r>1$. This is done by endowing the bond graph of a general particle configuration with a suitable notion of {it discrete curvature}, and appealing to a {it discrete Gauss-Bonnet theorem} (O. Knill, Elem. Math. 67, 1-17, 2012) which, as its continuous cousins, relates the sum/integral of the curvature to topological invariants. This leads to an exact geometric decomposition of the Heitmann-Radin energy into (i) a combinatorial bulk term, (ii) a combinatorial perimeter, (iii) a multiple of the Euler characteristic, and (iv) a natural topological energy contribution due to defects. An analogous exact geometric decomposition is also established for soft potentials such as the Lennard-Jones potential $V(r)=r^{-6}-2r^{-12}$, where two additional contributions arise, (v) elastic energy and (vi) energy due to non-bonded interactions.