No Arabic abstract
We complete the proof of the Generalized Smale Conjecture, apart from the case of $RP^3$, and give a new proof of Gabais theorem for hyperbolic 3-manifolds. We use an approach based on Ricci flow through singularities, which applies uniformly to spherical space forms other than $S^3$ and $RP^3$ and hyperbolic manifolds, to prove that the moduli space of metrics of constant sectional curvature is contractible. As a corollary, for such a 3-manifold $X$, the inclusion $text{Isom} (X,g)to text{Diff}(X)$ is a homotopy equivalence for any Riemannian metric $g$ of constant sectional curvature.
Let $X$ be a compact orientable non-Haken 3-manifold modeled on the Thurston geometry $text{Nil}$. We show that the diffeomorphism group $text{Diff}(X)$ deformation retracts to the isometry group $text{Isom}(X)$. Combining this with earlier work by many authors, this completes the determination the homotopy type of $text{Diff}(X)$ for any compact, orientable, prime 3-manifold $X$.
The Ricci flow is an evolution system on metrics. For a given metric as initial data, its local existence and uniqueness on compact manifolds was first established by Hamilton cite{Ha1}. Later on, De Turck cite{De} gave a simplified proof. In the later of 80s, Shi cite{Sh1} generalized the local existence result to complete noncompact manifolds. However, the uniqueness of the solutions to the Ricci flow on complete noncompact manifolds is still an open question. Recently it was found that the uniqueness of the Ricci flow on complete noncompact manifolds is important in the theory of the Ricci flow with surgery. In this paper, we give an affirmative answer for the uniqueness question. More precisely, we prove that the solution of the Ricci flow with bounded curvature on a complete noncompact manifold is unique.
This book gives an introduction to fundamental aspects of generalized Riemannian, complex, and Kahler geometry. This leads to an extension of the classical Einstein-Hilbert action, which yields natural extensions of Einstein and Calabi-Yau structures as `canonical metrics in generalized Riemannian and complex geometry. The generalized Ricci flow is introduced as a tool for constructing such metrics, and extensions of the fundamental Hamilton/Perelman regularity theory of Ricci flow are proved. These results are refined in the setting of generalized complex geometry, where the generalized Ricci flow is shown to preserve various integrability conditions, taking the form of pluriclosed flow and generalized Kahler-Ricci flow. This leads to global convergence results, and applications to complex geometry. A purely mathematical introduction to the physical idea of T-duality is given, and a discussion of its relationship to generalized Ricci flow.
We show that the space of metrics of positive scalar curvature on any 3-manifold is either empty or contractible. Second, we show that the diffeomorphism group of every 3-dimensional spherical space form deformation retracts to its isometry group. This proves the Generalized Smale Conjecture. Our argument is independent of Hatchers theorem in the $S^3$ case and in particular it gives a new proof of the $S^3$ case.
We verify a conjecture of Perelman, which states that there exists a canonical Ricci flow through singularities starting from an arbitrary compact Riemannian 3-manifold. Our main result is a uniqueness theorem for such flows, which, together with an earlier existence theorem of Lott and the second named author, implies Perelmans conjecture. We also show that this flow through singularities depends continuously on its initial condition and that it may be obtained as a limit of Ricci flows with surgery. Our results have applications to the study of diffeomorphism groups of three manifolds --- in particular to the Generalized Smale Conjecture --- which will appear in a subsequent paper.