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Zbl 0504.53034
Hamilton, Richard S.
Three-manifolds with positive Ricci curvature.
(English)
[J] J. Differ. Geom. 17, 255-306 (1982). ISSN 0022-040X

In this paper the following important theorem is proved: Let $X$ be a compact 3-manifold which admits a Riemannian metric with strictly positive Ricci curvature. Then $X$ also admits a metric of constant positive curvature. As all manifolds of constant curvature have been completely classified by {\it J. A. Wolf} in his book [Spaces of constant curvature. New York etc.: McGraw-Hill (1967; Zbl 0162.53304)], by the preceding theorem these are the only compact three-manifolds, which can carry metrics of strictly positive Ricci curvature. Accordingly, a conjecture of {\it J.-P. Bourguignon} [Global differential geometry and global analysis, Proc. Colloq., Berlin 1979, Lect. Notes Math. 838, 249--250 (1981; Zbl 0437.53011)] is answered affirmatively. As pointed out by the author, this theorem is closely related to the famous Poincaré's conjecture on the compact, simply-connected 3-manifolds and the Smith's conjecture related to the group of covering transformations. If both conjectures were true, the main theorem mentioned above would follow as a corollary. In the proof of this theorem the author studied in advance the equation of evolution $\frac{\partial g_{ij}}{\partial t}=\frac 2n rg_{ij} - 2R_{ij}$, where $r$ is the average of the scalar curvature $R$, namely $r=\int R\,d\mu/\int\,d\mu$. He proved that if for a compact 3-manifold the initial metric has strictly positive Ricci curvature, then it continues like that for ever, and converges to a metric of constant positive curvature, as $t$ tends to $\infty$. Then he made use of the fact peculiar to three dimensions, that the full Riemannian curvature tensor $R_{hijk}$ can be calculated from the Ricci tensor $R_{ij}$ (Weyl's conformal curvature tensor is vanishing). In view of this crucial step, the method used here cannot be generalized to the case $\dim(M)\geq 3$, unless it is extensively modified.

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[C.-c. Hwang]
MSC 2000:
*53C21 Methods of Riemannian geometry (global)
53C44 Geometric evolution equations (mean curvature flow)
35K55 Nonlinear parabolic equations

Keywords: Ricci-curvature; equation of evolution; Nash-Moser inverse function theorem; method of a priori estimation; constant positive curvature

Citations: Zbl 0162.53304; Zbl 0437.53011

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