SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

Mohammad Ghomi

Publications and source records attributed to Mohammad Ghomi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The Cartan-Hadamard conjecture in dimension five

We show that the sharp Euclidean isoperimetric inequality holds for domains in complete simply connected Riemannian $5$-manifolds of nonpositive sectional curvature, which establishes the Cartan-Hadamard conjecture in that dimension. The main step is a sharp inequality for constant-mean-curvature hypersurfaces, proved via integrals over pairs of boundary points, in the spirit of Banchoff-Pohl, together with an estimate for Jacobi fields along geodesic chords. The inequality persists for boundaries of isoperimetric regions in geodesic balls, whose mean curvature is constant only on the free part. An isoperimetric-profile argument, after Kleiner, completes the proof. Our method also gives a new proof in dimension $3$.

math.DG

Mean curvatures and symmetry of convex hypersurfaces

Let $M^n$ be a $C^2$ closed convex hypersurface in Euclidean space, and $\sigma_m$ be its $m$th mean curvature. We show that $M$ is symmetric with respect to a hyperplane orthogonal to a given direction $e$, if $\sigma_m(p)\leq\sigma_m(q)$ whenever $p-q$ is parallel to $e$. For convex hypersurfaces, this settles a conjecture of Li, extends the mean-curvature theorem of Li-Yan-Yao to all $\sigma_m$, and strengthens some earlier results of Li-Nirenberg by removing nondegeneracy assumptions. The proof is based on the theory of mixed volumes, specifically the rigidity of quermassintegrals under Steiner symmetrization.

math.DG

Total curvature and isoperimetric inequalities in pinched Cartan-Hadamard manifolds

We establish a sharp lower bound for the total Gauss-Kronecker curvature of convex hypersurfaces in Cartan-Hadamard manifolds with pinched negative curvature. The bound holds in all dimensions when the diameter is small relative to the curvature scale, and in dimensions 4 and 5 without any restriction on the diameter, provided that the pinching is sufficiently tight. The proofs are based on the Chern-Gauss-Bonnet theorem and weighted Hsiung-Minkowski inequalities. As an application, we obtain the isoperimetric inequality of the Cartan-Hadamard conjecture in dimension 5 under sufficiently pinched curvature.

math.DG

A quantitative Schur comparison theorem for curves in CAT(k) spaces

We obtain a quantitative form of Schur's comparison theorem for curves with finite total curvature in CAT(k) spaces. This sharpens and extends the classical arm and bow lemmas in Euclidean space, as well as their Riemannian analogues. The proof is based on a comparison formula for curves in model planes, expressed in terms of curvature measures and a notion of moment arm borrowed from mechanics. Another ingredient is a refinement of Reshetnyak's theorem that controls the curvature of the majorizing curve.

math.DG

Total absolute curvature and rigidity of surfaces in Cartan-Hadamard manifolds

We show that closed surfaces with minimal total absolute curvature in Cartan-Hadamard 3-manifolds bound flat convex bodies. This generalizes Chern-Lashof's theorem for surfaces in Euclidean space and solves a problem posed by Gromov in 1985. Our proof is based on an isometric embedding construction via holonomy, and uses Pogorelov's theory of surfaces with bounded extrinsic curvature. Along the way, we obtain a regularity result for convex hulls and a Schur-type comparison theorem for curves in Cartan-Hadamard manifolds.

math.DG

Total curvature of convex hypersurfaces in Cartan-Hadamard manifolds

We show that if the curvature of a Cartan-Hadamard $n$-manifold is constant near a convex hypersurface $\Gamma$, then the total Gauss-Kronecker curvature $\mathcal{G}(\Gamma)$ is not less than that of any convex hypersurface nested inside $\Gamma$. This extends Borb\'{e}ly's monotonicity theorem in hyperbolic space. It follows that $\mathcal{G}(\Gamma)$ is bounded below by the volume of the unit sphere in Euclidean space $\mathbf{R}^n$.

math.DG

$h$-Principles for smooth curves and knots with prescribed curvature

We show that smooth curves with prescribed curvature satisfy a $C^1$-dense $h$-principle in the space of immersed curves in Euclidean space. More precisely, every $C^{\alpha \geq 2}$ curve with nonvanishing curvature in $R^{n\geq 3}$ can be $C^1$-approximated by $C^\alpha$ curves of any larger curvature, prescribed as a function of arclength. It follows that there exist $C^\infty$ knots of prescribed curvature in every isotopy class of closed curves embedded in $R^3$.

math.DG

A local isoperimetric inequality for balls with nonpositive curvature

We show that small perturbations of the metric of a ball in Euclidean n-space to metrics with nonpositive curvature do not reduce the isoperimetric ratio. Furthermore, the isoperimetric ratio is preserved only if the perturbation corresponds to a homothety of the ball. These results establish a sharp local version of the Cartan-Hadamard conjecture.

math.DG

Topology of closed asymptotic curves on negatively curved surfaces

Motivated by Nirenberg's problem on isometric rigidity of tight surfaces, we study closed asymptotic curves $\Gamma$ on negatively curved surfaces $M$ in Euclidean $3$-space. In particular, using C\u{a}lug\u{a}reanu's theorem, we obtain a formula for the linking number $Lk(\Gamma,n)$ of $\Gamma$ with the normal $n$ of $M$. It follows that when $Lk(\Gamma, n)=0$, $\Gamma$ cannot have any locally star-shaped planar projections with vanishing crossing number, which extends observations of Kovaleva, Panov and Arnold. These results hold also for curves with nonvanishing torsion and their binormal vector field. Furthermore we construct an example where $n$ is injective but $Lk(\Gamma, n)\neq 0$, and discuss various restrictions on $\Gamma$ when $n$ is injective.

math.DG

$h$-Principles for curves and knots of constant torsion

We prove that curves of constant torsion satisfy the $C^1$-dense h-principle in the space of immersed curves in Euclidean space. In particular, there exists a knot of constant torsion in each isotopy class. Our methods, which involve convex integration and degree theory, quickly establish these results for curves of constant curvature as well.

math.DG

Deformations of curves with constant curvature

We prove that curves of constant curvature satisfy the parametric $C^1$-dense relative $h$-principle in the space of immersed curves with nonvanishing curvature in Euclidean space $R^{n\geq 3}$. It follows that two knots of constant curvature in $R^3$ are isotopic, resp. homotopic, through curves of constant curvature if and only if they are isotopic, resp. homotopic, and their self-linking numbers, resp. self-linking numbers mod $2$, are equal. The proofs are based on convex integration techniques, utilizing parametric versions of classical theorems by Carath\'{e}odory and Steinitz in convex geometry.

math.DG

Shortest closed curve to contain a sphere in its convex hull

We show that in Euclidean 3-space any closed curve $γ$ which contains the unit sphere within its convex hull has length $L\geq4π$, and characterize the case of equality. This result generalizes the authors' recent solution to a conjecture of Zalgaller. Furthermore, for the analogous problem in $n$ dimensions, we include the estimate $L\geq Cn\sqrt{n}$ by Nazarov, which is sharp up to the constant $C$.

math.DG

Convexity and rigidity of hypersurfaces in Cartan-Hadamard manifolds

We show that in Cartan-Hadamard manifolds $M^n$, $n\geq 3$, closed infinitesimally convex hypersurfaces $\Gamma$ bound convex flat regions, if curvature of $M^n$ vanishes on tangent planes of $\Gamma$. This encompasses Chern-Lashof-Sacksteder characterization of compact convex hypersurfaces in Euclidean space, and some results of Greene-Wu-Gromov on rigidity of Cartan-Hadamard manifolds. It follows that closed simply connected surfaces in $M^3$ with minimal total absolute curvature bound Euclidean convex bodies, as stated by Gromov in 1985. The proofs employ the Gauss-Codazzi equations, a generalization of Schur comparison theorem to CAT($k$) spaces, and other techniques from Alexandrov geometry outlined by Petrunin.

math.DG

Point selections from Jordan domains in Riemannian Surfaces

Using fiber bundle theory and conformal mappings, we continuously select a point from the interior of Jordan domains in Riemannian surfaces. This selection can be made equivariant under isometries, and take on prescribed values such as the center of mass when the domains are convex. Analogous results for conformal transformations are obtained as well. It follows that the space of Jordan domains in surfaces of constant curvature admits an isometrically equivariant strong deformation retraction onto the space of round disks. Finally we develop a canonical procedure for selecting points from planar Jordan domains.

math.DG

Comparison formulas for total mean curvatures of Riemannian hypersurfaces

We devise some differential forms after Chern to compute a family of formulas for comparing total mean curvatures of nested hypersurfaces in Riemannian manifolds. This yields a quicker proof of a recent result of the author with Joel Spruck, which had been obtained via Reilly's identities.

math.DG

Minkowski inequality in Cartan-Hadamard manifolds

Using harmonic mean curvature flow, we establish a sharp Minkowski type lower bound for total mean curvature of convex surfaces with a given area in Cartan-Hadamard 3-manifolds. This inequality also improves the known estimates for total mean curvature in hyperbolic 3-space. As an application, we obtain a Bonnesen-style isoperimetric inequality for surfaces with convex distance function in nonpositively curved 3-spaces, via monotonicity results for total mean curvature. This connection between the Minkowski and isoperimetric inequalities is extended to Cartan-Hadamard manifolds of any dimension.

math.DG