arXiv subjects

William Wylie

Publications and source records attributed to William Wylie.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Hamilton's identity and rigidity of complete gradient solitons

In this work, we study gradient solitons to general geometric flows. Our approach is to understand what assumptions need to be made about a flow in order to extend results about Ricci solitons. In this direction, we identify an identity, first exploited in the pioneering work of Richard Hamilton in the case of Ricci solitons, which we call Hamilton's identity. We show that a version of this identity for an arbitrary geometric flow allows one to recover results about rigidity, the growth of the potential function, volume growth and the Omori-Yau maximum principle that have been proven for gradient Ricci solitons.

math.DG↗

arXiv2024

Extended Solitons of the Ambient Obstruction Flow

In this paper we expand on the work of the first author on ambient obstruction solitons, which are self-similar solutions to the ambient obstruction flow. Our main result is to show that any closed ambient obstruction soliton is ambient obstruction flat and has constant scalar curvature. We show, in fact, that the first part of this result is true for a more general extended soliton equation where we allow an arbitrary conformal factor to be added to the equation. We discuss how this implies that, on a compact manifold, the ambient obstruction flow has no fixed points up to conformal diffeomorphism other than ambient obstruction flat metrics. These results are the consequence of a general integral inequality that can be applied to the solitons to any geometric flow. Additionally, we use these results to obtain a generalization of the Bourguignon-Ezin identity on a closed Riemannian manifold and study the converse problem on a closed extended $q$-soliton. We also study this extended equation further in the case of homogeneous and product metrics.

math.DG↗

arXiv2023

Holonomy restrictions from the curvature operator of the second kind

We show that an $n$-dimensional Riemannian manifold with $n$-nonnegative or $n$-nonpositive curvature operator of the second kind has restricted holonomy $SO(n)$ or is flat. The result does not depend on completeness and can be improved provided the space is Einstein or Kähler. In particular, if a locally symmetric space has $n$-nonnegative or $n$-nonpositive curvature operator of the second kind, then it has constant curvature. When the locally symmetric space is irreducible this can be improved to $\frac{3n}{2}\frac{n+2}{n+4}$-nonnegative or $\frac{3n}{2}\frac{n+2}{n+4}$-nonpositive curvature operator of the second kind.

math.DG↗

arXiv2022

Rigidity of Homogeneous Gradient Soliton Metrics and Related Equations

We prove structure results for homogeneous spaces that support a non-constant solution to two general classes of equations involving the Hessian of a function and an invariant 2-tensor. We also consider trace-free versions of these systems. Our results generalize earlier rigidity results for gradient Ricci solitons and warped product Einstein metrics. In particular, our results apply to homogeneous gradient solitons of any invariant curvature flow and give a new structure result for homogeneous conformally Einstein metrics.

math.DG↗

arXiv2018

New Restrictions on the Topology of Extreme Black Holes

We provide bounds on the first Betti number and structure results for the fundamental group of horizon cross-sections for extreme stationary vacuum black holes in arbitrary dimension, without additional symmetry hypotheses. This is achieved by exploiting a correspondence between the associated near-horizon geometries and the mathematical notion of $m$-quasi Einstein metrics, in addition to generalizations of the classical splitting theorem from Riemannian geometry. Consequences are analyzed and refined classifications are given for the possible topologies of these black holes.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Curvature-dimension bounds for Lorentzian splitting theorems

We analyze Lorentzian spacetimes subject to curvature-dimension bounds using the Bakry-Émery-Ricci tensor. We extend the Hawking-Penrose type singularity theorem and the Lorentzian timelike splitting theorem to synthetic dimensions $N\le 1$, including all negative synthetic dimensions. The rigidity of the timelike splitting reduces to a warped product splitting when $N=1$. We also extend the null splitting theorem of Lorentzian geometry, showing that it holds under a null curvature-dimension bound on the Bakry-Émery-Ricci tensor for all $N\in (-\infty, 2]\cup (n,\infty)$ and for the $N=\infty$ case as well, with reduced rigidity if $N=2$. In consequence, the basic singularity and splitting theorems of Lorentzian Bakry-Émery theory now cover all synthetic dimensions for which such theorems are possible. The splitting theorems are found always to exhibit reduced rigidity at the critical synthetic dimension.

math.DG↗

arXiv2017

The weighted connection and sectional curvature for manifolds with density

In this paper we study sectional curvature bounds for Riemannian manifolds with density from the perspective of a weighted torsion free connection introduced recently by the last two authors. We develop two new tools for studying weighted sectional curvature bounds: a new weighted Rauch comparison theorem and a modified notion of convexity for distance functions. As applications we prove generalizations of theorems of Preissman and Byers for negative curvature, the (homeomorphic) quarter-pinched sphere theorem, and Cheeger's finiteness theorem. We also improve results of the first two authors for spaces of positive weighted sectional curvature and symmetry.

math.DG↗

arXiv2016

A warped product version of the Cheeger-Gromoll splitting theorem

We prove a new generalization of the Cheeger-Gromoll splitting theorem where we obtain a warped product splitting under the existence of a line. The curvature condition in our splitting is a curvature dimension inequality of the form $CD(0,1)$. Even though we have to allow warping in our splitting, we are able to recover topological applications. In particular, for a smooth compact Riemannian manifold admitting a density which is $CD(0,1)$, we show that the fundamental group of $M$ is the fundamental group of a compact manifold with nonnegative sectional curvature. If the space is also locally homogeneous, we obtain that the space also admits a metric of non-negative sectional curvature. Both of these obstructions give many examples of Riemannian metrics which do not admit any smooth density which is $CD(0,1)$.

math.DG↗

arXiv2016

On the geometry of Riemannian manifolds with density

We introduce a new geometric approach to a manifold equipped with a smooth density function that takes a torsion-free affine connection, as opposed to a weighted measure or Laplacian, as the fundamental object of study. The connection motivates new versions of the volume and Laplacian comparison theorems that are valid for the 1-Bakry-Emery Ricci tensor, a weaker assumption than has previously been considered in the literature. As applications we prove new generalizations of Myers' theorem and Cheng's diameter rigidity result. We also investigate the holonomy groups of the weighted connection. We show that they are more general than the Riemannian holonomy, but also exhibit some of the same structure. For example, we obtain a generalization of the de Rham splitting theorem as well as new rigidity phenomena for parallel vector fields. A general feature of all of our rigidity results is that warped or twisted product splittings are characterized, as opposed to the usual isometric products.

math.DG↗

arXiv2015

Cosmological singularity theorems and splitting theorems for N-Bakry-Emery spacetimes

We study Lorentzian manifolds with a weight function such that the $N$-Bakry-Émery tensor is bounded below. Such spacetimes arise in the physics of scalar-tensor gravitation theories, including Brans-Dicke theory, theories with Kaluza-Klein dimensional reduction, and low-energy approximations to string theory. In the "pure Bakry-Émery" $N= \infty$ case with $f$ uniformly bounded above and initial data suitably bounded, cosmological-type singularity theorems are known, as are splitting theorems which determine the geometry of timelike geodesically complete spacetimes for which the bound on the initial data is borderline violated. We extend these results in a number of ways. We are able to extend the singularity theorems to finite $N$-values $N\in (n,\infty)$ and $N\in (-\infty,1]$. In the $N\in (n,\infty)$ case, no bound on $f$ is required, while for $N\in (-\infty,1]$ and $N= \infty$, we are able to replace the boundedness of $f$ by a weaker condition on the integral of $f$ along future-inextendible timelike geodesics. The splitting theorems extend similarly, but when $N=1$ the splitting is only that of a warped product for all cases considered. A similar limited loss of rigidity has been observed in prior work on the $N$-Bakry-Émery curvature in Riemannian signature when $N=1$, and appears to be a general feature.

math.DG↗

arXiv2015

Sectional curvature for Riemannian manifolds with density

In this paper we introduce two new notions of sectional curvature for Riemannian manifolds with density. Under both notions of curvature we classify the constant curvature manifolds. We also prove generalizations of the theorems of Cartan-Hadamard, Synge, and Bonnet-Myers as well as a generalization of the (non-smooth) 1/4-pinched sphere theorem. The main idea is to modify the radial curvature equation and second variation formula and then apply the techniques of classical Riemannian geometry to these new equations.

math.DG↗

arXiv2015

Some curvature pinching results for Riemannian manifolds with density

In this note we consider versions of both Ricci and sectional curvature pinching for Riemannian manifold with density. In the Ricci curvature case the main result implies a diameter estimate that is new even for compact shrinking Ricci solitons. In the case of sectional curvature we prove a new sphere theorem.

math.DG↗

arXiv2014

Gradient shrinking Ricci solitons of half harmonic Weyl curvature

We prove that a four-dimensional gradient shrinking Ricci soliton with $δW^{\pm}=0$ is either Einstein, or a finite quotient of $S^3\times\mathbb{R}$, $S^2\times\mathbb{R}^2$ or $\mathbb{R}^4$. We also prove that a four-dimensional cscK gradient Ricci soliton is either Kähler-Einstein, or a finite quotient of $M\times\mathbb{C}$, where $M$ is a Riemann surface. The main arguments are curvature decompositions, the Weitzenböck formula for half Weyl curvature, and the maximum principle.

math.DG↗

arXiv2014

Positive weighted sectional curvature

In this paper, we give a new generalization of positive sectional curvature called positive weighted sectional curvature. It depends on a choice of Riemannian metric and a smooth vector field. We give several simple examples of Riemannian metrics which do not have positive sectional curvature but support a vector field that gives them positive weighted curvature. On the other hand, we generalize a number of the foundational results for compact manifolds with positive sectional curvature to positive weighted curvature. In particular, we prove generalizations of Weinstein's theorem, O'Neill's formula for submersions, Frankel's theorem, and Wilking's connectedness lemma. As applications of these results, we recover weighted versions of topological classification results of Grove-Searle and Wilking for manifolds of high symmetry rank and positive curvature.

math.DG↗

arXiv2013

Warped product rigidity

In this paper we study the space of solutions to an overdetermined linear system involving the Hessian of functions. We show that if the solution space has dimension greater than one, then the underlying manifold has a very rigid warped product structure. We obtain a uniqueness result for prescribing the Ricci curvature of a warped product manifold over a fixed base. As an application, this warped product structure will be used to study warped product Einstein structures in "Uniqueness of warped product Einstein metrics and applications".

math.DG↗

arXiv2013

Uniqueness of warped product Einstein metrics and applications

We prove that complete warped product Einstein metrics with isometric bases, simply connected space form fibers, and the same Ricci curvature and dimension are isometric. In the compact case we also prove that the warping functions must be the same up to scaling, while in the non-compact case there are simple examples showing that the warping function is not unique. These results follow from a structure theorem for warped product Einstein spaces which is proven by applying the results in our earlier paper "Warped product rigidity" to a vector space of virtual Einstein warping functions. We also use the structure theorem to study gap phenomena for the dimension of the space of warping functions and the isometry group of a warped product Einstein metric.

math.DG↗

arXiv2013

Warped product Einstein metrics on homogeneous spaces and homogeneous Ricci solitons

In this paper we consider connections between Ricci solitons and Einstein metrics on homogeneous spaces. We show that a semi-algebraic Ricci soliton admits an Einstein one-dimensional extension if the soliton derivation can be chosen to be normal. Using our previous work on warped product Einstein metrics, we show that every normal semi-algebraic Ricci soliton also admits a $k$-dimensional Einstein extension for any $k\geq 2$. We also prove converse theorems for these constructions and some geometric and topological structure results for homogeneous warped product Einstein metrics. In the appendix we give an alternative approach to semi-algebraic Ricci solitons which naturally leads to a definition of semi-algebraic Ricci solitons in the non-homogeneous setting.

math.DG↗

arXiv2012

Conformal diffeomorphisms of gradient Ricci solitons and generalized quasi-Einstein manifolds

In this paper we extend some well-known rigidity results for conformal changes of Einstein metrics to the class of generalized quasi-Einstein (GQE) metrics, which includes gradient Ricci solitons. In order to do so, we introduce the notions of conformal diffeomorphisms and vector fields that preserve a GQE structure. We show that a complete GQE metric admits a structure-preserving, non-homothetic complete conformal vector field if and only if it is a round sphere. We also classify the structure-preserving conformal diffeomorphisms. In the compact case, if a GQE metric admits a structure-preserving, non-homothetic conformal diffeomorphism, then the metric is conformal to the sphere, and isometric to the sphere in the case of a gradient Ricci soliton. In the complete case, the only structure-preserving non-homothetic conformal diffeomorphisms from a shrinking or steady gradient Ricci soliton to another soliton are the conformal transformations of spheres and stereographic projection.

math.DG↗