In this paper we provide a detailed proof of the second variation formula, essentially due to Richard Hamilton, Tom Ilmanen and the first author, for Perelman’s ν-entropy. In particular, we correct an error in the stability operator stated in Theorem 6.3 of [2]. Moreover, we obtain a necessary condition for linearly stable shrinkers in terms of the least eigenvalue and its multiplicity of certain Lichnerowicz type operator associated to the second variation.

A foliation F on a Riemannian manifold M is hyperpolar if it admits a flat section, that is, a connected closed flat submanifold of M that intersects each leaf of F orthogonally. In this article we classify the hyperpolar homogeneous foliations on every Riemannian symmetric space M of noncompact type. These foliations are constructed as follows. Let  be an orthogonal subset of a set of simple roots associated with the symmetric space M. Then  determines a horospherical decomposition M = Fs ×ErankM−||×N, where Fs  is the Riemannian product of || symmetric spaces of rank one. Every hyperpolar homogeneous foliation on M is isometrically congruent to the product of the following objects: a particular homogeneous codimension one foliation on each symmetric space of rank one in Fs , a foliation by parallel affine subspaces on the Euclidean space ErankM−||, and the horocycle subgroup N of the parabolic subgroup of the isometry group of M determined by .

Quasilocal mass in general relativity is a notion defined for a closed space like 2-surface in spacetime. In this note, we explain the definition in [23] and [24] from a mathematical viewpoint, emphasizing the connection to differential geometry and nonlinear partial differential equations. We also discuss a minimax interpretation of the definition and compare with other notions of quasilocal mass.

Let  $\sum$ be a complete minimal Lagrangian submanifold of $\mathbb{C}^n$. We identify regions in the Grassmannian of Lagrangian subspaces so that whenever the image of the Gauss map of $\sum$ lies in one of these regions, then  $\sum$ is an affine space.

In this paper, we present two kinds of total Chern forms c(E,G) and c(E,G) as well as a total Segre form c(E,G) of a holomorphic Finsler vector bundle c(E,G) expressed by the Finsler metric c(E,G), which answers a question of Faran [The equivalence problem for complex Finsler Hamiltonians, in <i>Finsler Geometry</i>, Contemporary Mathematics, Vol. 196 (American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI, 1996), pp. 133144] to some extent. As some applications, we show that the signed Segre forms c(E,G) are positive c(E,G)-forms on c(E,G) when c(E,G) is of positive Kobayashi curvature; we prove, under an extra assumption, that a FinslerEinstein vector bundle in the sense of Kobayashi is semi-stable; we introduce a new definition of a flat Finsler metric, which is weaker than Aikous one [Finsler geometry on complex vector bundles, in <i>A Sampler of RiemannFinsler Geometry</i>, MSRI Publications, Vol. 50 (Cambridge