We generalize the results of Adams–Schoenfeld [2], finding large classes of totally geodesic Seifert surfaces in hyperbolic knot and link complements, each covering a rigid 2-orbifold embedded in some hyperbolic 3-orbifold. In addition, we provide a uniqueness theorem and demonstrate that many knots cannot possess totally geodesic Seifert surfaces by giving bounds on the width invariant in the presence of such a surface. Finally, we utilize these examples to demonstrate that the Six Theorem is sharp for knot complements in the 3-sphere.

We prove pinching estimates for dual flows provided the curvature function used in the inverse flow in de Sitter space is convex.

By using certain idea developed in minimal submanifold theory we study rigidity problem for self-shrinkers in the present paper. We prove rigidity results for the squared norm of the second fundamental form of self-shrinkers, either under point-wise conditions or under integral conditions.

In this paper, we study the Pontryagin numbers of 24 dimensional String manifolds. In partic- ular, we find representatives of an integral basis of the String cobrodism group at dimension 24, based on the work of Mahowald and Hopkins (The structure of 24 dimensional manifolds having normal bundles which lift to B O [8], from “Recent progress in homotopy theory” (D. M. Davis, J. Morava, G. Nishida, W. S. Wilson, N. Yagita, editors), Contemp. Math. 293, Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, RI, 89-110, 2002), Borel and Hirzebruch (Am J Math 80: 459–538, 1958) and Wall (Ann Math 75:163–198, 1962). This has immediate applications on the divisibility of various characteristic numbers of the manifolds. In particular, we establish the 2-primary divisibilities of the signature and of the modified signature coupling with the integral Wu class of Hopkins and Singer (J Differ Geom 70:329–452, 2005), and also the 3- primary divisibility of the twisted signature. Our results provide potential clues to understand a question of Teichner.

In this paper, we first derive the CR analogue of matrix Li–Yau–Hamilton inequality for the positive solution to the CR heat equation in a closed pseudohermitian (2n + 1)-manifold with nonnegative bisectional curvature and bitorsional tensor. We then obtain the CR Li–Yau gradient estimate in the Heisenberg group. We apply this CR gradient estimate and extend the CR matrix Li–Yau–Hamilton inequality to the case of the Heisenberg group. As a consequence, we derive the Hessian comparison property for the Heisenberg group.