MathSciDoc: An Archive for Mathematician ∫

Let n be an integer such that 25≤n≤51. We construct a smooth metric g on Sn with the property that the set of constant scalar curvature metrics in the conformal class of g is not compact.

In the ¯rst Heisenberg group H1 with its sub-Riemannian structure generated by the horizontal subbundle, we single out a class of C2 non-characteristic entire intrinsic graphs which we call strict graphical strips. We prove that such strict graphical strips have vanishing horizontal mean curvature (i.e., they are H-minimal) and are unstable (i.e., there exist compactly supported deformations for which the second variation of the horizontal perimeter is strictly negative). We then show that, modulo left-translations and rotations about the center of the group, every C2 entire Hminimal graph with empty characteristic locus and which is not a vertical plane contains a strict graphical strip. Combining these results we prove the conjecture that in H1 the only stable C2 Hminimal entire graphs, with empty characteristic locus, are thevertical planes.

In a symmetric space of noncompact type X = G=K oriented geodesic segments correspond modulo isometries to vectors in the Euclidean Weyl chamber. We can hence assign vector valued lengths to segments. Our main result is a system of homogeneous linear inequalities, which we call the generalized triangle inequalities or stability inequalities, describing the restrictions on the vector valued side lengths of oriented polygons. It is based on the mod 2 Schubert calculus in the real Grassmannians G=P for maximal parabolic subgroups P. The side lengths of polygons in Euclidean buildings are studied in the related paper [KLM2]. Applications of the geomet- ric results in both papers to algebraic group theory are given in[KLM3].

We prove a structure theorem for compact aspherical Lorentz manifolds with abundant local symmetry. If M is a compact, aspherical, real-analytic, complete Lorentz manifold such that the isometry group of the universal cover has semisimple identity component, then the local isometry orbits in M are roughly ¯bers of a¯ber bundle. A corollary is that if M has an open, dense, locally homogeneous subset, then M is locally homogeneous.

Given a hyperbolic surface with geodesic boundary S, the lengths of a maximal system of disjoint simple geodesic arcs on S that start and end at @S perpendicularly are coordinates on the Teichm¨uller space T (S). We express the Weil-Petersson Poisson structure of T (S) in this system of coordinates, and we prove that it limits pointwise to the piecewise-linear Poisson structure defined by Kontsevich on the arc complex of S. At the same time, we obtain a formula for the first-order variation of the distance between two closed geodesics under Fenchel-Nielsen deformation.

The weak mean curvature is lower semicontinuous under weak convergence of varifolds, that is, if ¹k ! ¹ weakly as varifolds then k ~H¹ kLp(¹)· lim infk!1 k ~H¹k kLp(¹k). In contrast, if Tk ! T weakly as integral currents, then ¹T may not have a locally bounded ¯rst variation even if k ~H¹Tk kL1(¹k) is bounded. In 1999, Luigi Ambrosio asked the question whether lower semi- continuity of the weak mean curvature is true when T is assumed to be smooth. This was proved in [AmMa03] for p > n = dim T in Rn+1 using results from [Sch04]. Here we prove this in any dimension and codimension down to the desired exponent p = 2. For p = n = 2, this corresponds to the Willmore functional. In a forthcoming joint work [RoSch06], main steps of the pre- sent article are used to prove a modi¯ed conjecture of De Giorgi that the sum of the area and the Willmore functional is the ¡-limit of a di®use Landau-Ginzburg approximation.

We develop some results from [4] on the positivity of direct image bundles in the particular case of a trivial ¯bration over a one-dimensional base. We also apply the results to study variations of KÄahler metrics.

We prove that Mark Gross’ [8] topological Calabi-Yau compactifications can be made into symplectic compactifications. To prove this we develop a method to construct singular Lagrangian 3-torus fibrations over certain a priori given integral affine manifolds with singularities, which we call simple. This produces pairs of compact symplectic 6-manifolds homeomorphic to mirror pairs of Calabi-Yau 3-folds together with Lagrangian fibrations whose underlying integral affine structures are dual.

We prove the factoriality of a nodal hypersurface in P4 of degree d that has at most 2(d ¡ 1)2=3 singular points, and we prove the factoriality of a double cover of P3 branched over a nodal surface of degree 2r having less than (2r ¡ 1)r singular points.

We prove that the rotation in time T of a trajectory of a K-Lipschitz vector ¯eld in Rn around a given point (stationary or non-stationary) is bounded by A + BKT with A;B absolute constants. In particular, trajectories of a Lipschitz vector ¯eld in ¯nite time cannot have an in¯nite rotation around a given point (while trajectories of a C1 vector ¯eld may have an in¯- nite rotation around a straight line in ¯nite time). The bound above extends to the mutual rotation of two trajectories (for the time intervals T and T0, respectively) of a K-Lipschitz vector ¯eld in R3: this rotation is bounded from above by the quantity CK min(T; T0) + DK2TT0.