Yamabe invariant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In mathematics, in the field of differential geometry, the Yamabe invariant (also referred to as the sigma constant) is a real number invariant associated to a smooth manifold that is preserved under diffeomorphisms. It was first written down independently by O. Kobayashi and R. Schoen and takes its name from H. Yamabe.

Contents 1 Definition 2 The Yamabe invariant in two dimensions 3 Examples 4 Topological significance 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References

[edit] Definition

Let M be a compact smooth manifold of dimension . The normalized Einstein-Hilbert functional assigns to each Riemannian metric g on M a real number as follows:

where R_g is the scalar curvature of g and dV_g is the volume form associated to the metric g. Note that the exponent in the denominator is chosen so that the functional is scale-invariant. We may think of as measuring the average scalar curvature of g over M. It was conjectured by Yamabe that every conformal class of metrics contains a metric of constant scalar curvature (the so-called [Yamabe problem]); it was proven by Yamabe, Trudinger, Aubin, and Schoen that a minimum value of is attained in each conformal class of metrics, and in particular this minimum is achieved by a metric of constant scalar curvature. We may thus define

where the infimum is taken over the smooth functions f on M. The number Y(g) is sometimes called the conformal Yamabe energy of g (and is constant on conformal classes).

A comparison argument due to Aubin shows that for any metric g, Y(g) is bounded above by , where g₀ is the standard metric on the n-sphere Sⁿ. The number is equal to 6(2π²)^{2 / 3} and is often denoted σ₁. It follows that if we define

where the supremum is taken over all metrics on M, then (and is in particular finite). The real number σ(M) is called the Yamabe invariant of M.

[edit] The Yamabe invariant in two dimensions

In the case that n = 2, (so that M is a closed surface) the Einstein-Hilbert functional is given by

where K_g is the Gauss curvature of g. However, by the Gauss-Bonnet theorem, the integral of the Gauss curvature is given by 2πχ(M), where χ(M) is the Euler characteristic of M. In particular, this number does not depend on the choice of metric. Therefore, for surfaces, we conclude that

σ(M) = 4πχ(M).

For example, the 2-sphere has Yamabe invariant equal to 8π, and the 2-torus has Yamabe invariant equal to zero.

[edit] Examples

In the late 1990s, the Yamabe invariant was computed for large classes of 4-manifolds by LeBrun and his collaborators. In particular, it was shown that most compact complex surfaces have negative, exactly computable Yamabe invariant, and that any Kahler-Einstein metric of negative scalar curvature realizes the Yamabe invariant in dimension 4. It was also shown that the Yamabe invariant of CP₂ is realized by the Fubini-Study metric, and so is less than that of the 4-sphere. Most of these arguments involve Seiberg-Witten theory, and so are specific to dimension 4.

An important result due to Petean states that if M is simply connected and has dimension , then . In light of Perelman's solution of the Poincaré conjecture, it follows that a simply connected n-manifold can have negative Yamabe invariant only if n = 4. On the other hand, as has already been indicated, simply connected 4-manifolds do in fact often have negative Yamabe invariants.

Below is a table of some smooth manifolds of dimension three with known Yamabe invariant. Recall σ₁ is defined above to be 6(2π²)^{2 / 3}.

M	σ(M)	notes
S3	σ1	the 3-sphere
	σ1	the trivial 2-sphere bundle over S1[1]
	σ1	the unique non-orientable 2-sphere bundle over S1
	σ1 / 22 / 3	computed by Bray and Neves
	σ1 / 22 / 3	computed by Bray and Neves
T3	0	the 3-torus

By an argument due to Anderson, Perelman's results on the Ricci flow imply that the constant-curvature metric on any hyperbolic 3-manifold realizes the Yamabe invariant. This provides us with infinitely many examples of 3-manifolds for which the invariant is both negative and exactly computable.

[edit] Topological significance

The sign of the Yamabe invariant of M holds important topological information. For example, σ(M) is positive if and only if M admits a metric of positive scalar curvature^[2]. The significance of this fact is that much is known about the topology of manifolds with metrics of positive scalar curvature.

[edit] See also

• Yamabe flow
• Yamabe problem
• Obata's theorem

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• M.T. Anderson, "Canonical metrics on 3-manifolds and 4-manifolds", Asian J. Math. 10 127--163 (2006).
• K. Akutagawa, M. Ishida, and C. LeBrun, "Perelman's invariant, Ricci flow, and the Yamabe invariants of smooth manifolds", Arch. Math. 88, 71-76 (2007).
• H. Bray and A. Neves, "Classification of prime 3-manifolds with Yamabe invariant greater than ", Ann. of Math. 159, 407-424 (2004).
• M.J. Gursky and C. LeBrun, "Yamabe invariants and Spin^c structures", Geom. Funct. Anal. 8965--977 (1998).
• O. Kobayashi, "Scalar curvature of a metric with unit volume", Math. Ann. 279, 253-265, 1987.
• C. LeBrun, "Four-manifolds without Einstein metrics", Math. Res. Lett. 3 133--147 (1996).
• C. LeBrun, "Kodaira dimension and the Yamabe problem," Comm. Anal. Geom. 7 133--156 (1999).
• J. Petean, "The Yamabe invariant of simply connected manifolds", J. Reine Angew. Math. 523 225--231 (2000).
• R. Schoen, "Variational theory for the total scalar curvature functional for Riemannian metrics and related topics", Topics in calculus of variations, Lect. Notes Math. 1365, Springer, Berlin, 120-154, 1989.