Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / iii / Paper 15 (Differential Geometry)

An $n$-dimensional smooth manifold is a Hausdorff space with a countable topological base, equipped with a smooth atlas of homeomorphisms from open subsets onto open subsets of ${\mathbb{R}}^n$, whose overlap maps are smooth diffeomorphisms. The smooth structure is the maximal smooth atlas compatible with these manifold charts. Here manifolds have no boundary unless specified otherwise.

For a space with all the requested topological properties but no such atlas, take the topological tripod: three closed intervals joined at one endpoint. It is a compact connected subspace of the plane with its induced metric. A countable base of planar rational balls restricts to a countable base, the metric makes it Hausdorff, and compactness gives a finite subcover of every open cover, hence a locally finite refinement and paracompactness.

At an interior point of any arm, arbitrarily small neighborhoods are intervals. A coordinate ball in dimension at least two would remain connected after deleting its center; an interval does not. Dimension zero would make the space discrete. Thus any possible connected manifold structure would have dimension one. But a sufficiently small neighborhood of the junction, minus the junction, has three components, whereas an interval chart has two. This contradiction rules out even a topological manifold structure, and hence any smooth one.

The product smooth structure uses manifold charts $(\varphi ,\psi ):U\times V\to \varphi (U)\times \psi (V)\subset {\mathbb{R}}^{m+n}$. Transition maps act separately in the two coordinate blocks and are smooth with smooth inverses. Products of countable bases give a countable base, and the product remains Hausdorff. Therefore $\boxed{\dim (M\times N)=\dim M+\dim N}$ with this natural smooth structure.

Define the tangent space by point derivations: a tangent vector at $x$ is an $\mathbb{R}$-linear map $D$ on germs of smooth functions at $x$, satisfying $D(ab)=a(x)D(b)+b(x)D(a)$. Addition and scalar multiplication preserve this rule, so these derivations form a vector space. In coordinates $u^1,\dots ,u^n$, the local identityfollows by integrating the derivative of $h$ along the coordinate line segment. Derivations annihilate constants, so it gives $Dh={\sum }_{i}D(u^i){\partial }_{i}h(u(x))$. The coordinate derivations ${\partial }_i{|}_x$ are independent since they evaluate the coordinate functions as ${\delta }_i^j$. ThusFor a smooth map, define the differential of a smooth map intrinsically by $(f_{\ast }D)(h)=D(h\circ f)$. It is again linear and satisfies the derivation rule at $f(x)$, so it maps $T_{x}M$ into $T_{f(x)}N$. Its coordinate matrix is the Jacobian of the coordinate expression of $f$, independently of the charts by the intrinsic definition and chain rule.

Finally, a zero differential forces each target coordinate function to have all derivatives zero on a small connected source coordinate ball mapping into one target chart. Integration on straight segments makes those functions constant there. Hence $f$ is locally constant. Each nonempty fiber is both open and closed, so connectedness gives the zero-differential constancy theorem, $\boxed{f\text{ is constant}}$.

A Riemannian metric is a smooth field of positive-definite symmetric bilinear forms $g_x$ on the tangent spaces, equivalently a smooth section of ${\mathrm{Sym}}^2{T}^{\ast }M$ with that positivity. Its musical isomorphism isNondegeneracy makes every fiber map an isomorphism. In coordinates the map has matrix $g_{ij}$, and its inverse ${♯}_g$ has matrix $g^{ij}$. Smoothness of the inverse follows from the inverse-matrix formula and the nonvanishing determinant. Both maps cover the identity on $M$, giving a smooth vector bundle isomorphism.

For local flattening of a Riemannian metric, choose a manifold chart neighborhood $V$ around $p$ with closure contained in $U$, and let $h={\varphi }^{\ast }\delta$ on $V$. Choose a smooth bump function $0\le \chi \le 1$, with compact support in $V$ and equal to one on a smaller neighborhood $W$ of $p$. SetThe formulas glue smoothly because the modification is supported strictly inside $V$. A convex combination of positive-definite forms is positive definite. On $W$ the metric is exactly $h$, so $\varphi$ gives an isometry to a Euclidean open subset. Outside $U$ the original metric remains unchanged.

Geodesic completeness means that every geodesic with arbitrary initial point and tangent vector extends for every real affine parameter. On each connected component, the Hopf-Rinow theorem equates this with completeness of the Riemannian distance.

The Euclidean-end claim needs a compact-core interpretation that is absent from its literal hypotheses. Indeed, $M=\{x\in {\mathbb{R}}^n:|x|>1\}$ with $n\ge 2$, $X=\varnothing$ and $g=\delta$ satisfy those hypotheses. The geodesic $\gamma (t)=(2-t)e_1$ reaches the missing unit sphere at $t=1$ and cannot continue within $M$. Thus the printed assumptions alone do not prove completeness.

Here is the intended compact-core completeness for a Euclidean end. Write $\Phi :M\setminus X\to \{|x|>1\}$ for the end coordinates and assume additionally thatis compact for every sufficiently large $R$. Choose such an $R$ beyond the metric transition and large enough to include the initial point of a geodesic. Its speed $s$ is constant. On every segment outside $K_R$, the Euclidean radius changes at a rate at most $s$, so over a finite parameter interval it cannot exceed $R+sT$. The full segment therefore stays in the compact set $K_{R+sT}$. Its velocities also stay in a compact subset of $TM$, since their metric norm is fixed and the base set is compact. The smooth geodesic ordinary differential equation consequently extends past any supposed finite endpoint. The reversed-time argument is identical. This proves completeness under the compact-core condition, and explains exactly what the exterior-of-a-ball counterexample lacks.

For upward stability of Riemannian completeness, lengths of all curves satisfy $L_{\tilde{g}}\ge L_g$, hence $d_{\tilde{g}}\ge d_g$. A $d_{\tilde{g}}$-Cauchy sequence is therefore $d_g$-Cauchy and has a limit $p$ because $g$ is complete. Smooth positive-definite metrics induce the manifold topology. More explicitly, on a small coordinate ball around $p$, $\tilde{g}$ has a bounded largest matrix eigenvalue, so the coordinate straight segment gives $d_{\tilde{g}}(p,q)\le C|\varphi (q)-\varphi (p)|$. Thus convergence to $p$ is also in $d_{\tilde{g}}$. That distance is complete, and Hopf-Rinow yieldsFor disconnected $M$, apply this argument on each component.

Combining metric compatibility with the torsion-free condition forces the Koszul formula:Nondegeneracy of $g$ proves uniqueness of the Levi-Civita connection. For existence, use the right side to define $2g({\nabla }_{X}Y,Z)$. Expanding brackets shows that this expression is $C^{\infty }$-linear in $Z$, so it defines a smooth one-form; the musical isomorphism gives the required vector field. The same expansion shows ${\nabla }_{aX}Y=a{\nabla }_{X}Y$, additivity, and ${\nabla }_X(aY)=X(a)Y+a{\nabla }_{X}Y$, establishing the connection rules. Subtracting the formulas with $X,Y$ exchanged gives ${\nabla }_{X}Y-{\nabla }_{Y}X=[X,Y]$. Adding the formulas pairing ${\nabla }_{X}Y$ with $Z$ and ${\nabla }_{X}Z$ with $Y$ gives metric compatibility. Thus this construction has both required properties.

In coordinate vector fields the brackets vanish. Consequently the Christoffel symbols and coordinate derivative areRepeated indices are summed. The displayed connection type in the source is best understood in its standard form on two vector fields; if the first input is an individual tangent vector at a point, the output lies in the tangent fiber at that point rather than in the space of global sections.

For the parallel metrics with a common Levi-Civita connection, let $\gamma$ be a piecewise smooth path from the point $x$ of equality to any $y$. Connected smooth manifolds admit such paths because coordinate balls are path connected. Parallel transport $P_{\gamma }$ for the common connection is invertible and preserves both metrics. ThereforeEvery pair of tangent vectors at $y$ arises this way, so $\boxed{\tilde{g}=g}$ everywhere.

Dropping the agreement at one point removes the conclusion. For any constant $c>0$, $\tilde{g}=cg$ has the same Christoffel symbols. Nor must the two metrics be proportional: on ${\mathbb{R}}^n$, $n\ge 2$, the constant metrics ${\sum }_i(d{x}^i{)}^2$ and $2(d{x}^1{)}^2+{\sum }_{i\ge 2}(d{x}^i{)}^2$ both have zero connection coefficients. In general write $\tilde{g}(u,v)=g(Au,v)$. Since both metrics are parallel, $0=({\nabla }_X\tilde{g})(Y,Z)=g(({\nabla }_{X}A)Y,Z)$, so $\nabla A=0$. Conversely, a positive $g$-self-adjoint parallel $A$ makes the same torsion-free connection compatible with $\tilde{g}$, proving equality of their Levi-Civita connections. Thus one-point agreement specifies $A=I$ and forces it everywhere; without it, nontrivial parallel choices can remain.

Fix the curvature conventionTo prove tensoriality, use $[hX,Y]=h[X,Y]-Y(h)X$ and the connection rules. The two $Y(h){\nabla }_{X}Z$ terms cancel, giving $R(hX,Y)Z=hR(X,Y)Z$. Antisymmetry in $X,Y$ gives linearity over smooth functions in the second input. Expanding the third input givesIt is therefore a smooth tensor of type $(1,3)$. Lowering the output with $g$ gives the type $(0,4)$ Riemann curvature tensor $R_4(X,Y,Z,W)=g(R(X,Y)Z,W)$.

For an independent pair $X,Y$, define sectional curvature byMetric compatibility gives $g(R(X,Y)Z,W)=-g(R(X,Y)W,Z)$ by applying $XY-YX-[X,Y]$ to $g(Z,W)$. Together with antisymmetry in $X,Y$, this shows that replacing the pair by $(aX+bY,cX+dY)$ multiplies both numerator and denominator by $(ad-bc{)}^2$. Thus the value depends only on the plane. Define Ricci curvature by $\mathrm{Ric}(Y,Z)={\sum }_{i}g(R(e_i,Y)Z,e_i)$ for any orthonormal basis; a trace is independent of the orthonormal basis.

For the curvature of the round unit sphere, the outward unit normal is the position vector $p$. The tangential projection of ambient differentiation is torsion-free and has metric compatibility, so uniqueness identifies it with $\nabla$. Ambient differentiation $D$ satisfies $D_{X}p=X$ andsince differentiating $g(Y,p)=0$ gives its normal component. The ambient curvature is zero. Take tangential components of $D_X{D}_{Y}Z-D_Y{D}_{X}Z-D_{[X,Y]}Z=0$ to obtainHenceEvery two-plane has sectional curvature one. Tracing the first formula gives $\mathrm{Ric}(Y,Z)=ng(Y,Z)-g(Y,Z)$, and consequentlyThus the sphere is an Einstein manifold. When $n=1$ there are no tangent two-planes, the curvature tensor is zero and the same Ricci formula gives zero. The declared slot convention fixes all signs.

The Bonnet-Myers theorem says that a connected geodesically complete $n$-dimensional Riemannian manifold, with $n\ge 2$ and $\mathrm{Ric}\ge (n-1)\kappa g$ for a constant $\kappa >0$, hasThe dimension and positive lower bound are essential: in dimension one the Ricci condition is vacuous, and a zero lower bound does not imply bounded diameter.

By Hopf-Rinow, any two distinct points have a unit-speed minimizing geodesic $\gamma :[0,L]\to M$. Choose parallel orthonormal fields $E_1,\dots ,E_{n-1}$ perpendicular to its tangent $T$. For the endpoint-vanishing fields $V_i(t)=\sin (\pi t/L)E_i(t)$, the second variation of geodesic energy gives nonnegative index formsSumming and using the Ricci lower bound produces the sine index-form bound for positive Ricci curvature:If $L>\pi /\sqrt{\kappa }$, the last expression is negative, a contradiction. This proves the diameter bound. Hopf-Rinow makes closed bounded sets compact, so the entire manifold is compact.

Give the universal cover the pullback metric. Local isometry preserves its Ricci bound, and lifting complete base geodesics proves completeness of the cover. The same diameter and compactness argument applies there. A fiber of the covering is closed and discrete, hence finite in this compact cover; its cardinality is that of the fundamental group. This proves the final assertion.

For a counterexample that also breaks the diameter conclusion, use the incomplete positively curved strip with infinite diameterThe map $\Phi (u,v)=(\cos u\cos v,\cos u\sin v,\sin u)$ is a local isometry to the round unit sphere: its coordinate derivatives are orthogonal, with squared lengths one and ${\cos }^{2}u$. Thus $K=1$ and $\mathrm{Ric}=g$, satisfying the required lower bound with $n=2$, $\kappa =1$.

The meridian $(u,v)=(t,0)$ is a unit-speed geodesic and reaches the excluded boundary at $t=\pi /4$, so this metric is incomplete. Every curve joining $(0,0)$ to $(0,L)$ has length at least $\int \cos u|v^{\prime }|dt\ge |L|/\sqrt{2}$, because $\cos u\ge 1/\sqrt{2}$ on the strip. Therefore $\boxed{\mathrm{diam}M=\infty }$ despite the positive Ricci bound. Completeness cannot be omitted.