An example of neckpinching for Ricci flow on \(S^{n+1}\) (Q1884479)

Let \(M^n\) be an \(n\)-dimensional manifold. A \(1\)-parameter family of Riemannian metrics \(g_t\) on \(M^n\) evolves under the {Ricci flow} if \[ \partial_t g_t = -2\, \text{Ricci}(g_t). \] One knows that given \(g_0\) there always exist solutions for small enough \(t\) but in general singularities will occur after finite time \(T<\infty\). Such a singularity is called \textit{neck pinch} if there exist diffeomorphisms \(\phi_t : \mathbb R \times S^{n-1} \to N_t\) where \(N_t \subset M^n\) is a proper open subset and a function \(r:[0,T) \to \mathbb R\) such that \(g_t\) remains regular on \(M^n-N_t\) and \[ \phi_t^*(g_t) {\longrightarrow} ds^2 + r(t)^2 \cdot g_{S^{n-1}} \] in \(C^\infty_{loc}\) and \[ r(t) \to 0 \] as \(t\nearrow T\). Here \(g_{S^{n-1}}\) denotes the standard metric on \(S^{n-1}\). In the present paper for any \(n\geq 3\) the authors construct SO\((n)\)-invariant metrics on \(M^n=S^n\) developping neck pinch singularities after finite time. It is shown that the singularity is rapidly forming (type I). The geometry of these metrics is examined.