Complete noncompact three-manifolds with non-negative Ricci curvature (Q1118176)

The author proves the following results: Suppose M is a complete noncompact three-dimensional Riemannian manifold with bounded nonnegative Ricci curvature. Then M is diffeomorphic to a quotient space of one of the spaces \(R^ 3\) or \(S^ 2\times R^ 1\) by a group of fixed point free isometries in the standard metrics. The method the author used in this article is analogous to that employed by \textit{R. S. Hamilton} to treat the compact case [see J. Differ. Geom. 17, 255-306 (1982; Zbl 0504.53034)]. The author also pointed out that the same method may be applied to treat the four-dimensional case, and found that the universal covering \(\tilde M\) of M (subject to the same conditions as described above, but with dim M\(=4)\) is diffeomorphic to one of the spaces \(R^ 4\), \(S^ 3\times R^ 1\), \(S^ 2\times R^ 2\), N, where N is a Kaehler surface with positive holomorphic bisectional curvature.