The negative gradient flow for the \(L^2\)-integral of Ricci curvature (Q1401485)

The author introduces the negative gradient flow for the \(L^2\)-integral of the Ricci curvature and proves the short time existence. In dimension 3, the author also proves that (1) if the maximal time interval \([0, T)\) of existence of solution is infinite, the solution \(g(t)\) converges to a flat metric, and (2) if the interval is finite, then as \(t\rightarrow T\), either the curvature is unbounded or the manifold collapses.