The weighted connection and sectional curvature for manifolds with density (Q1725906)

Let \(\mathcal{M}=(M,g,\mu)\) where \(g\) is a Riemannian metric on a smooth manifold \(M\) of dimension \(m\) and where \(\mu\) is a smooth measure on \(M\). There is a unique torsion-free connection \(\nabla^{g,\mu}\) which has the same unparametrized geodesics as \(g\) and so that \(\mu\) is parallel. The present work examines the sectional curvature comparison theory arising from this connection. Let \(\phi\) be the associated density function so \(\mu=e^{-(m+1)\phi}\text{dvol}_g\). One then has that \(\phi\) provides a strong projective equivalence between the Levi-Civita connection \(\nabla\) and \(\nabla^{g,\mu}\) and hence has the same unparametrized geodesics, i.e., \(\nabla_X^{g,\mu}Y=\nabla_XY-d\phi(X)Y-d\phi(Y)X\). The authors develop a weighted Rauch comparison theorem and a modified notion of convexity for distance functions to study the weighted sectional curvature bounds. They establish generalizations of theorems of \textit{A. Preissmann} [Comment. Math. Helv. 15, 175--216 (1942; Zbl 0027.25903)] and \textit{W. P. Byers} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 24, 50--51 (1970; Zbl 0193.22005)] for negative curvature, the homeomorphic quarter pinched sphere, and Cheeger's finiteness theorem in this context. Section 1 contains an introduction to the subject. Section 2 presents preliminaries and examples. Weighted curvature bounds are defined, examples are given, and the non-compact case is studied. Section 3 treats weighted convexity and Section 4 deals with comparison estimates.