Linear and dynamical stability of Ricci-flat metrics (Q2496921)

The author studies in this paper the problem of stability of solutions of the Ricci-flow equation \({{d}\over{dt}}g_{ij}=-2R_{ij}\) on a closed manifold \(M\) endowed with an initial smooth metric \(g_0\). The main result is that if \(g_0\) is dynamically stable it is linearly stable too. Furthermore, if \(g_0\) is linearly stable and integrable, then it is weakly dynamically stable. \textit{Dynamic stability} means that there exist a \(C^k\)-neighborhood \({\mathcal U}\) of the metric \(g_0\) such that the Ricci-flow \(\widetilde{g}(t)\) of every metric \(\widetilde{g}\in{\mathcal U}\) exists for all times \(t\in[0,\infty)\) and converges to \(g_0\). \textit{Weak dynamic stability} means that the Ricci-flow \(\widetilde{g}(t)\) of every metric \(\widetilde{g}\in{\mathcal U}\) exists to all times \(t\in[0,\infty)\) and converges. \textit{Linear stability} means that \(\int_M(L(h),h)\,dV_{g_0}\leq 0\), where \(L\) is a suitable linear differential operator and \(h\) represents the linearized metric. Applications to \(K3\)-surfaces are also obtained.