On the topology of complete manifolds of non-negative Ricci curvature (Q910733)

The main result of this article is the following: Let N be a complete n- dimensional Riemannian manifold of positive Ricci curvature or of non- negative Ricci curvature with sectional curvature bounded from above. Then the first Betti number satisfies \(b_ 1(N)\leq n-3\) and there is no finitely generated subgroup of the fundamental group having polynomial growth of order \(\geq n-2.\) This result answers in part a conjecture of \textit{R. Schoen} and \textit{S. T. Yau} [Semin. differential geometry, Ann. Math. Stud. 102, 209-228 (1982; Zbl 0481.53036)]. The proof consists of two parts. In the first part results on the relation between the growth of a finitely generated subgroup of the fundamental group and the growth of the volume of geodesic balls in the corresponding covering space are proved. These generalize results by \textit{J. Milnor} [J. Differ. Geom. 2, 1-7 (1968; Zbl 0162.254)] and \textit{A. Švarc} [Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 105, 32-34 (1955; Zbl 0066.159)]. In the second part complete area-minimizing hypersurfaces in manifolds of small volume growth are studied.