Simplicial Ricci flow: an example of a neck pinch singularity in 3D

Abstract: We examine a Type-1 neck pinch singularity in simplicial Ricci flow (SRF) for an axisymmetric piecewise flat 3-dimensional geometry with 3-sphere topology. SRF was recently introduced as an unstructured mesh formulation of Hamilton's Ricci flow (RF). It describes the RF of a piecewise-flat simplicial geometry. In this paper, we apply the SRF equations to a representative double-lobed axisymmetric piecewise flat geometry with mirror symmetry at the neck similar to the geometry studied by Angenent and Knopf (A-K). We choose a specific radial profile and compare the SRF equations with the corresponding finite-difference solution of the continuum A-K RF equations. The piecewise-flat 3-geometries considered here are built of isosceles-triangle-based frustum blocks. The axial symmetry of this model allows us to use frustum blocks instead of tetrahedra. The 2-sphere cross-sectional geometries in our model are regular icosahedra. We demonstrate that, under a suitably-pinched initial geometry, the SRF equations for this relatively low-resolution discrete geometry yield the canonical Type-1 neck pinch singularity found in the corresponding continuum solution. We adaptively remesh during the evolution to keep the circumcentric dual lattice well-centered. Without such remeshing, we cannot evolve the discrete geometry to neck pinch. We conclude with a discussion of future generalizations and tests of this SRF model.

Review text

Simplicial Ricci flow (SRF) has been introduced recently via Regge calculus in prior work involving a subgroup of the authors here. The Regge calculus made it possible to define the discrete representation of Hamilton's Ricci flow equation on the edges of a piecewise flat simplicial geometry. In the present paper, the authors are studying a type-I neck pinch singularity of the SRF for a piecewise flat simplicial \(3\)D geometry with an \(S^3\) topology and an axis of symmetry. By choosing a specific radial profile of the Angenent-Knopf neck pinch model, the SRF on a relatively coarse approximation of the dumbbell geometry is compared with the finite-difference solution of the continuum Angenent-Knopf Ricci flow equations. It is shown that, under a suitably-pinched initial geometry, the SRF equations for such a discrete geometry yield the canonical type-I neck pinch singularity found in the corresponding smooth Ricci flow case. A detailed description of the discrete approximation considered here, as well as many technical remarks about the suitability of such a model and further possible generalizations, are extremely illuminating toward potential use of SRF to a rich spectrum of applications.

Recommendations

Cited in

(8)

Describes a project that uses

Uses Software

ParaSails

This page was built for publication: Simplicial Ricci flow: an example of a neck pinch singularity in 3D

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2345753)