In mathematics, a space form is a complete Riemannian manifold M of constant sectional curvature K. The three obvious examples are Euclidean n-space, the n-dimensional sphere, and hyperbolic space, although a space form need not be simply connected.

Reduction to generalized crystallography[edit]

The Killing–Hopf theorem of Riemannian geometry states that the universal cover of an n-dimensional space form with curvature is isometric to , hyperbolic space, with curvature is isometric to , Euclidean n-space, and with curvature is isometric to , the n-dimensional sphere of points distance 1 from the origin in .

By rescaling the Riemannian metric on , we may create a space of constant curvature for any . Similarly, by rescaling the Riemannian metric on , we may create a space of constant curvature for any . Thus the universal cover of a space form with constant curvature is isometric to .

This reduces the problem of studying space form to studying discrete groups of isometries of which act properly discontinuously. Note that the fundamental group of , , will be isomorphic to . Groups acting in this manner on are called crystallographic groups. Groups acting in this manner on and are called Fuchsian groups and Kleinian groups, respectively.

Space form problem[edit]

The space form problem is a conjecture stating that any two compact aspherical Riemannian manifolds with isomorphic fundamental groups are homeomorphic.

The possible extensions are limited. One might wish to conjecture that the manifolds are isometric, but rescaling the Riemannian metric on a compact aspherical Riemannian manifold preserves the fundamental group and shows this to be false. One might also wish to conjecture that the manifolds are diffeomorphic, but John Milnor's exotic spheres are all homeomorphic and hence have isomorphic fundamental group, showing this to be false.

See also[edit]

• Borel conjecture

References[edit]

• Goldberg, Samuel I. (1998), Curvature and Homology, Dover Publications, ISBN 978-0-486-40207-9 
• Lee, John M. (1997), Riemannian manifolds: an introduction to curvature, Springer