Lie point symmetry conjecture for the Ricci flow

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Let (Mn,g)(M^n,g) be a Riemannian manifold with n2n\geq 2, and write g=(gij)g=(g_{ij}) in local coordinates (x1,,xn)(x^1,\ldots,x^n). Let tt denote time, and let ξ1,,ξn\xi^1,\ldots,\xi^n be arbitrary smooth functions of x1,,xnx^1,\ldots,x^n. The Ricci flow is the evolution equation for the metric gg given by tgij=2Ricij\partial_t g_{ij}=-2\operatorname{Ric}_{ij}. Lie point symmetry conjecture. The Lie algebra of classical, or Lie point, symmetries of the Ricci flow is spanned by

X1=t,X2=tt+i=1njingijgij,X_1=\frac{\partial}{\partial t},\qquad X_2=t\frac{\partial}{\partial t}+\sum_{i=1}^n\sum_{j\geq i}^n g_{ij}\frac{\partial}{\partial g_{ij}},

and

Xk+2=ξkxki=1njin(gkiξkxj+gkjξkxi)gij,X_{k+2}=\xi^k\frac{\partial}{\partial x^k}-\sum_{i=1}^n\sum_{j\geq i}^n\left(g_{ki}\frac{\partial\xi^k}{\partial x^j}+g_{kj}\frac{\partial\xi^k}{\partial x^i}\right)\frac{\partial}{\partial g_{ij}},

where k{1,,n}k\in\{1,\ldots,n\}. The Ricci flow admits at least this Lie algebra of symmetries, and the conjecture asserts that it admits no additional Lie symmetries. The time translation, scaling, and coordinate covariance symmetries arise from direct calculations and the covariance of the Ricci flow; what remains is to establish that the displayed algebra is also sufficient and hence complete.

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Primary source

Enrique López, Stylianos Dimas and Yuri Bozhkov, “Symmetries of Ricci Flows”, arXiv:2212.13630 (2023).

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