Precise asymptotics of the Ricci flow neckpinch

The best known finite-time local Ricci flow singularity is the neckpinch, in which a proper subset of the manifold becomes geometrically close to a portion of a shrinking cylinder. In this paper, we prove precise asymptotics for rotationally-symmetric Ricci flow neckpinches. We then compare these rigorous results with formal matched asymptotics for fully general neckpinch singularities.

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Published 1 January 2007