Ricci flow on homogeneous spaces with two isotropy summands

Abstract

We consider the Ricci flow equation for invariant metrics on compact and connected homogeneous spaces whose isotropy representation decomposes into two irreducible inequivalent summands. By studying the corresponding dynamical system, we completely describe the behaviour of the homogeneous Ricci flow on this kind of spaces. Moreover, we investigate the existence of ancient solutions and relate this to the existence and non-existence of invariant Einstein metrics.