Sectional curvature for Riemannian manifolds with density

Abstract

In this paper we introduce two new notions of sectional curvature for Riemannian manifolds with density. Under both notions of curvature we classify the constant curvature manifolds. We also prove generalizations of the theorems of Cartan-Hadamard, Synge, and Bonnet-Myers as well as a generalization of the (non-smooth) 1/4-pinched sphere theorem. The main idea is to modify the radial curvature equation and second variation formula and then apply the techniques of classical Riemannian geometry to these new equations.