Piecewise linear manifolds: Einstein metrics and Ricci flows

Abstract

This article provides an attempt to extend concepts from the theory of Riemannian manifolds to piecewise linear spaces. In particular we propose an analogue of the Ricci tensor, which we give the name of an Einstein vector field. On a given set of piecewise linear spaces we define and discuss (normalized) Ricci flows. Piecewise linear Einstein metrics are defined and examples are provided. Criteria for flows to approach Einstein metrics are formulated. Second variations of the total scalar curvature at a specific Einstein space are calculated.