Ricci flow and contractibility of spaces of metrics

Abstract

We show that the space of metrics of positive scalar curvature on any 3-manifold is either empty or contractible. Second, we show that the diffeomorphism group of every 3-dimensional spherical space form deformation retracts to its isometry group. This proves the Generalized Smale Conjecture. Our argument is independent of Hatcher's theorem in the $S^3$ case and in particular it gives a new proof of the $S^3$ case.