Quantitative Maximal Diameter Rigidity of Positive Ricci Curvature

Abstract

In Riemannian geometry, the Cheng's maximal diameter rigidity theorem says that if a complete $n$-manifold $M$ of Ricci curvature, $\operatorname{Ric}_M\ge (n-1)$, has the maximal diameter $\pi$, then $M$ is isometric to the unit sphere $S^n_1$. The main result in this paper is a quantitative maximal diameter rigidity: if $M$ satisfies that $\operatorname{Ric}_M\ge n-1$, $\operatorname{diam}(M)\approx \pi$, and the Riemannian universal cover of every metric ball in $M$ of a definite radius satisfies a Riefenberg condition, then $M$ is diffeomorphic and bi-H\"older close to $S^n_1$.