Ricci flow on surfaces with cusps

Abstract

We consider the normalized Ricci flow $\del_t g = (\rho - R)g$ with initial condition a complete metric $g_0$ on an open surface $M$ where $M$ is conformal to a punctured compact Riemann surface and $g_0$ has ends which are asymptotic to hyperbolic cusps. We prove that when $\chi(M) < 0$ and $\rho < 0$, the flow $g(t)$ converges exponentially to the unique complete metric of constant Gauss curvature $\rho$ in the conformal class.