Relatively maximum volume rigidity in Alexandrov geometry

TL;DR

This paper investigates volume rigidity in Alexandrov spaces, partially verifies a conjecture relating maximal volume to isometric quotients, and provides a new proof of a volume comparison theorem.

Contribution

It offers partial verification of the relative volume rigidity conjecture and classifies compact Alexandrov spaces with maximal volume, along with an elementary proof of a volume comparison theorem.

Findings

Partial verification of the relative volume rigidity conjecture.

Classification of compact Alexandrov spaces with maximal volume.

Elementary proof of a volume comparison theorem in Alexandrov geometry.

Abstract

Given a compact Alexadrov $n$-space $Z$ with curvature curv $\ge \kappa$, and let $f: Z\to X$ be a distance non-increasing onto map to another Alexandrov $n$-space with curv $\ge \kappa$. The relative volume rigidity conjecture says that if $X$ achieves the relative maximal volume i.e. $vol(Z)=vol(X)$, then $X$ is isometric to $Z/\sim$, where $z, z'\in\partial Z$ and $z\sim z'$ if only if $f(z)=f(z')$. We will partially verify this conjecture, and give a classification for compact Alexandrov $n$-spaces with relatively maximal volume. We will also give an elementary proof for a pointed version of Bishop-Gromov relative volume comparison with rigidity in Alexandrov geometry.