Universal Volume Growth Bounds from Positive Intermediate Curvature

Abstract

Let $n,m$ be integers such that $n\geq2$ and $0\leq m\leq n-2$. Let $C_{m+1}$ denote the $(m+1)$-intermediate curvature introduced by Brendle--Hirsch--Johne. We prove that there are constants $\nu(n,m),C(n,m)>0$ such that the following holds. If $(M^n,g)$ is complete and connected and, for $\delta\geq 0$, \[ \mathrm{Ric}\geq-\delta^2, \qquad C_{m+1}\geq 1, \] then \[ \delta R\leq\nu(n,m) \quad\Longrightarrow\quad \mathrm{Vol} B_R(p) \leq C(n,m)R^m \quad \text{for every $p\in M$ and $R>0$.} \] In particular, taking $m=n-2$ and $\delta=0$ gives Gromov's conjectured codimension-two volume growth estimate under $\mathrm{Ric} \geq0$ and $\mathrm{Scal} \geq1$.