- NECKS IN MANIFOLDS WITH POSITIVE SECTIONAL CURVATURE 65
Let A be a constant to be chosen later, and E ( n) will be chosen so that
it satisfies c(n)-^1 - 1 >A. ·
First we prove that the Busemann function satisfies
b'Y (q) < bo for any q E Nlnn - 'I/; (sn-l x (-A, 0))
provided A 2:: i7r. For s sufficiently large, any unit speed minimal geo-
desic /3s (t) joining /3s (0) = q and /3s (ts)= 1(s), where ts~ d(q,1(s)),
must intersect 'I/; (sn-l x {u}) for each u E [-A,c(n)-^1 -1]. In particular
there exist to E [O, ts] such that /3s (to) E 'I/; ( sn-l x {O}). By the triangle
inequality we have
s - d ( / ( s) , q) = s - d ( / ( s) , /3 s (to)) - d (/3 s (to) , q)
:S s - d (! (s), qo) + d (/3s (to), qo) - d (/3s (to), q)
(18.52) :S b'Y (qo) + d (/3s (to), qo) - d (/3s (to), q).
Recall that we have earlier set en ~ J(n -1) (n - 2). If c(n) is small
enough, since the geometry of the neck S)1 is close to that of the standard
cylinder, we have R (qo) > 0 and^16
(18.53)
and
(18.54)
Hence for A 2:: i1f, by (18.52), (18.53), and (18.54), we have
s - d (r (s), q) :S b'Y (qo) - :
5
1fcnR (qo)-^112.
Thus for q E Nlnn -'I/; (sn-l x (-A,O)), where A 2:: i1f,
(18.55) b'Y (q) = lim (s - d (r (s), q)) :S b'Y (qo) -
1
2
5
1fcnR (qo)-^1 /^2 < bo.
s-+oo
Second we prove that
b'Y (q) > bo for any q E Nout - 'I/; (sn-l x (0, A))
provided A 2:: 51f. For s sufficiently large, any unit speed minimal geodesic
T/s (t) joining T/s (0) = qo and T/s (ts)= 1(s) intersects 'I/; (sn-l x {A}) at
T/s (ti). Let ( (t) be a unit speed minimal geodesic joining ( (0) = qo and
( ( tq) = q. The minimal geodesic ( intersects 'I/; ( sn-l x {A}) at ( ( t2).
Consider the triangle b..'f/s (t1) qo( (t2); since the geometry of the neck SJt is
(^16) The points f3s (to) and q 0 lie on the same center sphere. For the standard (round)
cylinder sn-l (r) x JR of radius r we have R = c;,r-^2 ; note that diam (sn-l (r)) = 7rr =
1fCnR-1/2.