Extensions of the Bonnet-Myers Theorem

Abstract

In this paper, we present extensions of the classical Bonnet-Myers theorem for Riemannian manifolds with nonnegative Ricci curvature. Our results provide criteria for compactness and a method for estimating the diameter of such manifolds under general curvature conditions. As applications, we establish compactness theorems for manifolds whose Ricci curvature decays at polynomial or exponential rates.