Related papers: Almost positive curvature on the Gromoll-Meyer sph…

A Hadwiger-type theorem for the exceptional Lie groups $G_2$ and $Spin(7)$ is proved. The algebras of $G_2$ or $Spin(7)$ invariant, translation invariant continuous valuations are both of dimension 10. Geometrically meaningful bases are…

We classify the triples $H \subset K \subset G$ of nested compact Lie groups which satisfy the "positive triple" condition that was shown by the second author to ensure that $G/H$ admits a metric with quasi-positive curvature. A few new…

We describe a construction of Riemannian metrics of nonnegative sectional curvature on a closed smooth nonorientable 4-manifold with fundamental group of order two that realizes a homotopy class that was not previously known to contain…

In this paper we study sectional curvature of invariant hyper-Hermitian metrics on simply connected 4-dimensional real Lie groups admitting invariant hypercomplex structure. We give the Levi-Civita connections and explicit formulas for…

The Gromov-Lawson-Rosenberg-conjecture for a group G states that a closed spin manifold M^n (n>4) with fundamental group G admits a metric with positive scalar curvature if and only if its C^*-index A(M) in KO_n(C^*_r(G)) vanishes. We prove…

We describe the $10$-dimensional space of $Sp(2)$-invariant $G_2$-structures on the homogeneous $7$-sphere $S^7=Sp(2)/Sp(1)$ as $\mathbb{R}^+\times Gl^+(3,\mathbb{R})$. In those terms, we formulate a general Ansatz for $G_2$-structures,…

We study metrics on conic 2-spheres when no Einstein metrics exist. In particular, when the curvature of a conic metric is positive, we obtain the best curvature pinching constant. We also show that when this best pinching constant is…

This thesis discusses exotic 7-spheres, i.e. manifolds that are homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic to the ordinary 7-sphere, using a set of analytical and computational tools from theoretical physics. The theory of fibre bundles and…

Let $M_\Sigma$ be an $n$-dimensional Thom-Mather stratified space of depth $1$. We denote by $\beta M$ the singular locus and by $L$ the associated link. In this paper we study the problem of when such a space can be endowed with a wedge…

Consider a one-parameter family of smooth Riemannian metrics on a two-sphere, $\mathscr{S}$. By choosing a one-parameter family of smooth lapse and shift, these Riemannian two-spheres can always be assembled into smooth Riemannian…

We study the topology of closed, simply-connected, 6-dimensional Riemannian manifolds of positive sectional curvature which admit isometric actions by $SU(2)$ or $SO(3)$. We show that their Euler characteristic agrees with that of the known…

There is a rich theory of so-called (strict) nearly Kaehler manifolds, almost-Hermitian manifolds generalising the famous almost complex structure on the 6-sphere induced by octonionic multiplication. Nearly Kaehler 6-manifolds play a…

We study semi-Riemannian submanifolds of arbitrary codimension in a Lie group $G$ equipped with a bi-invariant metric. In particular, we show that, if the normal bundle of $M \subset G$ is closed under the Lie bracket, then any normal…

We study positive scalar curvature on the regular part of Riemannian manifolds with singular, uniformly Euclidean ($L^\infty$) metrics that consolidate Gromov's scalar curvature polyhedral comparison theory and edge metrics that appear in…

In contrast to the homogeneous case, we show that there are compact cohomogeneity one manifolds, that do not support invariant metrics of non-negative sectional curvature. In fact we exhibit infinite families of such manifolds including the…

The first part of the paper is to improve the fundamental theory of isoparametric functions on general Riemannian manifolds. Next we focus our attention on exotic spheres, especially on "exotic" 4-spheres (if exist) and the Gromoll-Meyer…

Let M be an almost Hermitian manifold of dimension greater or equal to 6. The following theorems are proved: Theorem 1. If M is of pointwise constant {\theta}-holomorphic sectional curvature for a number {\theta} in (0,{\pi}/2) then M is of…

A (compact) manifold with fibered $P$-singularities is a (possibly) singular pseudomanifold $M_\Sigma$ with two strata: an open nonsingular stratum $\mathring M$ (a smooth open manifold) and a closed stratum $\beta M$ (a closed manifold of…

We address Gromov's band width inequality and Rosenberg's $S^1$-stability conjecture for simply connected smooth four manifolds. Both results are known to be false in dimension 4 due to counterexamples based on Seiberg-Witten invariants.…

In a recent article, the authors constructed a six-parameter family of highly connected 7-manifolds which admit an SO(3)-invariant metric of non-negative sectional curvature. Each member of this family is the total space of a Seifert…