A short topological proof for the symmetry of 2 point homogeneous spaces (Q1191357): Difference between revisions

It was a longstanding problem to find a short direct proof of the fact that every two point homogeneous Riemannian manifold is a (rank one) symmetric space. Such a proof was found by S. Helgason only for the noncompact case. The present proof is based on a simple topological lemma about the ordinary sphere, and it covers the general case.