Positively curved cohomogeneity one manifolds and 3-Sasakian geometry (Q2427046)

Let \(M\) be a compact simply connected positively curved Riemannian manifold. \(M\) is said to have cohomogeneity one if the generic orbits of the isometry group have codimension 1. Verdaini completed the classification in the even dimensional case showing: Theorem: An even dimensional simply connected cohomogeneity one manifold with an invariant metric of positive sectional curvature is equivariantly diffeomorphic to a compact rank one symmetric space with a linear action. Thus the attention is focussed on the odd dimensional setting. The authors provide a classification (description) of all simply connected positively curved cohomogeneity one manifolds except in dimension 7. In addition to previously known examples, the authors list contains 1 exceptional space and 2 infinite families; it is not known if these infinite families carry metrics of positive curvature; they do, however, carry a 3-Sasakian metric of cohomogeneity 1 associated to a family of self-dual Einstein orbifold metrics on the 4-sphere constructed by Hitchin. Here is a brief outline of the paper. The introduction to the paper contains an excellent review of the literature and statement of results. The first section describes some general facts concerning cohomogeneity one manifolds -- the Weyl group and group components are discussed as are reductions and equivalence of diagrams. The second section deals with positive curvature obstructions -- the rank lemma, primitivity lemma, isotropy lemma, product lemma are introduced as are a number of recognition tools (chain theorem, connectedness lemma, fixed point homogeneity). Weyl groups are introduced in section 3 and examples and candidates are introduced in Section 4. The classification of essential isometric actions begins in Section 5 with a discussion of equal rank groups. Non semisimple groups appear in Section 6 and Semisimple groups appear in Section 7. Semisimple groups of rank 3 appear in Section 8 and Semisimple groups with a rank 1 normal subgroup appear in Section 9. Non simple groups without rank 1 normal subgroups are discussed in Section 10. Section 11 deals with simple groups, the 3-Sasakian structure of the exceptional families is discusssed in Section 12, and the topology of the exceptional examples is discussed in Section 13. Section 14 (Appendix I) gives a relatively short proof of Verdaini's theorem of classification in even dimensions and Section 15 (Appendix II) gives group diagrams for compact rank 1 symmetric spaces. The bibliography is extensive.