Positive scalar curvature and periodic fundamental groups (Q2638542)

Let \(\pi\) be a finite group of odd order. \textit{J. Rosenberg} conjectured in [Topology 25, 319-336 (1986; Zbl 0605.53020)] that a closed smooth manifold \(M^ n\) with fundamental group \(\pi\) and dimension \(n\geq 5\) admits a Riemannian metric with positive scalar curvature if and only if its universal covering \(\tilde M^ n\) does. Rosenberg proved the conjecture for \(\pi ={\mathbb{Z}}_ p\), p an odd prime. Theorem 1.8 of the present paper says that the conjecture is true if \(\pi\) is periodic, which means that for any i and some \(d>0\quad H^{i+d}(\pi)\cong H^ i(\pi)\) or, equivalently, that \(\pi\) acts freely on some homotopy sphere. The proof is reduced to the case \(\pi ={\mathbb{Z}}_{p^ r}\) by Corollary 1.6: Rosenberg's conjecture is true for an odd order group \(\pi\) if and only if it is true for each Sylow subgroup \(\pi_ p\) of \(\pi\). In case \(\tilde M^ n\) is a homotopy sphere one obtains: if n is not congruent to 1 mod 8 then \(M^ n\) admits a metric of positive scalar curvature; if n is congruent to 1 mod 8 then either \(M^ n\) or its connected sum with some homotopy sphere admits such a metric. Free actions of even order finite groups \(\pi\) on homotopy spheres \(\Sigma^ n\) are also studied. It is shown that if \(\pi \neq 1,{\mathbb{Z}}_ 2\), d is the period of \(\pi\), and \(a=1\) or 2 (depending on \(\pi\)) then for each positive integer k with \(kad>5\) there exist infinitely many differentially inequivalent smooth spherical space forms \(M^{kad-1}\) (i.e. quotients \(\Sigma\) /\(\pi\)) admitting positive scalar curvature. Also the following result (to be proved elsewhere) is announced: Let \(n=4k+3\geq 7\). Every n-dimensional smooth spherical space form admits a Riemannian metric with positive scalar curvature.