Existence of Dirac eigenvalues of higher multiplicity (Q329986)

The author proves that on any compact spin manifold of dimension \(m\equiv 0,6,7\pmod 8,\) there exists a metric for which the associated Dirac operator has at least one eigenvalue of multiplicity at least two. The desired metric is constructed in a subspace of Riemannian metrics with a loop that is not homotopically trivial. It is shown how this can be done on the sphere with a loop of metrics induced by a family of rotations. Further, this loop is transported to an arbitrary manifold of suitable dimension by extending some known results about surgery theory on spin manifolds.