An eigenvalue pinching problem (Q1291034)

Let \(M\) be a compact Riemannian manifold with \(\text{Ric}_M\geq n-1\), and the first non-zero eigenvalue \(\lambda_1\) of the Laplacian close to \(n\). The author studies the following problem: ``What geometric or topological structures will \(M\) possess? Is \(M\) similar to the standard \(n\)-sphere in some sense?'' and proves the following two results: 1. there is a function \( \tau ( \varepsilon)\) with \(\tau(\varepsilon)\to 0\) (as \(\varepsilon\to 0\)) such that if \(\lambda_1\leq n+\varepsilon\), then there is a compact length space \(X\) of dimension \(n-1\) such that the Hausdorff distance between \(M\) and \(\Sigma X\) is less then \(\tau(\varepsilon)\), where \(\Sigma X\) is the spherical suspension over \(X\); 2. given any concave function \(\rho\) such that \(\rho(\varepsilon)\geq \varepsilon\) and \(\rho(0)=0\), there is a constant \(\tau_n(\rho)>0\) such that, if \(M\) is local geometrically contractible (with respect to \(\rho\)) and \(\lambda_1\leq n+\tau_n(\rho)\), then \(M\) is homeomorphic to the standard \(n\)-sphere. Result 1 follows from some results of \textit{C. Croke} [Invent. Math. 68, 253-256 (1982; Zbl 0505.53018)] and \textit{J. Cheeger} and \textit{T. Colding} [Ann. Math. 144, 189-237 (1996; Zbl 0865.53037)], and result 2 can be seen as a soft sphere theorem in the sense of \textit{K. Grove} and \textit{F. Wilhelm} [Ann. Math. 142, 213-237 (1995; Zbl 0846.53042)]. The author also gives a new proof of \textit{G. Pacelli Bessa}'s differentiable sphere theorem [Math. Z. 214, 245-259 (1993; Zbl 0844.53028)].