On the classification of certain 6-manifolds and applications to algebraic geometry (Q1360148)

The author uses the classification of simply connected, oriented, closed 6-manifolds with torsion-free homology, derived in [\textit{C. T. C. Wall}, Invent. Math. 1, 335-374 (1966; Zbl 0149.20601)] and [\textit{P. E. Jupp}, Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 73, 293-300 (1973; Zbl 0249.57005)], to classify certain types of 3-dimensional projective varieties (e.g. hypersurfaces in \(\mathbb{P}_1 \times \mathbb{P}_3\), \(\mathbb{P}_2\)-bundles over \(\mathbb{P}_1\), and \(\mathbb{P}_1\)-bundles over \(\mathbb{P}_2)\). The Wall-Jupp classification involves, inter alia, classifying integral cubic forms on \(H^2 (X;\mathbb{Z}) \cong \mathbb{Z}^b\); the relevant cubic form coming from the cup-product to \(H^6(X;\mathbb{Z}) \cong \mathbb{Z}\). This classification is very difficult but when \(b=2\) it is due to Gauss. When \(b=2\) the author manages to describe the set of Wall-Jupp normal forms up to a finite discrepancy sufficient for the classification of 3-folds mentioned above.