A fake smooth \(\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}^ 2\sharp\mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^ 4\) (Q1364804)

In Kirby's problem list [\textit{R. C. Kirby}, Problems in low-dimensional topology, in ``Geometric topology'' (W. Kazez, ed.), Am. Math. Soc. Internat. Press (1997), Problem 4.82] and in a recent lecture at MSRI, P. Teichner raised the question of the smoothability of a certain nonorientable 4-manifold. In this note the authors show that the manifold in question, denoted \(*\mathbb{C} \mathbb{P}^2 \#* \mathbb{R} \mathbb{P}^4\), which is homotopy equivalent but not homeomorphic to \(\mathbb{C} \mathbb{P}^2 \# \mathbb{R} \mathbb{P}^4\), is in fact smoothable. The smooth model they construct will have the additional property that its universal cover is diffeomorphic to \(\mathbb{C} \mathbb{P}^2 \# \overline {\mathbb{C} \mathbb{P}}^2\).