On eigenvalue pinching in positive Ricci curvature (Q1805889)

Let \(M\) be a complete, Riemannian manifold with \(\text{Ric}\geq n-1\). If \(\text{rad }M\) denotes the radius of the smallest closed metric ball covering \(M\), then from [\textit{T. H. Colding}, Invent. Math. 124, No. 1-3, 175-191, 193-214 (1996; Zbl 0871.53027 and Zbl 0871.53028)], the following 3 conditions are equivalent: 1) \(\text{rad }M\) is close to \(\pi\); 2) \(\text{vol }M\) is close to \(\text{vol }(S^n)\); 3) \(M\) is Gromov-Hausdorff close to \(S^n\). The main theorem here gives a fourth equivalent condition: 4) the \((n+1)\)st eigenvalue is close to \(n\). (This extends the results of Cheng and Croke which show that the diameter is close to \(\pi\) iff the first eigenvalue is close to \(n\)). From \textit{J. Cheeger} and \textit{T. H. Colding} [Ann. Math. (2) 144, No. 1, 189-237 (1996; Zbl 0865.53037)], the above conditions imply that \(M\) is diffeomorphic to a sphere.