Strongly isospectral manifolds with nonisomorphic cohomology rings (Q1955677)

Let \(M\) be a compact Riemannian manifold of dimension \(m\). Let \(Spec_p(M)\) denote the spectrum, counted with multiplicity, of the Laplace operator acting on \(p\) forms. The authors construct families of compact flat manifolds which are Sunada isospectral (and hence isospectral on \(p\) forms for any \(p\)) but which have different cohomology ring structures. A primary tool in the investigation is the study of the primitive invariant forms. The authors exhibit many explicit examples; for example they present a pair of manifolds \(M\) and \(M^\prime\) in dimension \(8\) where \(M\) is Kähler and \(M^\prime\) is not Kähler, which are Sunada isospectral but have different cohomology ring structures. A family of 8 manifolds of dimension 24 is exhibited; 4 are Kähler and 4 are not. All are Sunada isospectral and all have different cohomology ring structures. Examples are exhibited in dimension \(m\geq7\) with holonomy groups \(Z_2^k\) for any \(k\geq3\) which are Sunada isospectral but with different cohomology ring structures.