Exotic \(G_2\)-manifolds (Q2235207)

Given a geometric structure, one may ask whether there are manifolds with this structure that are homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic. The authors consider Riemannian metrics with holonomy the exceptional simple Lie group \(G_2\) on closed manifolds of dimension \(7\). Such manifolds will be Ricci-flat. They construct a plentyful supply of such manifolds via a twisted connected sum construction. For their manifolds they are able to compute the generalized Eells-Kuiper invariant, which distinguishes smooth manifolds. The main result exhibits the first pair of such manifolds that are homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic.