On the space of metrics with invertible Dirac operator (Q2427594)

The author investigates the space of Riemannian metrics on a compact spin manifold \(M\) for which the Dirac operator is invertible. He begins by establishing a surgery theorem that shows that such a metric can be extended over the trace of a surgery of codimension of a least three. This permits him to prove that the space of metrics with invertible Dirac operators, if nonempty, is disconnected in dimensions \(n =0,1,3,7\bmod 8\) for \(n\geq 5\). The previously known results of Hitchin and Bär on the existence of metrics with harmonic spinors follow as corollaries, and the computation of the eta invariant by Botvinnik and Gilkey is used to exhibit metrics having harmonic spinors on simply connected manifolds admitting a cyclic group action. This applies to spheres of all dimensions when \(n\geq 5\). Contents include: An introduction; Constructions; Detecting components of \(R^{\text{inv}}(M)\) using the index; and a bibliography of fifteen items.