Almost nonnegative curvature operator and cohomology rings (Q335550)

A closed manifold \(M\) admits an almost non-negative curvature operator if for all \(\epsilon >0\), there exists a Riemannian metric \(g_\epsilon\) on \(M\) such that \(\hat R_{g_\epsilon}\text{diam}(M,g_\epsilon)^2>-\epsilon\), where given a Riemannian metric \(g\), the curvature operator \(\hat R_g\) is defined as \(g(\hat R_{g}(X\wedge Y),U\wedge V)=R(X,Y,U,V)\). Because of this definition, bounds for \(\hat R_g\) are related to bounds on the sectional curvature of the manifold. This survey reviews recent results on the geometry and topology of manifolds admitting almost non-negative curvature operator, with the aim of studying the cohomology rings of those manifolds. There are included examples and non-examples of almost non-negative curvature operator manifolds. The sum of the Betti numbers of a closed manifold admitting such a metric is bounded, giving strong topological obstructions for the existence of almost non-negative metrics. The paper addresses the question posed by \textit{K. Grove} [Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 54, 357--385 (1993; Zbl 0806.53043)] of possible rational homotopy types of the manifolds admitting almost non-negative curvature operator.