No label defined (Q4943771)

A Riemannian metric \(g\) on an \(m\)-dimensional manifold \(M\) is said to be IP if the eigenvalues of the skew-symmetric curvature operator are pointwise constant, i.e. they depend upon the point \(p\in M\), but not upon the 2-planes \(\pi\) in the tangent space \(T_pM\). Examples of IP metrics are given. Using a Singer-Thorpe basis and applying methods of classical differential geometry, \textit{S. Ivanov} and \textit{I. Petrova} [Geom. Dedicata 70, 269-282 (1998; Zbl 0903.53016)] classified the IP metrics in dimension \(m=4\). The present author, \textit{J. V. Leahy} and \textit{H. Sadofsky} [Indiana Univ. Math. J. 48, No. 2, 615-634 (1999; Zbl 0990.53012)] classified the IP metrics in dimensions \(m=5\), \(m=6\) and \(m\geq 9\), by using algebraic topology. Then only the cases \(m=7\) and \(m=8\) were left unsettled by the above mentioned papers. In the paper under review, a complete classification of IP metrics for the case \(m=8\) is given. Also, some partial results concerning the possible eigenvalue structures of algebraic IP curvature tensors for \(m=7\) are obtained. The author uses high techniques of \(K\)-theory and algebraic topology. The exceptional geometries of \({\mathbb R}^7\) and \({\mathbb R}^8\), determined by the octonians, play a crucial role in this investigation. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0923.00021].