Compact homogeneous Riemannian manifolds with low coindex of symmetry (Q509106)

Recall that a homogeneous Riemannian manifold \(M\) is a Riemannian symmetric space if and only if for every point \(p\in M\) and every \(v\in T_pM\) there exists a Killing field \(X\) on \(M\) with \(X_p=v\) and \((\nabla X)_p= 0\). Motivated by this characterization of symmetric spaces, the second and third author together with \textit{H. Tamaru} introduced in [Math. Z. 277, No. 3--4, 611--628 (2014; Zbl 1302.53056)] the index of symmetry of a Riemannian manifold. In the present paper the authors develop some general structure theory for compact homogeneous Riemannian manifolds in relation to the co-index of symmetry. They use these results to classify irreducible, simply connected, compact homogeneous Riemannian manifolds whose co-index of symmetry is less or equal than \(3\). They also determine the co-index of symmetry for compact homogeneous Riemannian manifolds which arise as total spaces over polars in Riemannian symmetric spaces of compact type and whose fibers are centrioles.