The radius rigidity theorem for manifolds of positive curvature (Q679324)

In this paper, Berger's 1/4 rigidity theorem is generalized by a quite new theorem: a simply connected Riemannian manifold with sectional curvature \(\geq 1\) and radius \(\geq \pi/2\) is either homeomorphic to the sphere or isometric to a compact rank-one symmetric space. The main tool of the proof thereof is the notion of O'Neill's submersion, in particular, of its horizontal and vertical curvature properties. A remark is given here that the author was informed by D. Alekseevsky that he has completed the classification of closed manifolds with sectional curvature \(\geq 1\), radius \(\geq \pi/2\), and nontrivial fundamental groups.