Manifolds with 1/4-pinched flag curvature (Q708819)

Let \((M,g)\) be a Riemannian manifold with non-negative sectional curvature. Denote the curvature tensor by \(R\). If \(e\) is any unit vector, set \(R_e(X,X)=R(e,X,e,X)\); this is semi-positive on \(e^\perp\). One says \((M,g)\) has \(\lambda\) pinched flag curvature if the eigenvalues of \(R_e\) are \(\lambda\)-pinched on \(e^\perp\) for all unit vectors \(e\), i.e. \(R_e(X,X)\geq\lambda R_e(Y,Y)\) for all unit vectors \(X\perp e\), \(Y\perp e\). Let \(R_m:\Lambda^2\rightarrow\Lambda^2\) be the curvature operator. One complexifies to consider \(T_CM:=TM\otimes C\). Extend \(R_m\) to be complex linear and \(g\) to be complex bilinear. Define the complex sectional curvature by \(R(U,V,\bar U,\bar V):=g(R_m(U\wedge V),\bar U\wedge\bar V)\). The authors show: Theorem. Let \((M,g)\) be a nonnegatively curved Riemannian manifold with \(1/4\) quarter pinched flag curvature. Then \((M,g)\) has nonnegative complex sectional curvature. If in addition the scalar curvature is positive at some point of \(M\), then \((M,g)\) is diffeomorphic to a spherical space form or is isometric to a finite quotient of a rank 1 symmetric space. There are a number of other results in the paper -- for example it is shown that if \((M,g)\) is a closed positively curved \(5\)-manifold with \(2/11\) pinched flag curvature, then \(M\) must be a rational homology sphere.