A new proof of the Bott-Samelson theorem (Q804969)

A Riemannian manifold for which the distance from every \(m\in M\) to any point in its cut-locus is constant (i.e. Cut(m) is spherical) is called a Blaschke (B-)manifold. Blaschke's conjecture is that every B-manifold is isometric to a compact rank one symmetric space (CROSS). The Bott- Samelson theorem says that the integral cohomology ring of a B-manifold is the same as that of a CROSS. The present author considers two classes of manifolds: the class \(S_{\ell}\) characterized by the condition that Cut(m) is a 1- dimensional submanifold of M for some \(m\in M\); The \(ES_{\ell}\) class for which the above condition holds for every \(m\in M\). It is known that B-manifolds belong to the \(ES_{\ell}\) class. Using essentially the Thom homomorphism the author proves that the integral cohomology ring of an \(S_{\ell}\) manifold is the same as that of a CROSS, more precisely \(\pi_ 1(M)=0\) or \(Z_ 2\). It is also proved that an \(ES_{\ell}\) manifold is isometric to \(S^ n\) up to a constant factor. These results motivate the following topological Blaschke conjectures: (i) Each \(ES_{\ell}\) manifold is isometric to a CROSS up to a constant factor and (ii) Each \(S_{\ell}\)-manifold is homeomorphic to a CROSS.