Nonexistence of almost complex structures on products of even-dimensional spheres (Q923385)

\textit{A. Borel} and \textit{J.-P. Serre} [Am. J. Math. 75, 409-448 (1953; Zbl 0050.396)] proved that \(S^ 2\) and \(S^ 6\) are the only even- dimensional spheres allowing almost complex structures. \textit{E. Calabi} and \textit{B. Eckmann} [Ann. Math. 58, 494-500 (1953; Zbl 0051.403)] showed that complex structures do exist on \(S^{2p+1}\times S^{2q+1}\). In this paper the authors prove the following theorem: The only products of even-dimensional spheres that allow almost complex structures are \(S^ 2\times S^ 2\), \(S^ 2\times S^ 6\), \(S^ 6\times S^ 2\), \(S^ 6\times S^ 6\), \(S^ 2\times S^ 4\), \(S^ 4\times S^ 2\).