Classification of cohomogeneity one manifolds in low dimensions (Q968608)

Manifolds with nonnegative curvature are of particular importance in Riemannian geometry although examples do not abound. In [Ann. Math. (2) 152, No.~1, 331--367 (2000; Zbl 0991.53016)], \textit{K. Grove} and \textit{W. Ziller} provided a new family of such metrics on some cohomogeneity 1 manifolds. They demonstrated that all principal \(S^3\)-bundles over \(S^4\) can be considered as cohomogeneity 1 manifolds with metrics of nonnegative sectional curvature. Cohomogeneity 1 manifolds in low dimensions are of particular interest to physicists. The paper is dedicated to the classification of compact simply connected cohomogeneity 1 manifolds in dimensions 5, 6 and 7. The first theorem describes cohomogeneity 1 actions, namely, Theorem A: Every nonreducible cohomogeneity 1 action on a compact simply connected manifold of dimension 5,6 or 7 by a compact connected group is equivalent to one of the following: (i) an isometric action on a symmetric space; (ii) a product action; (iii) the SO(2)SO(2) action on the Brieskorn variety \(B_d^{2n-1};\) (iv) one of the primitive actions listed in Table I or a nonprimitive action from Table II. Hence, every cohomogeneity 1 action on such a manifold by a compact group action is a normal extension of one of these actions. Table I lists five classes of actions and Table II sixteen. The second theorem is concerned with the existence of invariant metrics of nonnegative sectional curvature and it depends heavily on the results of [loc. cit.]. Theorem B: Every nonreducible cohomogeneity one action of a compact connected group on a compact simply connected manifold of dimension 7 or less admits an invariant metric of nonnegative sectional curvature, except the Brieskorn variety \(B^7_d\) for \(d\geq 3,\) and possibly some of the members of one of the families from Table I. Finally, the author attempts to classify cohomogeneity 1 manifolds of dimension 5. Theorem C: Every compact simply connected cohomogeneity 1 manifold of dimension 5 must be diffeomorphic to \(S^5, SU(3)/SO(3),\) or one of the two \(S^3\)-bundles over \(S^2\). The author presents a similar classification in dimension 6 in [Ann. Global Anal. Geom. 38, No.~1, 1--9 (2010; Zbl 1202.57028)]. Dimension 7 seems to be more difficult as recent two attempts provide evidence: [\textit{C. M. Escher} and \textit{S. K. Ultman}, Cohomology rings of certain seven dimensional manifolds, \url{arxiv 0810.2056v2}] and [the author, Transform. Groups 15, No.~1, 115--133 (2010; Zbl 1196.57022)].