The classification of 2-connected 7-manifolds


Abstract in English

We present a classification theorem for closed smooth spin 2-connected 7-manifolds M. This builds on the almost-smooth classification from the first authors thesis. The main additional ingredient is an extension of the Eells-Kuiper invariant for any closed spin 7-manifold, regardless of whether the spin characteristic class p_M in the fourth integral cohomology of M is torsion. In addition we determine the inertia group of 2-connected M - equivalently the number of oriented smooth structures on the underlying topological manifold - in terms of p_M and the torsion linking form.

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