The action of the mapping class group on metrics of positive scalar curvature

TL;DR

This paper proves a rigidity theorem for the mapping class group's action on positive scalar curvature metrics on high-dimensional manifolds, with applications to specific classes like simply connected 6-manifolds and spheres.

Contribution

It introduces a new rigidity theorem for the mapping class group's action on positive scalar curvature metrics, using parametrised Morse theory and the 2-index theorem.

Findings

Rigidity theorem for the mapping class group action

Applicability to simply connected 6-manifolds and spheres

Classification of actions on simply connected 7-dimensional Spin-manifolds

Abstract

We present a rigidity theorem for the action of the mapping class group $\pi_0(\mathrm{Diff}(M))$ on the space $\mathcal{R}^+(M)$ of metrics of positive scalar curvature for high dimensional manifolds $M$. This result is applicable to a great number of cases, for example to simply connected $6$-manifolds and high dimensional spheres. Our proof is fairly direct, using results from parametrised Morse theory, the $2$-index theorem and computations on certain metrics on the sphere. We also give a non-triviality criterion and a classification of the action for simply connected $7$-dimensional $\mathrm{Spin}$-manifolds.