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On compact homogeneous spaces of positive Euler characteristic

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1984 Russ. Math. Surv. 39 197

(http://iopscience.iop.org/0036-0279/39/2/L34)

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 Communications of the Moscow Mathematical Society 197

On compact homogeneous spaces of positive Euler

characteristic
A.N. Shchetinin

Let = U/K, where U is a compact connected simply-connected Lie group and is a connected
subgroup of it of maximal rank. Then is a compact simply-connected manifold of positive Euler
characteristic. The classification of such homogeneous spaces is equivalent to that of the subalgebras
of maximal rank in compact Lie algebras. It has been carried out in [ 1 ] . However, to two distinct
pairs (11, 9) and ( U ' , SR'), where 11 and 11' are compact Lie algebras and 9 and 9' are subalgebras
of maximal rank in 11 and 11' respectively, there may correspond, generally speaking, diffeomorphic
manifolds. Therefore, there arises the problem of the classification of homogeneous spaces of this
type. Our main result is the following:

Theorem 1. Let = ... Ms, \ ... ^., , = Uj/Kj (1 < i < s), and Mj = Uj/Kj
(1 < / < r), where Uj and Uj are simple compact connected Lie groups, and Kj and Kj are connected
proper subgroups of maximal rank in Uj and Uj, respectively. If H*(M, Z) = H*(M', Z), then r = s
and Mj and Mi are diffeomorphic (1 < i < s) after a suitable renumbering. Furthermore, Mj and Mj
are then isomorphic as homogeneous spaces (except for the cases listed in Table 2).

We suppose to begin with that U is simple.

Theorem 2. Let U/L, M' = U'/L', where U and U' are simple compact connected simply-
connected Lie groups, L and V are the centralizers of tori in U and U', respectively, and H*(M, R) =
= H*(M', R). Then either and M' are diffeomorphic, or we have one of the cases in Table 1.

Table 1

V L V L'

Sp(*) U ( P l ) x . . . x U ( Ps ) Sp (i) Spin (2n + l) U (Pl) ... x V (Ps)

iPi+ +Ps-T-l = n) xSpin(2/-M)
F< Sp (3) Ft Spin (7) X T1
F< SU (3) X SU (2) x Tl Ft SU (3) X SU (2)
Ft SU (3) * Ft SU (3)xP
Ft SU (2) X r Ft SU (2) X T3

G2 su (2) x;ri 62 SU (2) X Tl

SU (6) 5 (U (5) X U (1)) G* SU (2) 1

(the sign ~ indicates that the subsystem corresponding to the subgroup consists of short roots).

Theorem 3. Let = U/K, M' = U'/K', where U and U' are simple compact connected simply-
connected Lie groups, and K' are connected subgroups of maximal rank in U and U', respectively,
that are not centralizers of tori, and H*(M, R) = H*(M', R). Then either and M' are diffeomorphic
or U = Sp(3), = Sp(2) Sp(l), U' = G2, and K' = SO(4).
The proof of these two theorems uses the classification of simple compact Lie algebras and their
subalgebras of amximal rank. The main rule is played by Cartan's theorem [2] and the methods of
[3].
Theorem 4. Let = U/k, M' = U'/K', where U and U' are simple compact connected simply-
connected Lie groups, and and K' are connected subgroups of maximal rank in U and U',
respectively. If H*(M, Z) =s H*(M', Z), then and M' are diffeomorphic. Furthermore, they are
then isomorphic as homogeneous spaces (except for the cases listed in Table 2).
198 Communications of the Moscow Mathematical Society

Table 2

V U'

Cp2n-l SU (2n) Sp() GT.2 Spin (7) G2

SO {2n)/U {n) Spin (2n) Spin(2n 1) Spin (7) G2

To prove this it suffices to verify that for the manifolds in Table 1 the rings H*(M, Z) and
H*(M', Z) are non-isomorphic. This can be done, taking [4] into account.
We now consider the general ease of a semisimple- group U.
Theorem 5. Let = Ml ... Ms, ' = M{ ... M'r, /, = /,/, (1 < 1 < s), and / = Uj/Kj
(1 < / < / ) , wftere C/,- ad t/y are simple compact connected simply-connected Lie groups, and Kf and
Kj are connected proper subgroups of maximal rank in Uj and Uj, respectively, if H*(M, R) =
s H*(M', R), then r = s and H*(Mt, R) s H*(M\, R) (1 < i < s) after a suitable renumbering.
The proof is based on the results of [5] and [6].
Theorem 6. Let = , = ... Ps, = ... Nq, />, = /,/,, (1 < / < s), / = Vf/Kj
(1 < / < q), ' = ' ', ' = \ ... Pr, ' = ... N'h P'k = U'klL'k (I < k < r), and
N't = V'f/K'f (1 < t < /), where Uj, Vj, U'^, and V'tare simple compact connected simply-connected
Lie groups, Lj and L'k are centralizers of tori in U( and U'k, respectively, and Kj and K't are connected
subgroups of maximal rank in Vj and V't that are not centralizers of tori. If H*(M, Z) = H*(M', Z),
then r = s, H*{Pi} Z) =s H*(P-, Z) (1 < i < s) after a suitable renumbering, and H*(N, Z) =s H*(N' Z).
Theorem 1 can now be obtained from Theorems 3-6.
We recall that two transformation groups Gj and G- on a manifold are said to be similar if
there exists a diffeomorphism h : - such that hG\h~x = G2-
Corollary. Suppose that a homogeneous space satisfies the conditions of Theorem 1. // /' is a
compact connected simply-connected Lie group that acts transitively and locally effectively on M,
then U' = U'i ... U& where Uj is a simple compact connected simply-connected Lie group that
acts transitively and locally effectively on , (1 < < s), and either U\ is similar to [/, or M, is one of
the manifolds in Table 2.
The author thanks A.L. Onishchik for his valuable advice.

References

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Moscow Motorway Institute Received by the Board of Governors 15 June 1982