On the classification of certain 1-connected 7-manifolds and related problems

Abstract

We study the classification of closed, smooth, spin, $1$-connected $7$-manifolds whose integral cohomology ring is isomorphic to $H^{\ast }(\mathbb{C}{P}^2\times S^3)$. We also prove that if the integral cohomology ring of a closed, smooth, spin, $1$-connected $7$-manifold is isomorphic to $H^{\ast }(\mathbb{C}{P}^2\times S^3)$ or $H^{\ast }(S^2\times S^5)$, this $7$-manifold admits a Riemannian metric with positive Ricci curvature.

19 pages