Annals of Mathematics

On Manifolds Homeomorphic to the 7-Sphere Author(s): John Milnor Source: The Annals of Mathematics, Second Series, Vol. 64, No. 2 (Sep., 1956), pp. 399-405 Published by: Annals of Mathematics Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1969983 . Accessed: 22/04/2011 04:15
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Vol. 64,No. 2,September, 1956 Printed U.S.A. in

ANNALS

OF MATHEMATICS

ON MANIFOLDS HOMEOMORPHIC
BY
JOHN

TO THE 7-SPHERE

MILNORI

(Received June 14, 1956)

The object of this note will be to show that the 7-spherepossesses several distinctdifferentiable structures. M7 for In ?1 an invariantX is constructed oriented, differentiable 7-manifolds the are satisfying hypothesis(*) H3(M7) = H4(M7) = 0. (Integer coefficients is In to be understood.) ?2 a generalcriterion givenforprovingthat an n-manito fold is homeomorphic the sphere S'. Some examples of 7-manifoldsare studied in ?3 (namely3-spherebundles over the 4-sphere).The resultsof the precedingtwo sections are used to show that certain of these manifoldsare but not differentiable Several related problems topological7-spheres, 7-spheres. are studiedin ?4. All manifolds considered, with or withoutboundary,are to be differentiable, will of orientable and compact. The word differentiable mean differentiable if class Ca. A closed manifoldM' is oriented one generator.ue Hn(M') is distinguished. ?1. The invariant X(M7) For every closed, oriented7-manifold satisfying we will definea residue (*) M7 is modulo 7. Accordingto Thom [5] every closed 7-manifold class X(M7) the boundary of an 8-manifold B8. The invariantX(M7) will be definedas a of function the index r and the Pontrjaginclass pi of B8. v An orientation e H8(B8,M7) is determined the relationiv = j.. Define a by a quadratic formover the groupH4(B8,M7)/(torsion)by the formula - * (v, a 2). Let r(B8) be the index of this form(the numberof positive termsminus the whenthe form diagonalizedoverthe real numbers). is numberofnegativeterms, Let pi EH4(B8) be the firstPontrjagin class of the tangent bundle of B8. of (For the definition Pontrjaginclasses see [2] or [6].) The hypothesis(*) implies that the inclusionhomomorphism i: H4(B') M7) -> H4(B8) Therefore can definea "Pontrjaginnumber" we is an isomorphism.
q(B8) (v,
(F-1pi)2).

THEOREM 1. The residueclass of 2q(B8) - r(B8) modulo7 does not dependon B8. thechoiceof themanifold DefineX(M7) as this residueclass.2As an immediateconsequencewe have: 1. COROLLARY If X(M7) F 0 thenM7 is not theboundary any 8-manifold of zero. Bettinumber having fourth
The author holds an Alfred P. Sloan fellowship. 399

400

JOHN MILNOR

Let B', B" be two manifolds with boundaryM. (We may assume they are disjoint.) Then C8 =_ B8u B8 is a closed 8-manifold which possesses a differentiable structure compatiblewith that of Bi and B2 . Choose that orientation v for C8 which is consistentwith the orientationvP of B8 (and therefore consistentwith -v2). Let q(C8) denote the Pontrjaginnumber(v, p2(C8)). According Thorn[5] or Hirzebruch[2] we have to
r(C8)
=

(7p2(C8)

-2

and therefore 45r(C8) + q(C8) This implies

7(v, p2(C8))
--(C8)

(mod 7). (mod 7).

(1)
LEMMA

2q(C8) (C0) =
q(C8)
=

1. Undertheaboveconditions have we
(B)((B8)

(2) and (3)

q(B8)

-q(B

).

Formulas 1, 2, 3 clearlyimplythat 2q(B 8)r(B

2q(B8)

r(B )

(mod 7);

whichis just the assertionof Theorem1. PROOF OF LEMMA 1. Considerthe diagram

Hn(C, M)

lil G i2 Hn(B1) 0 Hn(B2) <k Hn(C)

Note that for n = 4, these homomorphismsare all isomorphisms. If a = jh-1(a, 0 a2) e H14(C), then (4)
(v, a22) =P

(vjh~(a j-

2 ($ 0

2~X =PP 2)) =

(V1

E3

(V)

2),

a~ aG d3s2) =(, (Pi, a') Y2 t)

v2,

2,

).

Thus the quadratic formof C8 is the "direct sum" of the quadratic formof B7 and the negative of the quadratic formof B8. This clearlyimpliesformula(2). Definea, = i-T1p1(B1) a2 = ijlp(B2). Then the relation and k(p1(C)) = pi(Bi) 03 p1(B2) impliesthat
121 page 14.) For k = 1, 2, 3, 4 we have
2 Similarly for n = 4k -

1 a residue class X(Mn) modulo SkM(Lk) could be defined. (See = 1, 7, 62, 381 respectively. SkY(Lk)

MANIFOLDS

HOMEOMORPHIC

TO THE

7-SPHERE

401

jh-1(a, 0) a2) = PI(C). The computation(4) now showsthat (V,P1(C)) = whichis just formula(3). This completesthe proofof Theorem 1. The following property the invariantX is clear. of LEMMA 2. If theorientation M7 is reversed of thenX(M7) is multiplied -1. by As a consequencewe have 2. COROLLARY If X(M7) 5 0 then M17 possessesno orientation reversing diffeomorphism3 itself. onto
(VI,Ia')
-

(V2

),

Mn(whereR Considerthe following a hypothesis concerning closed manifold denotesthe real numbers). f:Mn -* R havingonly twocritical (H) Thereexistsa differentiable function pointsxo , x1. Furthermore critical these pointsare non-degenerate. , un are local coordinates in a neighborhood of xo (or x1) (That is if u1,I thenthe matrix(a2f/aupauj) non-singular xo (or xi).) at is THEOREM 2. If M' satisfies hypothesis the these existsa homeomorphism (H) then is ofM' ontoS' which a diffeomorphism at except possibly a singlepoint. Addedin proof. This resultis essentially due to Reeb [7]. The proofwill be based on the orthogonal trajectoriesof the manifolds = f constant. Normalize the function so that f(xo) = 0, f(xi) = 1. Accordingto Morse f v ([3] Lemma 4) there exist local coordinates vl, n, in a neighborhood V of xo + vnforx e V. (Morse assumes that f is of class C3, so that f(x) = 2l + and constructscoordinatesof class C1; but the same proofworks in the C' + dv2definesa Riemannian metricin ds2= dvl + case.) The expression V. the neighborhood Choose a differentiable RiemannianmetricforMnwhich V' coincideswith this one in some neighborhood4 of xo. Now the gradien off can be consideredas a contravariant vector field. FollowingMorse we considerthe differential equation
.

?2. A partialcharacterization the n-sphere of

dx

dt

grad

grad fIl11 f 112.

In the neighborhood this equation has solutions V'

for 0 ? t < c, where a = (al, ***, an) is any n-tuple with

can be extendeduniquelyto solutionsx<(t) for0 < t ? 1. Note that these soluthe tionssatisfy identity
3 A diffeomorphismf homeomorphism is a onto,suchthatbothfandf'I 4This

1. These

is possible by [4] 6.7 and 12.2.

are differentiable.

402

JOHN MILNOR
f(xa(t)) = t.

of Map the interior the unit sphereofR' into M' by the map
(al(t)' , * X. ant xW

of that this definesa diffeomorphism the open n-cell onto It is easily verified - (xi). The assertionof Theorem2 now follows. -n can be obtained as g: Given any diffeomorphism S8'--> AS", an n-manifold follows. fromtwocopies of Rn obtained CONSTRUCTION (C). Let M (g) be themanifold R' thesubsets - (0) underthediffeomorphism bymatching

U-* V= I

_u_

map then to is (Such a manifold clearlyhomeomorphic Sn. If g is the identity to Mn(g) is diffeomorphic S'.) (C) by MB can be obtained theconstruction if and COROLLARY 3. A manifold (H). the onlyif it satisfies hypothesis (C) PROOF.If Mln(g) is obtainedby the construction thenthe function f(x)
u u 127(1 + 11 112)= 1/(1 + v 11 112)

will satisfythe hypothesis(H). The converse can be established by a slight of modification the proofof Theorem2. ?3. Examples of 7-manifolds Consider 3-spherebundles over the 4-spherewith the rotationgroup S0(4) as structuralgroup. The equivalence classes of such bundles are in one-one with elements of the group 7r3(SO(4)) Z + Z. A specific correspondence5 For each (h,j) e Z + Z betweenthesegroupsis obtainedas follows. isomorphism multipliby letfhj:S3 -* SO(4) be defined fhj(u)-v = UhvUi,forv e R4. Quaternion on cation is understood the right. for Let l be the standardgenerator H4(S4). Let thj denote the spherebundle to corresponding (fhj) e 2-3(SO(4)). class Pm(thj) equals ? 2(h - j) LEMMA 3. The Pontrjagin class (The proofwill be given later. One can show that the characteristic C(hj) (see [4]) is equal to (h + j) .) For each odd integerk let M7 be the total space of the bundle hjwhere h old by and j are determined the equations h + j = 1, h - j = k. This manif structureand orientation,which will be deMk has a natural differentiable scribedlater. class modulo7 ofk2 1. X(M7) is theresidue LEMMA 4. The invariant the (H). M7 satisfies hypothesis LEMMA 5. The manifold thesewe have: Combining
-

5 See [4] ?18.

MANIFOLDS HOMEOMORPHIC TO THE 7-SPHERE THEOREM

403

to 3. For k2 A 1 mod 7 themanifold is homeomorphic S7 butnot Mk to S7. diffeomorphic to (For k = ? 1 the manifoldM7 is diffeomorphic S7; but it is not known this is true forany otherk.) whether R8 on structure S7 can be extendedthrough - (0). Clearlyany differentiable However: on structure S7 whichcannotbe exCOROLLARY 4. Thereexistsa differentiable R8. tended throughout with Coroltogether assertions, fromthe preceding This followsimmediately lary 1. is a linear PROOF OF LEMMA 3. It is clear that the Pontrjagin class Pl(thj) of it function h and j. Furthermore is knownthat it is independent the orientaof then thj is replaced by of But if the orientation S3 is reversed, tion of the fibre. of This showsthatPl(thj) is givenby an expression theform - j)t. c(h t-j-h. Here c is a constantwhichwill be evaluated later. bundleMk *S4 thereis a PROOF OF LEMMA 4. Associatedwitheach 3-sphere -_ 4-cell bundle Pk S4. The total space B8 of this bundle is a differentiable groupH4(Bk) is generatedby the withboundaryM7 . The cohomology manifold elementa = pk (t). Choose orientations v forMk and B8 so that y,
(V, (i10)2)
=

+1.

Then the index r(Bk) will be + 1. The tangentbundle of Bk is the "Whitneysum" of (1) the bundle of vectors The first and (2) the bundle of vectorsnormalto the fibre. tangentto the fibre, has the bundle(1) is induced(underPk) from bundle hj, and therefore Pontrjagin the tangentbundle class Pi = pk (c(h - j)) = ckla.The second is induced from has Pontrjaginclass zero. Now by the Whitneyproduct of S4, and therefore first theorem([2] or [6]) p1(B ) = cka + 0. that B8 is the quaternionproFor the special case k = 1 it is easily verified with an 8-cell removed.But the Pontrjaginclass pl(P2(K)) jective plane P2(K) of is knownto be twice a generator H4(P2(K)). (See Hirzebruch[1].) Therefore c must be 4?2, whichcompletesthe proofof Lemma 3. the constant 2 - 1 Now q(B8) = (v, (A1(?-2kl))a) = 4k2;and 2q - T = 8k2- 1 This completesthe proofof Lemma 4. (mod 7). in PROOF OF LEMMA 5. As coordinateneighborhoods the base space S4 take of of the northpole, and the complement the south pole. These the complement with euclidean space R4 under stereographic projection.Then can be identified a point which correspondsto u E R4 under one projectionwill correspondto u = u/l u 112underthe other. Take two copies of The total space M7can now be obtained as follows.5 the subsets (R4- (0)) X S3 underthe diffeomorphism S3 and identify R4(X
(u, v) (u', v') = (U/|| u ||, uvu /11 |
|l)

404

JOHN MILNOR

(using quaternionmultiplication).This makes the differentiable structureof Mk precise. Replace the coordinates (u', v') by (u", v') where u" = u'(v')-'. Consider the function f:M7 R defined by f(x) ?(v)/(1+ 11 ulI,)! = 9(u")/(l + 11

1 II2);

where9(v) denotesthe real part of the quaternionv. It is easily verified that f has only two criticalpoints (namely (u, v) = (0, ?i1)) and that these are nonThis completesthe proof. degenerate. ?4. Miscellaneous results which doesnot THEOREM 4. Either(a) there 8-manifold existsa closedtopological possessany differentiable structure; (b) thePontrjagin or classpi ofan open8-manifoldis nota topological invariant. (The authorhas no idea whichalternative holds.) PROOF. Let X8 be the topological8-manifold obtained fromBk by collapsing its boundary (a topological7-sphere)to a point xo. Let a e H4(X ) correspond a structure, to thegenerator E H4(B ). Suppose thatX8, possessesa differentiable and that p1(X8 - (xo)) is a topological invariant. Then pl(X8) must equal +2ka, hence 2q(X8)
-r(X8)

= 8k2 _ 1-

k2

- 1

(mod 7).

But fork20 1 (mod 7) thisis impossible. Two diffeomorphisms g:M' -* M' will be called differentiably isotopicif f, M' thereexistsa diffeomorphism X R-> M' X R oftheform(x, t) -* (h(x, t), t) such that
h t) h(x _x
LEMMA
-

ffx fg(x)

(t ?< 0) (t > 1).

6. If thediffeomorphismsg:Sn- _> S-1 are differentiably f, isotopic, the then manifolds M'(f), M'(g) obtained theconstruction are diffeomorphic. by (C) The proofis straightforward. > S6 of degree+1 whichis THEOREM 5. Thereexistsa diffeomorphism f:S'6 notdifferentiably isotopicto theidentity. to Proof. By Lemma 5 and Corollary3 the manifoldM' is diffeomorphic to the identitythen Lemma 6 17(f) forsomef. If f were differentiably isotopic to would implythat M' was diffeomorphic S7. But this is false by Lemma 4.
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY REFERENCES

1. F. 2.

HIRZEBRUCH,

projektiven Rdume,S.-Ber. math.-naturw.KI. die Ueber quaternionalen (1953),pp. 301-312. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. Mifnchen Berlin, 1956. Geometrie, , Neue topologische Methodenin der algebraischen

MANIFOLDS

HOMEOMORPHIC

TO THE

7-SPHERE

405

3. M. MORSE, Relationsbetween numbers criticalpointsof a realfunction n indethe of of pendent variables, Trans. Amer.Math. Soc., 27 (1925),pp. 345-396. 4. N. STEENROD, The topologyof fibre bundles,Princeton, 1951. 5. R. THOM, Quelquesproprietes globaledes varietes Comment. Math. Helv., differentiables, 6. Wu WEN-TSUN, Sur les classes caracteristiques structures des fibrees spheriques, Actual. sci. industr.1183,Paris, 1952, 5-89. pp. 7. G. REEB, Sur certain propri6tes des Actual. sci. industr. feuilletees, topologiques varietes 1183,Paris, 1952,pp. 91-154.
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