On the moduli spaces of metrics with nonnegative sectional curvature

Abstract

The Kreck–Stolz \(s\) invariant is used to distinguish connected components of the moduli space of positive scalar curvature metrics. We use a formula of Kreck and Stolz to calculate the \(s\) invariant for metrics on \(S^n\) bundles with nonnegative sectional curvature. We then apply it to show that the moduli spaces of metrics with nonnegative sectional curvature on certain 7-manifolds have infinitely many path components. These include certain positively curved Eschenburg and Aloff–Wallach spaces.