Mapping class groups of highly connected $$(4k+2)$$-manifolds

Abstract

AbstractWe compute the mapping class group of the manifolds $$\sharp ^g(S^{2k+1}\times S^{2k+1})$$ ♯ g ( S 2 k + 1 × S 2 k + 1 ) for $$k>0$$ k > 0 in terms of the automorphism group of the middle homology and the group of homotopy $$(4k+3)$$ ( 4 k + 3 ) -spheres. We furthermore identify its Torelli subgroup, determine the abelianisations, and relate our results to the group of homotopy equivalences of these manifolds.