On Gromov’s conjecture for totally non-spin manifolds

Abstract

Gromov’s conjecture states that for a closed [Formula: see text]-manifold [Formula: see text] with positive scalar curvature, the macroscopic dimension of its universal covering [Formula: see text] satisfies the inequality [Formula: see text] [9]. We prove that for totally non-spin [Formula: see text]-manifolds, the inequality [Formula: see text] implies the inequality [Formula: see text]. This implication together with the main result of [6] allows us to prove Gromov’s conjecture for totally non-spin [Formula: see text]-manifolds whose fundamental group is a virtual duality group with [Formula: see text]. In the case of virtually abelian groups, we reduce Gromov’s conjecture for totally non-spin manifolds to the problem whether [Formula: see text]. This problem can be further reduced to the [Formula: see text]-stability conjecture for manifolds with free abelian fundamental groups.