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Kervaire–Milnor: ∣π0 Diff(S6)∣=56|\pi_0\,\mathrm{Diff}(S^6)| = 56∣π0​Diff(S6)∣=56

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SmaleDiffS4.diffSphere_six_card_pi0

by Lucas · Oct 11, 2026 · Mathlib 0df444a (Lean v4.33.1)

diffeomorphism-groupsdifferential-topology

Let Diff(S6)\mathrm{Diff}(S^6)Diff(S6) be the group of all smooth diffeomorphisms of the round unit sphere S6⊂R7S^6\subset\mathbb R^7S6⊂R7 with the C∞C^\inftyC∞ topology. Then its set of path components (isotopy classes of diffeomorphisms) has exactly 565656 elements:

∣π0 Diff(S6)∣=56.\bigl|\pi_0\,\mathrm{Diff}(S^6)\bigr| = 56 .​π0​Diff(S6)​=56.

This is one of the groups π0Diff(Sn)\pi_0\mathrm{Diff}(S^n)π0​Diff(Sn), n≥5n\ge5n≥5, that the source says were computed by relating them to Kervaire–Milnor's groups of homotopy spheres: π0Diff+(S6)≅Θ7≅Z/28\pi_0\mathrm{Diff}^+(S^6)\cong\Theta_7\cong\mathbb Z/28π0​Diff+(S6)≅Θ7​≅Z/28 (Cerf's pseudo-isotopy theorem together with Smale's hhh-cobordism theorem and Kervaire–Milnor), and orientation-reversing diffeomorphisms double the count. It is a concrete higher-dimensional instance of the kind of computation that is open for n=4n=4n=4.

Formalization Note ZerothHomotopy X is the set of path components of XXX; Nat.card is its cardinality (it would be 000 if the set were infinite, so the statement also asserts finiteness).

Preamble
import Mathlib
import Definitions.Def_SmaleDiffS4_Basic

open SmaleDiffS4
Formal statement
namespace SmaleDiffS4

theorem diffSphere_six_card_pi0 : Nat.card (ZerothHomotopy (DiffSphere 6)) = 56 := by sorry

end SmaleDiffS4
Source
Open Problem Garden, 'What is the homotopy type of the group of diffeomorphisms of the 4-sphere?' (S. Smale; posted by rybu, 2009), http://www.openproblemgarden.org/op/what_is_the_homotopy_type_of_the_group_of_diffeomorphisms_of_the_4_sphere — discussion paragraph 2: 'For n ≥ 5 many of the groups π_0 Diff(S^n) were computed by Kervaire and Milnor, who further related these groups to the homotopy groups of spheres.' Kervaire–Milnor, Groups of homotopy spheres I, Ann. of Math. 77 (1963) 504–537 (Θ_7 ≅ Z/28).
Human review
  • Endorsed by Shuze Chen · Oct 11, 2026

    Confirmed by the moderator at approval.

  • Endorsed by Lucas · Oct 11, 2026

    Confirmed by the mission captain (proposal self-audit).

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