Isoparametric functions and exotic spheres

Abstract: The first part of the paper is to improve the fundamental theory of isoparametric functions on general Riemannian manifolds. Next we focus our attention on exotic spheres, especially on "exotic" 4-spheres (if exist) and the Gromoll-Meyer sphere. In particular, as one of main results we prove: there exists no properly transnormal function on any exotic 4-sphere if it exists. Furthermore, by projecting an $S^3$-invariant isoparametric function on $Sp(2)$, we construct a properly transnormal but not an isoparametric function on the Gromoll-Meyer sphere with two points as the focal varieties.