English

Characteristic classes for $G$-structures

Differential Geometry 2016-09-06 v1

Abstract

Let GGL(V)G\subset GL(V) be a linear Lie group with Lie algebra g\frak g and let A(g)GA(\frak g)^G be the subalgebra of GG-invariant elements of the associative supercommutative algebra A(g)=S(g)\La(V)A(\frak g)= S(\frak g^*)\otimes \La(V^*). To any GG-structure π:PM\pi:P\to M with a connection ω\omega we associate a homomorphism μω:A(g)GΩ(M)\mu_\omega:A(\frak g)^G\to \Omega(M). The differential forms μω(f)\mu_\omega(f) for fA(g)Gf\in A(\frak g)^G which are associated to the GG-structure π\pi can be used to construct Lagrangians. If ω\omega has no torsion the differential forms μω(f)\mu_\omega(f) are closed and define characteristic classes of a GG-structure. The induced homomorphism μω:A(\g)GH(M)\mu'_\omega:A(\g)^G\to H^*(M) does not depend on the choice of the torsionfree connection ω\omega and it is the natural generalization of the Chern Weil homomorphism.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.math/9209219,
  title  = {Characteristic classes for $G$-structures},
  author = {Dimitri Alekseevsky and Peter W. Michor},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math/9209219},
  year   = {2016}
}