The Gauss-Bonnet theorem for vector bundles

Denis Bell

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The Gauss-Bonnet theorem for vector bundles

Denis Bell

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Abstract

We give a short proof of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem for a real oriented Riemannian vector bundle $E$ of even rank over a closed compact orientable manifold $M$. This theorem reduces to the classical Gauss-Bonnet-Chern theorem in the special case when $M$ is a Riemannian manifold and $E$ is the tangent bundle of $M$ endowed with the Levi-Civita connection. The proof is based on an explicit geometric construction of the Thom class for 2-plane bundles.

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BibTeX RIS

Denis Bell. 2007-02-06. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem for vector bundles. https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0702162

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