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I have asked this question in the Mathematics forum but I received no answer. Let $E$ be an algebraic vector bundle of rank $r$ and degree $d$, Then $\Lambda^2 E$ is of rank $r'=r(r-1)/2$, but is of determinant 0, because $$\Lambda^{r'}(\Lambda^2 E)\subset \Lambda^{r(r-1)}E=0$$ which I can't understand! because its determinate has to be a line bundle? Is there any mistake in that calculus? Thanks

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  • $\begingroup$ I would suggest you first try to work this out for vector spaces. The inclusion you mention is not valid. $\endgroup$
    – jmc
    Mar 28, 2015 at 18:25
  • $\begingroup$ Could you give some clarifications please $\endgroup$
    – Z.A.Z.Z
    Mar 28, 2015 at 18:26
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    $\begingroup$ If $(a,b,c)$ is a basis for a $3$-dimensional vector space $V$. Then $\bigwedge^{2} V$ has basis $(a \wedge b, b \wedge c, c \wedge a)$. Then $\bigwedge^{3}(\bigwedge^{2} V)$ has basis $(a \wedge b) \wedge (b \wedge c) \wedge (c \wedge a)$. But you can't just remove the parentheses and say that this is zero. It is nonzero. The wedges live in different vector spaces. $\endgroup$
    – jmc
    Mar 28, 2015 at 19:02
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    $\begingroup$ @jmc. Thanks for your example: I had never thought of that trap! $\endgroup$ Mar 29, 2015 at 9:25
  • $\begingroup$ @GeorgesElencwajg — I am glad I could be of some help. $\endgroup$
    – jmc
    Mar 30, 2015 at 9:00

1 Answer 1

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Let me expand my comments into an answer.

Before thinking about vector bundles, it makes sense to see what happens with vector spaces. If $(a,b,c)$ is a basis for a $3$-dimensional vector space $V$, then $\bigwedge^{2}V$ has basis $(a \wedge b,b \wedge c,c \wedge a)$. Then the determinant $\bigwedge^{3}(\bigwedge^{2}V)$ has basis $(a \wedge b) \wedge (b \wedge c) \wedge (c \wedge a)$. But you can't just remove the parentheses and say that this is zero. It is nonzero. The wedges live in different vector spaces.

One interesting statement is that if $W$ is $n$-dimensional, then there is a canonical isomorphism $$ \bigwedge^{k}W^{*} \otimes \bigwedge^{n}W \to \bigwedge^{n-k}W $$

First of all, the special case $k = n$ shows that $\det W$ is dual to $\det W^{*}$.

Returning to the example $V$, if we plug in $W = V^{*}$, we obtain $\bigwedge^{2}V \otimes \bigwedge^{3} V^{*} \cong \bigwedge^{1} V^{*}$. In other words $\bigwedge^{2} V$ is isomorphic to $V^{*} \otimes \det V$. Finally $$ \bigwedge^{3}(\bigwedge^{2} V) \cong \bigwedge^{3}(V^{*} \otimes \det V) \cong (\bigwedge^{3} V^{*}) \otimes (\det V)^{\otimes 3} \cong (\det V)^{\otimes 2}.$$

I do realise that this is a pretty special example, since $3 = 2 + 1$, whilst in general $n \ne 2 + 1$. Still, I hope this helps a bit in answering your question.

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