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3 votes
1 answer
203 views

Cohomology of the complex of differential forms with Schwartz coefficients

Let $U$ be an open manifold (say an open subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$ for simplicity). Denote by $\mathscr{S}(U)$ the space of Schwartz functions on $U$. Schwartz functions are defined as usual to be ...
0 votes
0 answers
85 views

Existence of covering space with trivial pullback map on $H^1$

I have seen somewhere the following claim (but can't remember where): let $M$ be a connected orientable closed smooth manifold with $b_1(M)=1$, then there exists a connected covering space $p:\tilde{M}...
5 votes
2 answers
361 views

Exterior differentiation of foliations

Let $M$ be a differentiable manifold. Let $T^*M$ be the cotangent bundle of $M$. Consider the exterior differentiation $d: A^p(M)\longrightarrow A^{p+1}(M)$, where $A^p(M)=\Gamma(\...
4 votes
1 answer
211 views

Existence non-trivial parallel $p$-form implies non-triviality of $p$-th cohomology group using De Rham cohomology

Cross-post from MSE. Suppose $(M,g)$ be a closed Riemannian manifold. Because every parallel (nontrivial) $p$-form $\omega$ is harmonic so the $p$-th Betti number should be positive i.e. $b_p\geq 1$. ...
17 votes
1 answer
1k views

Direct proof that Chern-Weil theory yields integral classes

Suppose $E$ is a complex vector bundle of rank $n$ on a compact oriented manifold (both assumed smooth). Let $h$ be a Hermitian metric on $E$, and let $A$ be a Hermitian connection on $E$ and $F_A$ ...
2 votes
0 answers
152 views

When are automorphisms of the cohomology ring realized by isometries?

Let $(M,g)$ be a closed smooth Riemannian manifold, and denote by $G$ a closed subgroup of its isometry group. By considering the maps $g^*$ induced by elements $g\in G$ in the (de Rham) cohomology $H^...