Skip to main content
7 of 7
edited title
Denis Serre
  • 52.4k
  • 10
  • 146
  • 300

What are the important geometric-topological consequences of 4-dimensional version of Gauss-Bonnet-Chern theorem?

The Gauss–Bonnet theorem in differential geometry is an important statement about surfaces which connects their geometry to their topology and has very important applications to Riemann surface theory. The generalized Gauss–Bonnet theorem (Gauss-Bonnet-Chern) in dimension $n=4$, for a compact oriented manifold states that $$\chi(M)=\frac{1}{32\pi^2}\int_M\left(|Rm|^2-4|Rc|^2+r^2\right)d\mu,$$ where $Rm$ is the full Riemann curvature tensor, $Rc$ is the Ricci curvature tensor, $r$ is the scalar curvature. My question is

What are the important local-global results of the 4-dimensional version of Gauss-Bonnet-Chern theorem similar to the 2-Dimensional case?

Update:(2,September,2017)

This update is just an additional information. If $W$ denote the Weyl curvature of $(M,g)$ then $${32\pi^2}\chi(M)=\int_M(|W|^2+ 8Q_g)d\mu,$$ where $$Q_g:=-\frac{1}{12}(\Delta_gr-r^2+3|Rc|^2),$$ is the Paneitz $Q$ curvature introduced by Branson.

C.F.G
  • 4.2k
  • 6
  • 31
  • 65