Vector-Valued Forms

Abstract

This chapter studies vector-valued forms. Ordinary differential forms have values in the field of real numbers. This chapter allows differential forms to take values in a vector space. When the vector space has a multiplication, for example, if it is a Lie algebra or a matrix group, the vector-valued forms will have a corresponding product. Vector-valued forms have become indispensable in differential geometry, since connections and curvature on a principal bundle are vector-valued forms. All the vector spaces will be real vector spaces. A k-covector on a vector space T is an alternating k-linear function. If V is another vector space, a V-valued k-covector on T is an alternating k-linear function.