Curvature on a Principal Bundle

Abstract

This chapter examines curvature on a principal bundle. The curvature of a connection on a principal G-bundle is a g-valued 2-form that measures, in some sense, the deviation of the connection from the Maurer-Cartan connection on a product bundle. The Maurer-Cartan form Θ‎ on a Lie group G satisfies the Maurer-Cartan equation. Let M be a smooth manifold. The chapter then pulls the Maurer-Cartan equation back and uses Proposition 14.3 to get the Maurer-Cartan connection. It also considers the second structural equation; the first structural equation is discussed in a previous chapter. Finally, the chapter derives some properties of the curvature form.