Questions tagged [de-rham-cohomology]

This a cohomology theory for smooth manifolds, where the (co)chain complex is defined by differential forms on a smooth manifold with differential given by exterior derivative. Then $n^{th}$ de Rham cohomology group is the quotient "closed $n$-forms/exact $n$-forms". Use in conjunction with other algebraic topology and differential geometry related tags if necessary.

Given a smooth $n$-dimensional manifold $M$, there is a cochain complex

$$0 \to \Omega^0(M) \xrightarrow{d} \Omega^1(M) \xrightarrow{d} \Omega^2(M) \xrightarrow{d} \dots \xrightarrow{d} \Omega^{n-1}(M) \xrightarrow{d} \Omega^n(M) \to 0$$

of differential forms with exterior derivative as the differential, called the de Rham complex (named after Georges de Rham). The cohomology of this complex is called de Rham cohomology: $$H^k_{\text{dR}}(M) = H^k(\Omega^{\bullet}(M), d)$$

These quotient abelian groups (in fact, real vector spaces) measures the extent to which closed $k$-forms to be exact. As a consequence of Hodge theorem if $M$ is compact, $H^k_{\text{dR}}(M)$ is a finite-dimensional vector space for every $k$. Also, by Poincaré lemma, every closed differential form is locally exact and therefore contractible spaces have trivial de Rham cohomology.

By Stokes' theorem, integration of differential forms along singular chains induces, for any compact smooth manifold $M,$ a bilinear pairing

$$H^k_{\text{Sing}}(M)\times H^k_{\text{dR}}(M)\to\mathbb{R}$$

de Rham's theorem asserts that this pairing induces an isomorphism between singular cohomology with real coefficients and de Rham cohomology by showing each vector space in above pairing is dual to one another. Moreover, it coincides with the Čech cohomology.

445 questions
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Intuitive Approach to de Rham Cohomology

The intuition behind homology may be summarized in a sentence: to find objects without boundary which are not the boundary of an object. This has geometric meaning and explains the algebraic boundary operator $\partial$ - quotient of vector spaces…
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Can $\pi$ be defined in a p-adic context?

I am not at all an expert in p-adic analysis, but I was wondering if there is any sensible (or even generally accepted) way to define the number $\pi$ in $\mathbb Q_p$ or $\mathbb C_p$. I think that circles, therefore also angles, are problematic in…
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Vanishing differential forms in cohomology

Let $X$ be a smooth differentiable manifold. Consider on $X$ a closed $p$-form $\eta$ and a closed $q$-form $\omega$, which have associated cohomology classes $[\eta] \in H^p(X)$ and $[\omega] \in H^q(X)$. Now assume their wedge product is zero in…
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For what kind of problems was de Rham cohomology introduced?

I'm new to the world of (co)homology theories, and I have some difficulty understanding the intuitive motivation for introducing the de Rham cohomology. More explicitly, I studied singular (co)homology essentially as a tool to 'study the problem' of…
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Top deRham cohomology group of a compact orientable manifold is 1-dimensional

Let $M$ be a compact smooth orientable manifold of dimension $n$. I am looking for a simple proof that $H_\mathrm{dR}^n(M) \cong \mathbb R$. Equivalently, an $n$-form which integrates to 0 is exact. I can show this via a rather indirect argument as…
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Computing cohomology of Cech-De Rham Complex

Bott & Tu use what they call the "Cech-de Rham complex" a lot, which is a double complex that uses the Cech differential horizontally and the de Rham differential vertically, with cochains being the algebras of differential forms on finite…
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Complex Analysis with differential forms

I'm studying a little of Complex Analysis and I have seen that I can use the integrals of complex functions as integrals of differential forms in $\mathbb{R}^n.$ For example: Cauchy Theorem for complex analytic functions is a consequence of the fact…
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Is there a name for this constant associated to smooth maps between spheres? (not degree)

Consider the following constant associated to smooth maps $F: S^{2n-1} \to S^n$ for $n \geq 2$: Let $\omega \in \Omega^n(S^n)$ be a volume form with $\int_{S^n} \omega = 1$. Then there exists $\eta \in \Omega^{n-1}\left( S^{2n-1} \right)$ with…
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Homotopy invariance of de Rham cohomology

Let $M,N$ be smooth manifolds which are homotopy equivalent i.e., there exists smooth maps $F:M\rightarrow N$ and $G:N\rightarrow M$ such that $F\circ G$ is homotopic to identity map on $N$ and $G\circ F$ is homotopic to identity map on $M$. Then,…
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Cup and wedge product in singular and de Rham cohomology

De Rham's theorem asserts that the map $I: H_{dR}^p(M) \to H_{sing}^p(M, \mathbb{R})$ defined as $$I(\omega)= [\sigma^p] \mapsto\int_{\sigma^p}\omega $$ is an isomorphism ($\sigma^p \in [\sigma^p] $ is a smooth representative). On $H_{sing}^\ast(M,…
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show that $\omega$ is exact if and only if the integral of $\omega$ over every $p$-cycle is $0$

Let $M$ be an oriented smooth manifold and $\omega$ a closed $p$-form on $M$. Show that $\omega$ is exact if and only if the integral of $\omega$ over every $p$-cycle is $0$. In particular, how to prove that if the integral of $\omega$ over every…
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Characteristic classes of flat $G$-bundles, induced from $G$-invariant forms on $G/K$, where $G$ is a Lie group and $K$ its maximal compact subgroup

I'd like to solve or find a reference for Exercise 2 (a), Chapter 9 in the book Curvature and Characteristic Classes by Johan L. Dupont. https://mathscinet.ams.org/mathscinet/article?mr=500997 Statement of the exercise: Exercise 2. Let G be a Lie…
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How is de Rham cohomology useful?

I'm learning about smooth manifolds from the last part of Introduction to Manifolds. Despite the fact I read this part few times I feel like I can't master it because I need to understand how it is useful. Can you give me a couple of examples…
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Poincaré duality for de Rham cohomology on non-compact manifolds

Let $M$ be an $n$-dimensional orientable non-compact manifold. Is there an isomorphism as follows, and if so how can we construct it? (Or can you provide a reference?) $$ H^{n-i}_{\operatorname{dR},c}(M, \mathbb R) \cong H_i(M,\mathbb R). $$ On…
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Excision for Relative de Rham Cohomology

I recently learned in Bott-Tu about the notion of relative de Rham cohomology, which is defined as follows: If $M$ is a smooth manifold and $S\subset M$ is its (embedded) submanifold, we define the cochain complex $\Omega^*(M,S)$ by $$\Omega…
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