NOTES ON BASIC DIFFERENTIAL GEOMETRY

We follow [?].

1. Real Differential Geometry

1.1. Vector Bundles. Let M n be a differentiable manifold. A vector bundle of rank r over
M is a differentiable manifold E of dimension (n+r), together with a surjective differentiable
map π : E → M such that the following holds: There exists an open covering {Ua }a∈A of
M , indexed by a set A, and for each a ∈ A a diffeomorphism f : πa−1 (Ua ) → Ua × Rr such
that whenever Uab = Ua ∩ Ub 6= ∅, the map fa ◦ fb−1 : Uab × Rr → Uab × Rr send (p, v) to
(p, gab (p)(v)) where gab : Uab → GL(r, R) is a smooth map.
The GL(r, R)-valued functions gab on Uab are called the transition functions of the vector
bundle and on Uabc = Ua ∩ Ub ∩ Uc , satisfy the cocycle condition gab gbc gca = I.
A complex vector bundle is a vector bundle who fibers are complex spaces.
Let π : E → M n be a rank r vector bundle of a differentiable manifold M n and U an open
subset of M . A section of E over U is a differentiable map s : U → E such that π ◦ s = idU
is the identity map. We denote Γ(U, E) to be the set of all sections of E over U .
Using the transition functions {gab }, one sees that a global section s ∈ Γ(M, E) is a
collection of smooth Rr -valued functions σa on Ua for all a ∈ A such that σa = gab σb on Uab
for all a, b ∈ A.
Example 1.1 (Tangent Bundles). Let M n be a differentiable n-manifold, covered by a col-
lection of coordinate neighborhoods {Ua , xa = (xa1 , . . . , xan ) : a ∈ A}, with index set A.
Then
n ∂ ∂ o
,...,
∂xa1 ∂xan
gives a frame of T M over Ua . It is called the natural (tangent) frame of the coordinate
neighborhood (Ua , xa ). In a nonempty overlap Uab = Ua ∩ Ub , the transition functions of T M
are given by the coordinate change matrix
 ∂x 
ai
gab = .
∂xbj n×n
For any q vectors v1 , . . . , vq in a vector space V , we define the symmetric product and
alternating (or wedge) product by
1X
v1 • v2 • · · · • vq = vπ(1) ⊗ vπ(2) ⊗ · · · ⊗ vπ(q)
q!
1X
v1 ∧ v2 ∧ · · · ∧ vq = π vπ(1) ⊗ vπ(2) ⊗ · · · ⊗ vπ(q)
q!
We denote the q-th symmetric or exterior products of V by S q V or Λq V , respectively.
1
1.2. Metrics, Connections, and Curvature. Let M n be a differentiable manifold, and
π : E → M a vector bundle of rank r over M . A metric on E is a section g of S 2 (E ∗ ) which
is positive definite everywhere on M , that is, g(X, X) > 0 for every 0 6= X ∈ Ep at any
p ∈ M.
Definition 1.2 (Connection). A connection on E is a linear map ∇ : Λ0 (T M ∗ ) ⊗ E →
Λ1 (T M ∗ ) ⊗ E satisfying the Leibniz rule
∇(f ξ) = f ∇ξ + df ⊗ ξ for allξ ∈ Λ0 (T M ∗ ) ⊗ E and f ∈ C ∞ (M ).
If X is a vetor field on M , we can evaluate the 1-form part of ∇ξ on X. The result ∇ξ(X) ∈
Λ0 (T M ∗ ) ⊗ E. We denote this section by ∇X ξ and call it the covariant differentiation of ξ
in the direction of X. Note that
∇X (f ξ) = f ∇X ξ + X(f )ξ.
We may extend the connection ∇ to a linear map ∇p : Λp (T M ∗ ) ⊗ E → Λp+1 (T M ∗ ) ⊗ E
for any integer p between 1 and n − 1 by enforcing the Leibniz rule
∇p (ϕξ) = dϕ ⊗ ξ + (−1)p ϕ ∧ ∇ξ, for all ξ ∈ Λ0 (T M ∗ ) ⊗ E.
The composition ∇2 = ∇1 ◦ ∇ : Λ0 (T M ∗ ) ⊗ E → Λ2 (T M ∗ ) ⊗ E is called the curvature tensor
of ∇. We compute
∇2 (f ξ) = ∇1 (f ∇ξ + df ⊗ ξ)
= df ∧ ∇ξ + f ∇2 ξ + d(df ) ⊗ ξ − df ∧ ∇ξ
= f ∇2 ξ.
This calculation shows that ∇2 is a section of the bundle E ∗ ⊗ E ⊗ Λ2 (T M ∗ ), that is an
End(E)-valued 2-form, i.e., ∇2 ∈ A2 (End(E)). For vectors X, Y , define
1
RXY = ∇2 (X, Y ).
2
Let {e1 , . . . , er } be a local frame of E. Define local 1-forms θij and local 2-forms Θij by
r
X r
X
∇ei = θij ⊗ ej ∇2 ei = Θij ⊗ ej .
j=1 j=1

θ = (θij ) is called the matrix of the connection and Θ = (Θij ) is called the curvature of ∇
under the local fram e. Note that
Xr 
2 1
∇ ei = ∇ θij ⊗ ej
j=1
r
X  
= dθij ⊗ ej − θij ∧ ∇ej
j=1
Xr r
X
= dθij ⊗ ej − θij ∧ θjk ⊗ ek
j=1 j,k=1

which implies that

Θ = dθ − θ ∧ θ.
2
Definition 1.3. A connection ∇ on E is compatible with a metric g on E if for any X ∈ T M ,
Xg(ξ1 , ξ2 ) = g(∇X ξ1 , ξ2 ) + g(ξ1 , ∇X ξ2 ).
Note that if ∇ is compatible with g, then under an orthonormal frame (that is, g(ei , ej ) =
δij for a local frame {e1 , . . . , er }), the matrix θ and Θ of ∇ are both skew-symmetric.
Let ∇ be a connection on E and γ : [0, a] → M n a smooth curve in M ). Write T = γ 0 (t)
for the tangent vector of γ and U be a neighborhood of the image on γ in M . We claim that
if ξ is a section of E over U , then the value of ∇T ξ depends only on ξγ and is independent
of ξ away from ξ. To see this,let f be a function in U with f (t) = f |γ = 0. Then for any
section ei of E in U ,
∇T (f ei ) = T (f )ei + f ∇T ei = f 0 (t)ei + f (t)∇T ei = 0.
If {e1 , . . . , er } is a frame of E on U and ξ1 , ξ2 are sections of E on U that agree on γ, then
we can write
Xr
ξ1 − ξ2 = fi ei .
i=1

It follows that fi |γ = fi (t) = 0 for each i. By the calculation above, ∇T ξ1 = ∇T ξ2 . A section

ξ is said to be parallel along γ if ∇T ξ = 0. By the Existence and Uniqueness Theorem for
ODE, we know that for any ξ ∈ Eγ(0) , there exists a unique section ξ(t) parallel along γ
with intial value ξ(0) = ξ0 . Using this parallel section, we get a map ξ(0) → ξ(a) between
the fibers of E at the two ends of γ denoted by Pγ : Eγ(0) → Eγ(a) and called the parallel
transport along the curve γ.

1.3. Linear Connections. A connection on T M is called a linear connection or a connec-

tion on M . A linear connection ∇ induces a connection on tensor fields of bidegree (r, s).
A’s note: a tensor of bidegree (r, 0) is an r-form. The induced connection behaves as follows.
If P is a tensor field of bidegree (r, s) and X ∈ T M , then ∇X P is another tensor field of
bidegree (r, s) and given by

(∇X P )(X1 , . . . , Xr , φ1 , . . . , φs ) = X P (X1 , . . . , Xr , φ1 , . . . , φs )
Xr
(1.1) − P (X1 , . . . , Xj−1 , ∇X Xj , Xj+1 , . . . , Xr , φ1 , . . . , φs )
j=1
Xs
+ P (X1 , . . . , Xr , φ1 , . . . , φk−1 , ∇X φk , φk+1 , . . . , φs ).
k=1

Denote by ∇P the tensor of bidegree (r + 1, s) defined by

∇P (X1 , . . . , Xr , Xr+1 , φ1 , . . . , φs ) = ∇Xr+1 P (X1 , . . . , Xr , φ1 , . . . , φs ).
To understand the formula for ∇X P , we need to understand ∇X Xj and ∇X φk . The former
is presumably known as Xj is a vector and the connection ∇ is defined on sections of the
tangent bundle. However, we can apply (??) when P is a 1-form.
3
Example 1.4. Let φ be a 1-form and X ∈ T M . Then φ is a tensor field of bidegree (1, 0)
and (??) says that
∇X φ(Y ) = X(φ(Y )) − φ(∇X Y ).
As an aside, if {φ, X} = φ(X) is the bilinear pairing of a form and vector field, and we want
∇ to satisfy the Leibniz rule on this pairing, then we must have
X{φ, Y } = {∇X φ, Y } + {φ, ∇X Y },
Rearranging this equality produces the previous equality.
Definition 1.5. The torsion tensor T∇ : T M × T M → T M is defined by
T∇ (X, Y ) = ∇X Y − ∇Y X − [X, Y ].
The torsion tensor is bilinear over C ∞ (M ). A linear connection ∇ is called torsion-free if
T∇ = 0.
Definition 1.6. The curvature R of a linear connection ∇ is a (3, 1)-tensor (that is ∇ :
(T M )3 → T M ) defined by
RXY Z = ∇X ∇Y Z − ∇Y ∇X Z − ∇[X,Y ] Z.
Definition 1.7. Let ∇ be a linear connection on M . A (non-constant) smooth curve γ :
[a, b] → M is called a geodesic if its tangent field T = γ 0 (t) is parallel along itself, that is,
∇T T = 0.
We can write the geodesic equation ∇T T = 0 in local coordinates and let (x1 , . . . , xn ) be
such a frame. Suppose also that γ(t) = (x1 (t), . . . , xn (t)). The tangent field
n
X ∂
T (t) = x0i (t)
i=1
∂xi
and the geodesic equation becomes
n
X ∂ 
0 = ∇T T = ∇T x0i (t)
i=1
∂xi
n n
X ∂ X ∂
= x00i (t)
+ x0j (t)x0i (t)∇ ∂
i=1
∂xi i,j=1 ∂xj ∂x
i
n  n 
X
00
X ∂
= xk (t) + Γkij (t)x0i (t)x0j (t)
k=1 i,j=1
∂xk

where the Christoffel symbols Γkij are defined by

n
∂ X ∂
∇ ∂ = Γkij (t) .
∂xj ∂xi k=1
∂xk
The curve γ will be a geodesic exactly when
n
X
x00k (t) + Γkij (t)x0i (t)x0j (t) = 0 k = 1, 2, . . . , n
i,j=1
4
This second order equation is equivalent to the first order system
(
x0k (t) = −yk (t)
1 ≤ k ≤ n.
yk0 (t) = ni,j=1 Γkij (t)yi (t)yj (t)
P

Local geodesics exist by the local existence and uniqueness theorem for ODEs and the
geodesics are given by the exponential mapping (see [?, §2.2] for details).
1.4. Riemannian Metric and Connections. Let M n be a smooth manifold. A metric
h·, ·i on T M is called a Riemannian metric on M n . The pair (M n , h·, ·i) is called a Riemann-
ian manifold.
Proposition 1.8. Given a Riemannian manifold (M n , h·, ·i), there is a unique connection
∇ on M that is both torsion free and compatible with h·, ·i. This connection is called the
Riemann connection or Levi-Civita connection of the Riemannian manifold.
Proof. Suppose that ∇ is a connection on M that is both torsion free and compatible with
h·, ·i. For X, Y, Z ∈ T M , we have
XhY, Zi = h∇X Y, Zi + hY, ∇X Zi
Y hX, Zi = h∇Y X, Zi + hX, ∇Y Zi
−ZhX, Y i = −h∇Z X, Y i − hX, ∇Z Y i
Torsion free means that
∇X Y − ∇Y X = [X, Y ],
and adding the three equalities together means that
2h∇X Y, Zi = XhY, Zi + Y hX, Zi − ZhX, Y i + hX, ∇Z Y − ∇Y Zi
+ hY, ∇Z X − ∇X Zi + hZ, ∇X Y − ∇Y Xi
so that
1h
h∇X Y, Zi = XhY, Zi + Y hX, Zi − ZhX, Y i
2 i
(1.2) − hX, [Y, Z]i − hY, [X, Z]i + hZ, [X, Y ]i
As the right-hand side does not involve the connection, we have proved uniqueness.
For existence, we define ∇ by (??). One can check that this defines a torsion-free connec-
tion. 
Let (x1 , . . . , xn ) be a local coordinate system in M . Then { ∂x∂ 1 , . . . , ∂x∂n } comprises a local
frame of the tangent bundle T M , called the natural frame given by the local coordinate
system. In this coordinate system,
D ∂ ∂ E
gij = ,
∂xi ∂xj
Xn
θij = Γjik dxk
k=1
n
1 X j
Θij = R dxk ∧ dx` .
2 k,`=1 k`i
5
The lower indices means that form eats vectors and the upper indices means that the form
eats 1-forms (or covectors). For example, θij were defined by
r
X
∇ei = θij ⊗ ej
j=1

and in this case, ej ∈ T M because ∇ is a linear connection. ej eats a 1-form, and θij eats a
vector. (This is not entirely accurate but just the basic idea behind upper and lower indices.)

1.5. Cartan’s structure equations. Let M n be a smooth manifold and ∇ a linear con-
nection on M . Let e = {e1 , . . . , en } be a local tangent frame in a neighborhood U of p ∈ M .
As we have seen
Xn
∇ei = θij ⊗ ej .
j=1

A set of 1-forms {ϕ1 , . . . , ϕn } on U is called the dual coframe of e if for every 1 ≤ j, k ≤ n,

ϕj (ek ) = δjk .
We will write ϕ = (ϕ1 , . . . , ϕn )t fo the column vector of those 1-forms.
We have that
n
X
∇ej ei = Γkij ek
k=1
n
X
T (ei , ej ) = Tijk ek
k=1
Xn
`
Rei ej ek = Rijk e`
`=1

which means that we can express

n
X
θij = Γjik ϕk
k=1
Xn
i
τi = Tjk ϕj ∧ ϕk
j,k=1
n
1 X
Θij = Rj ϕk ∧ ϕ` .
2 k,`=1 k`i

To see this, we note

n
X
∇ek ei = Γjik ej
j=1

and
n
X
∇ek ei = θij (ek )ej .
j=1
6
This means
Γjik = θij (ek )
and therefore
n
X
θij = Γjik ϕk .
k=1

The structure equations of Cartan define the torsion and curvature of ∇ in terms of the
differential forms
dϕ = −θt ∧ ϕ + τ
dθ = θ ∧ θ + Θ

2. Complex Manifolds and Kähler Geometry

2.1. Holomorphic Vector Bundles.
Definition 2.1. let M be a topological space which is connected, Hausdorff, and has a
countable base. M is called a complex manifold of (complex) dimension n if there exists an
open cover {Ua }, indexed by a set A, and for each a ∈ A a homeomorphism fa from Ua into
an open set Da ⊂ Cn such that for any pair a, b ∈ A with Uab = Ua ∩ Ub 6= ∅, the mapping
fa ◦ fb−1 is a biholomorphism between fb (Uab ) and fa (Uab ).
A map ϕ : M1n → M2m between two complex manifolds is holomorphic at p ∈ M1 if there
exist holomorphic coordinate neighborhoods (Ua , fa ) of p in M1 and (Vb , gb ) of ϕ(p) in M2
such that the mape gb ◦ϕ◦fa−1 from an open set of Cn to an open subset of Cm is holomorphic
at fa (p). ϕ is called holomorphic it is holomorphich at every point of M1 .
Let M n be a complex manifold. A holomorphic vector bundle over M is a C ∞ complex
vector bundle whose fibers depend holomorphically upon the points in M . That means, a
complex vector bundle π : E → M n is called a holomorphic vector bundle over M is E
is a complex manifold of dimension n + r, π is a holomorphic map, and each fiber π −1 (p)
(considered as a submanifold of E is biholomorphic to Cr .
We can also view holomorphic vector bundles from the point of view of transition functions.
A C ∞ complex vector bundle over a complex manifold M is called a holomorphic vector
bundle if the transition functions gab are holomorphic maps from Uab into GL(r, C).
On a complex manifold M n , the bundle of type (1, 0) complex vector fields T M 1,0 is a
holomorphic vector bundle since it has local frames { ∂z∂ j } that vary holomorphically. This
bundle is called the holomorphic tangent bundle. The complex dual of the bundle is called
∗
the holomorphic cotangent bundle and denoted by ΩM = T 1,0 M . A p-form is a complex
valued p-form, that is, a section of Λp (T M ∗ )C .
A section of Ωp,q p q
M = Λ ΩM ⊗ Λ ΩM is called a (p, q)-form on M . We denote the space of
p,q
(p, q)-forms by A (M ). We extend the exterior differentiation operator d linearly over C
and denote the new operator again by d. Certainly
d : Ωp,q p+1,q
M → ΩM ⊗ Ωp,q+1
M
7
(should ΩM be A here? as d acts on sections...). We decompose d = ∂ + ∂¯ in the obvious
way. In terms of a local holomorphic coordinate (z1 , . . . , zn )
n n
X ∂f ¯ =
X ∂f
∂f = dzj ∂f dz̄j
j=1
∂zj j=1
∂ z̄j

and we extend ∂ and ∂¯ by linearity (over C) so the Leibniz rule still holds.
If E is a holomorphic vector bundle over M n (like T 1,0 M ), then denote by Ap,q (E) the
space of all sections of Ωp,q ⊗ E. Let {e1 , . . . , er } be a local holomorphic frame of E and
define the operator
∂¯ : Ap,q (E) → Ap,q+1 (E)
by requiring
¯ × ej ) = (∂ϕ)
∂(ϕ ¯ ⊗ ej
for all j and any (p, q)-form ϕ.
Example 2.2 (Normal Bundle). Let X be a complex submanifold in the complex manifold
M n . The tangent bundle TX is a holomorphic subbundle of T M |X , the restriction of T M to
X. The quotient bundle is called the normal bundle of D in M and denote by NX|M . Along
we, we have a short exact sequence of bundle maps
0 7→ TX → T M |X → NX|M .
2.2. Connections on Vector Bundles. Fix a differentiable manifold N .
Definition 2.3. Let E be a complex vector bundle over a smooth manifold N . A (complex)
connection on E is a complex linear map ∇ : A0 (E) → A1 (E) that satisfies the Leibniz’ rule
∇(f ξ) = f ∇ξ + df ⊗ ξ, for all f ∈ C ∞ (N ) and ξ ∈ A0 (E).
Recall that Ap (E) is the space of complex p-forms (that is sections of Λp (CT M ∗ ) ⊗ E). If
X is a complex vector field on N , we denote ∇X ξ to be the section of E obtained by letting
the 1-form part of ∇ξ to evaluate on X.
We may extend ∇ to a complex linear map ∇p : Ap (E) → Ap+1 (E) by requiring it to
satisfy the Leibniz rule
∇p (ϕ ⊗ ξ) = dϕ ⊗ ξ + (−1)p ϕ ∧ ∇ξ for all ϕ ∈ Ap (M ) and ξ ∈ A0 (E).
The composition ∇2 = ∇1 ◦ ∇0 : A0 (E) → A2 (E) is the curvature tensor of the connection
∇. It is linear over C ∞ (M ), hence is an End(E)-valued complex 2-form on N .
Definition 2.4. A Hermitian metric on E assigns a Hermitian inner product hp on the
complex vector space Ep for each p ∈ N such that hp depends smoothly on p.
Now suppose that h is a metric on E and ∇ is a connection on E. We say that ∇ is
compatible with h if for any ξ, ζ ∈ A0 (E) and any X ∈ CT N ,



Xh(ξ, ζ) = h ∇X ξ, ζ + h ξ, ∇X̄ ζ .

Let {e1 , . . . , er } be a local frame of E in a neighborhood U ⊂ N (this means that for any
p ∈ U , {e1 (p), . . . , er (p)} form a basis of the complex vector space Ep . We define the r × r
8
matrices of 1-forms θ = (θij ) and and 2-forms Θ = (Θij ) by
r
X r
X
2
∇ei = θij ⊗ ej , ∇ ei = Θij ⊗ ej .
j=1 j=1

θ is called the connection matrix and Θ is called the curvature matrix of ∇ under the frame
{ei }. As earlier
Θ = dθ − θ ∧ θ
and taking exterior differentiation, we have the Bianchi identity
dΘ = −d(θ ∧ θ) = θ ∧ Θ − Θ ∧ θ.

For a hermitian metric h on E and local frame {ei } of E, we write

hj k̄ = h(ej , ek ), 1 ≤ j, k ≤ r.
The r × r matrix of smooth functions h = (hj k̄ ) is called the matrix representation of the
metric under the frame. At each p ∈ U , h is a Hermitian matrix.
We say that {ei } is a unitary frame of (E, h) if hj k̄ = δjk for any 1 ≤ j, k ≤ r. When ∇
is compatible with h, the matrices θ and Θ under a unitary frame are both skew-Hermitian.
For example, that {ej } are unitary means that X(h(ej , ek )) = 0 so that
h(∇X ei , ej ) = −h(ei , ∇X̄ ej )
and
r
X   X r 
θij (X) = h θi` (X)e` , ej = h(∇X ei , ej ) = −h(ei , ∇X̄ ej ) = −h ei , θj` (X̄)e` = −θji (X̄).
`=1 `=1

Recall that for a frame e = {e1 , . . . , er } of E, a frame e∗ = {e∗1 , . . . , e∗r } of the dual bundle
E is said to be dual to e if e∗i (ej ) = δij for 1 ≤ i, j ≤ r. If h is a Hermitian metric on
∗

E, then the dual metric h̃ on E ∗ is the one sch that e∗ is unitary if e is unitary. If ∇ is a
connection on E, then its dual connection ∇∗ on E∗ is the one uniquely determined by the
relation
dhσ ∗ , σi = h∇∗ σ ∗ , σi + hσ ∗ , ∇σi
for section σ of E and σ ∗ of E ∗ where h·, ·i denotes the natural pairing between E ∗ and
E. Under these local frames, one can show that the matrices of metric, connection, and
curvature on E ∗ given by (h−1 )t , −θt , and −Θt . It follows that if ∇ is compatible with h,
then ∇∗ will be compatible with h̃.
For the tensor product E ⊗ E 0 and e = (e1 , . . . , er ) and e0 = (e01 , . . . , e0s ), let e ⊗ e0 =
{ei ⊗ e0a : 1 ≤ i ≤ r, 1 ≤ a ≤ s} be the induced frame from e and e0 . The matrix of the
induced metric on E ⊗ E 0 is just the tensor product product of the matrices of metrics on
E and E 0 . The tensor product of an r × r matrix A = (Aij ) with an s × s matrix B = (Bab )
is the rs × rs matrix whose (ia, jb)th entry is Aij Bab (note: (ia, jb) is not a product by
rather an indexing system) Under this frame, the matrices of the induced connection and its
curvatuve on E × E 0 are given by
θE×E 0 = θ ⊗ Is + Ir ⊗ θ0 , ΘE×E 0 = Θ ⊗ Is + Ir ⊗ Θ0 .
9
In particular, if E 0 = L is a line bundle, then ΘE×L = ΘE + (ΘL )Ir . The bundle E × L is
often called a ’twist’ of E by the line bundle L.
For the wedge product Λp E, we choose the induced frame
Λp e = {ea1 ∧ · · · ∧ eap : 1 ≤ a1 < · · · < ap ≤ r}.
The metric h on E induces a metric h̃ on Λp E so that Λp e is unitary is e is unitary. The
connection ∇ on E induces a connection ∇ ˜ on Λp E so that
p
X
˜
∇(ξ1 ∧ · · · ∧ ξp ) = (−1)i−1 ξ1 ∧ · · · ∧ ∇ξi ∧ · · · ∧ ξp
i=1

for any p sections ξi of E.

The matrix of h̃ under Λp e is just Λp h whose (a, b)-th entry is the minor det(hab ) where
ha,b is the p × p submatrix of h generated by the a1 , . . . , ap th rows and b1 , . . . , bp -th columns
of h.
2.3. Hermitian bundles. We continue using the notation that Ap,q (E) is the space of
E-valued (p, q)-form on M . For a given complex connection ∇ on E, we write
∇ = ∇0 + ∇00
for the decomposition corresponding to A1 (E) = A1,0 (E) ⊕ A0,1 (E).
Definition 2.5. A connection ∇ on a holomorphic vector bundle E is said to be compatible
¯ We call a holomorphic vector bundle E equipped
with the complex stucture of E if ∇00 = ∂.
with a Hermitian metric h a Hermitian vector bundle and write the pair (E, h) or just E if
there is no ambiguity.
We know that if ϕ is a p-form, then compatibility with the complex structure means
∇(ϕ ⊗ ξ) = dϕ ⊗ e + (−1)p ϕ ∧ ∇ξ = dϕ ⊗ e + (−1)p ϕ ∧ ∇0 ξ
The E is a holomorphic vector bundle is crucial because if e1 , . . . , er and ẽ1 , . . . , ẽr are
holomoprhic frames than the operator
Xr r
X
s= si ei 7→ ¯ i ) ⊗ ei
(∂s
i=1 i=1

behaves as follows with respect to ẽ1 , . . . , ẽr . Our frame are holomorphic so there exists
holomorphic function gji so that
X r
j
s = s̃i gij
i=1
and
r
X
ẽj = gji ei .
i=1
This means
r
X r
X r
X r
X
¯ j ) ⊗ ẽj =
(∂s ¯ j ) ⊗ g i ei =
(∂s̃ ¯ i s̃j ) ⊗ ei =
(∂g ¯ i ) ⊗ ei .
(∂s
j j
j=1 i,j=1 i,j=1 i=1
10
Definition 2.6. A connection ∇ for a holomorphic vector bundle E over N is called Chern
if it is compatible with the complex structure. That is,
¯
∇ = ∇0 + ∂.
Theorem 2.7. On a holomorphic Hermitian vector bundle, there exist a unique Chern
connection compatible with the Hermitian metric.
Proof. We begin with uniqueness. Let ∇ be a connection E that is compatible with both
h and the complex structure. Let {e1 , . . . , er } be a local holomorphic frame of E in a
¯ we claim that each θij is a (0, 1)-form. As θij are
neighborhood U of M . Since ∇00 = ∂,
defined by
X r
∇ei = θij ej
j=1

and the ej are a holomorphic frame, it follows that ∇ei = ∇0 ei . Consequently, θij are (1, 0)-
forms. By the compatibility of ∇ with h, we have for any vector X (recall hij̄ = h(ei , ej ))
r
X r
X
dhij̄ (X) = Xh(ei , ej ) = h(∇X ei , ej ) + h(ei , ∇X̄ ej ) = θik (X)hkj̄ + θjk (X)hik̄ .
k=1 k=1

Taking the (1, 0)-pieces of the outside expressions in the previous equality produces
r
X
∂hij̄ = θik hkj̄ = (θh)ij
k=1

so the connection matrix

θ = ∂h · h−1
with the understanding that
n
X
∂hij = θik hkj̄
k=1

Since the connection matrix θij is defined by ∇ei = rj=1 θij ej , knowing θ defines a connec-
P
tion, hence we have proved uniqueness.
To prove existence, define ∇ via the connection matrix θ = ∂h · h−1 under a local holo-
morphic frame e. One can check that ∇ is independent of the choice of the frame e, hence ∇
is well-defined. Additionally, one can check that ∇ is a connection on E that is compatible
with the metric and the complex structure. 
The curvature of the Chern connection ∇ satisfies some special symmetrics. Given that ∇
is compatible with the metric, we know that under a unitary frame of E, both θ and Θ are
skew-Hermitian, that is, θ∗ = −θ and Θ∗ = −θ. For a matrix, we denote A∗ to denote the
conjugate transpose At . Second, under a holomorphic frame e, θ is a matrix of (1, 0)-forms
which means Θ = dθ − θ ∧ θ has no (0, 2)-part. The type of the entries is invariant of
the changes of coordinate. Since Θ is skew-Hermitian, it follows that Θ does not have the
(2, 0)-part. Thus, the curvature matrix under any frame of the Chern connection is a matrix
of (1, 1)-forms.
11
2.4. The Manifold case. Let M n be a complex manifold. A Hermitian metric on M is
a Hermitian metric on the holomorphic tangent bundle TM . That is, a covariant 2-tensor
which is Hermitian symmtric and positive definite everywhere, i.d.,
n
X
h= hij̄ dzi ⊗ dz̄j
i,j=1

where (z1 , . . . , zn ) are local holomorphic coordinates, h = (hij̄ ) is an n × n matrix of smooth

functions that are Hermitian symmteric and positive definite. Let
g = Re(h).
Then g is a symmetric, positive covariant 2-tensor, that is, g is a Riemannian metric on
the underlying smooth manifold MR . We therefore see that a Hermitian manifold is always
a Riemannian manifold whereas a Riemannian manifold comes from a Hermitian manifold
if and only if M has an almost complex structure J and g(JX, JY ) = g(X, Y ) for all real
vector fields X and Y .
In coordinates, if zk = xk + ixn+k , then (x1 , . . . , x2n ) gives a local differentiable coordiate
in MR . If
X2n
g= gab dxa ⊗ dxb
a,b=1

then we have  
A B
g = (gab ) =
−B A
where
h = hij̄ = A + iB.
2
In particular, det g = | det h| . The imaginary part of h carries the same information, as
well. Denote
n
1 i X
ωh = − Im(h) = h dzi ∧ dz̄j .
2 2 i,j=1 ij̄
The form ωh is called the metric form or Kähler form of the Hermitian metric h. We have
h = g − 2iωh
The form ωh is independent of the choice of local coordinates and is a real, global (1, 1)-form
on M . Real means ωh = ωh .
Definition 2.8. A real (p, p)-form ψ on M n is said to be positive if for any x ∈ M and any
linearly independent T 1,0 M tangent vectors X1 , . . . , Xp at x, it holds that
2
(−i)p ψ(X1 , . . . , Xp , X̄1 , . . . , X̄p ) > 0.
We denote positively simply by writing ψ > 0. Semipositive means that
2
(−i)p ψ(X1 , . . . , Xp , X̄1 , . . . , X̄p ) ≥ 0
denoted as ψ ≥ 0.
12
 Kähler forms are always positive. Conversely, given a positive global (1, 1)-form ω on M ,
we can define a Hermitian metric h by setting
h(X, Y ) = −2iω(X, Ȳ )
for any (1, 0) tangent vectors X and Y . Consequently, the existence of a Hermitian metric
is equivalent to the existence of a global, positive (1, 1)-form.
g = Re h and ωh are related by
2ωh (U, V ) = g(JU, V )
for any two real tangent vectors U and V .
We can extend g linearly over C to a complex bilinear form h·, ·i on CT MR = TM ⊕ T̄M .
Then for any vectors X, Y ∈ TM (recall that TM = T M (1,0) is holomorphic tangent bundle)
1
hX, Y i = hX̄, Ȳ i = 0, hX, Ȳ i = h(X, Y ).
2
We write |X|2 = hX, X̄i = 12 h(X, X). If e1 , . . . , en is a local tangent frame in M n with dual
coframe {ϕ1 , . . . , ϕn }, then {ei } (or {ϕi }) is called a unitary (co)frame if
n
iX
ωh = ϕj ∧ ϕ̄j .
2 j=1

In this case, h(ei , ej ) = δij but |ei |2 = 21 and |ϕi |2 = 2. This is akin to difference in length
between ∂x∂ j and ∂z∂ j . For such a coframe, we write ϕj = ψj + iφj so that {ψ1 , φ1 , . . . , ψn , φn }
is an orthonormal coframe for (MR , g). Since ϕj ∧ ϕ̄j = −2iψj ∧ φj , we have
n
X
ωh = ψj ∧ φj
j=1

and
(ωh )n = n!ψ1 ∧ φ1 ∧ · · · ∧ ψn ∧ φn = n! dV
where dV is the volume form of (M, h) (defined to be the volume form of (MR , g). Equivalent
formulations include
p
n! dV = n! det(gab ) dx1 ∧ dy1 ∧ · · · ∧ dxn ∧ dyn
i i
= n! det(hj k̄ ) dz1 ∧ dz̄1 ∧ · · · ∧ dzn ∧ dz̄n
2 2
i X n n
= h dj ∧ dz̄k = ωhn .
2 j,k=1 j k̄

If N k ⊂ M n is a k-dimensional complex submanifold, then it follows from the fact that the
restriction of ωh |N is exactly the Kähler form of the restriction metric h|N that
Z
1
V ol(N ) = ωhk .
k! N
This result is known as Wirtinger’s Theorem.
13
 Let ∇ be the Chern connection of h and e = {e1 , . . . , en } be a local frame of the holomor-
phic tangent bundle TM (this means e is LI over C and comprised of (1, 0) vector fields). As
usual, let θ and Θ be the connection and curvature matrices, respectively, under e.
Let {ϕj } be the dual coframe of e. We write e = (e1 , . . . , en )t and ϕ = (ϕ1 , . . . , ϕn )t for
the column vectors. We know that the Cartan structure equations are
dϕ = −θt ∧ ϕ + τ
dθ = θ ∧ θ + Θ
where τ = (τ1 , . . . , τn )t is the column vector of 2-forms that represent the torsion tensor of
h. Under a frame change ẽ = Ae, we know ϕ̃ = (A−1 )t ϕ and
θ̃ = AθA−1 + dAA−1 , Θ̃ = AΘA−1 , τ̃ = (A−1 )t τ.
Since e is a holomorphic frame, each τi is a (2, 0)-form (in any frame), and both θ and Θ are
skew-Hermitian matrices. When e is the natural frame { ∂z∂ i }, then θ = ∂hh−1 which means
¯
Θ = ∂(∂hh −1
), τ = (h−1 )t ∂ht ∧ dz.
where dz is understood as a column vector.
It may not be the case that the Chern connection ∇ agrees with the Levi-Civita connection
0
∇ of the Riemannian metric Re(h).
Definition 2.9. A Hermitian metric h on M n is called a Kähler metric if ∇ = ∇0 . Equiv-
alently, the Chern connection has a vanishing torsion tensor T = 0.
In other words, a Kähler metric on M is a Riemannian metric h·, ·i such that both the met-
ric and its Levi-Civita connection are compatible with the complex structure, i.e., J is orthog-
onal (hJX, JY i = hX, Y i for any X, Y ∈ T MR ) and parallel (∇0 J = 0).?????????????????????
Proposition 2.10. Let (M n , h) be a Hermitian manifold. The following are equivalent.
(1) h is Kähler;
∂h ∂h
(2) ∂zikj̄ = ∂zkij̄ , 1 ≤ i, j, k ≤ n under any local holomorphic coordinate system;
(3) dωh = 0;
(4) For any p ∈ M , there exists a local holomorphic coordinate (z1 , . . . , zn ) in a neigh-
borhood of p such that hj k̄ (p) = δjk , dhj k̄ (p) = 0. Such a coordinate is called normal
at p.
Proof. Let (z1 , . . . , zn ) be a local holomorphic coordinate in a neighborhood U of M . Let dz
be the column vector of the natural coframe. From the first structure equation of Cartan,
n n
¯
X X
τi = θji ∧ dzj = (∂hj `¯ · h`i ) ∧ dzj
j=1 j,`=1
n  n
X X ∂hj `¯
dzk ∧ dzj hēlli


=
`=1 j,k=1
∂zk
n
X ¯
X  ∂h
k`¯ ∂hj `¯ 
= h`i − dzj ∧ dzk .
`=1 1≤j<k≤n
∂zj ∂zk
14
 ∂hij̄ ∂hkj̄
This means τ = 0 if and only if ∂zk
= ∂zi
, 1 ≤ i, j, k ≤ n. Thus, (2) and (3) are equivalent
as h is Hermitian,
n
1 i X
ωh = − Im(h) = h dzj ∧ dz̄k
2 2 j,k=1 j k̄
and therefore n
¯ h=
X ∂hj k̄ ¯ h.
dωh = (∂ + ∂)ω dz` ∧ dzj ∧ dz̄k + ∂ω
j,k,`=1
∂z `

If (4) holds, then the torsion tensor of h will vanish at any given point p ∈ M , so h is
Kähler. Conversely, fix p ∈ M and let (z1 , . . . , zn ) be a local holomorphic coordinate near p.
WLOG, p = 0 and hj k̄ (p) = δj k̄ , 1 ≤ j, k ≤ n. By (2), the constant matrix
 ∂h 
ij̄
Aj = (Ajik ) = (p)
∂zk
is symmetric. Define a new holomorphic coordinate (z̃1 , . . . , z̃n ) by
n
1 X j
z̃j = zj + A zi zk .
2 i,k=1 ik

Then the matri of the metric under z̃ is h̃ = B −1 H(B −1 )∗ where

Xn
Bij + Ajik zk
k=1

from which it follows that (dh̃)(p) = 0, so z̃ is normal at p. 

References
[Zhe00] F. Zheng. Complex differential geometry, volume 18 of AMS/IP Studies in Advanced Mathematics.
American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI; International Press, Boston, MA, 2000. (docu-
ment), 1.3

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