Alphabeta Math

Stiefel Whitney and Euler Classes by Universal Constructions

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1 · Prerequisites
Abstract Algebra
Algebraic Topology
Category Theory
Combinatorics
Coxeter Groups
Homological Algebra
Linear Algebra
Number Theory
Real Analysis
Set Theory
Topology
2 · Logical flowchart

3 · Items

Definition

Characteristic class as a universal natural bundle class

Lemma

Compact-fibre bundle totals preserve paracompactness, and CW type under CW-type hypotheses

Definition

Real projective bundle and tautological line

Definition

Tautological degree-one class on a real projective bundle

Lemma

The tautological degree-one class is well defined and fiber generating

Theorem

Mod-two real projective bundle theorem

Definition

Stiefel–Whitney classes from the projective-bundle relation

Theorem

Naturality of Stiefel–Whitney classes

Definition

Real flag bundle and Stiefel–Whitney roots

Theorem

Real splitting principle with mod-two injective pullback

Theorem

Whitney sum formula for Stiefel–Whitney classes

Theorem

Uniqueness of Stiefel–Whitney classes from normalization, naturality, and sum

Theorem

Mod-two cohomology of BO(n)

Proposition

The first Stiefel–Whitney class classifies orientability

Definition

Euler class by zero-section pullback of the Thom class

Theorem

Naturality, orientation sign, and Whitney product for Euler classes

Theorem

The mod-two Euler class is the top Stiefel–Whitney class

Proposition

A nowhere-zero section forces the Euler class to vanish

Proposition

The Euler class of an oriented odd-rank bundle is two-torsion

Theorem

Thom identity for Stiefel–Whitney classes

Lemma

The quaternion double cover generates the third homotopy group of SO(3)

Sources