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For a Twisted Dirac operator on a closed even-dimensional spin manifold, the theorem identifies its analytic Fredholm index with the integral of the top-degree part of the A-hat form times the Chern character. This is one geometric specialization of the general theorem for elliptic differential operators, which expresses the analytic index in terms of the topological class of the principal symbol. The heat proof pairs all positive eigenvalues by the odd Dirac operator, leaving only the index in the supertrace; Getzler rescaling computes its local limit from curvature.

Two rank-$d$ complex vector bundles over ${\mathbb{CP}}^d$ are isomorphic exactly when their Chern classes agree. Equality of Chern classes gives equality of their Chern characters; the Chern character is injective here because $K^0({\mathbb{CP}}^d)$ is torsion-free. The bundles are therefore stably isomorphic, and stable cancellation for complex vector bundles applies because ${\mathbb{CP}}^d$ has real dimension $2d$.

Fix the input-index conventionExtend the connection on a vector bundle by the graded Leibniz rule, $D(\alpha \otimes s)=d\alpha \otimes s+(-1{)}^{\mathrm{deg}\alpha }\alpha \wedge Ds$. Applying it twice givessoThis is the Cartan curvature equation with input indices. In the more usual coefficient-column convention $A={\theta }^t$, and $(A\wedge A{)}^t=-\theta \wedge \theta$ because the entries have degree one. Thus $F=dA+A\wedge A={\Theta }^t$; the sign difference is entirely conventional.

The Chern connection of a Hermitian vector bundle with holomorphic structure is characterized by metric compatibility and $D^{0,1}={\bar{\partial }}_E$. To construct it, use a holomorphic local frame and let $h_{ij}=⟨e_i,e_j⟩$, with the Hermitian inner product linear in the first variable. The second defining property makes $\theta$ type $(1,0)$. The first givesand therefore the only possible matrix isConversely, this formula has type $(1,0)$ and satisfies both type components of the metric identity, because $h={\overline{h}}^t$. Under a holomorphic frame change $e^{\prime }=ge$, $h^{\prime }=gh{\overline{g}}^t$ and direct differentiation givesThis is precisely the transformation obtained by differentiating $e^{\prime }=ge$. The locally constructed connections glue, proving existence, and the forced formula proves uniqueness of the Chern connection.

The derivative of $h^{-1}$ gives $\partial \theta =\theta \wedge \theta$. Consequently the Chern curvature isThe second assertion is ${\bar{\partial }}^2\theta =0$ in a holomorphic local frame; holomorphic transition functions make it intrinsic. Thus the curvature Dolbeault class is $\Psi =[\Theta ]\in H^1(M,{\Omega }_M^1\otimes \mathrm{End}E)$ by the Dolbeault theorem. Here ${\Omega }^1(\mathrm{End}E)$ denotes this tensor product. We use the identification with bundle-valued Dolbeault forms in which the antiholomorphic exterior factor is placed first, so $\bar{\partial }\theta$ has the stated positive descent sign.

For the stated transitions $e^{(\beta )}=g_{\alpha \beta }{e}^{(\alpha )}$, differentiating the frame relation yieldsTransport the alpha matrix to the beta frame before subtracting it. The difference is the holomorphic sectionOn a triple intersection, $g_{\alpha \gamma }=g_{\beta \gamma }{g}_{\alpha \beta }$, soThis is exactly the Čech cocycle condition after transporting all representatives to the gamma frame.

To identify its class, let $D_{\alpha }$ be the local holomorphic connection making the alpha frame parallel. Then $t_{\alpha }=D-D_{\alpha }$ is a genuine local section of $A^{1,0}(\mathrm{End}E)$, represented by ${\theta }_{\alpha }$, with $\bar{\partial }{t}_{\alpha }=\Theta$. Its Čech coboundary, using $t_{\beta }-t_{\alpha }$, is the intrinsic section represented by ${\sigma }_{\alpha \beta }$ in the beta frame. This local-primitive construction is the Čech–Dolbeault identification, and proves that $({\sigma }_{\alpha \beta })$ maps to $\Psi$. For an arbitrary trivializing cover use its natural map to sheaf cohomology; a Stein refinement gives the usual Čech computation. The resulting object is the Čech cocycle for the curvature Dolbeault class.

If the metric changes, the difference $B=D^{\prime }-D$ is a global smooth $(1,0)$ form with values in $\mathrm{End}E$. The local curvature formulas give ${\Theta }^{\prime }-\Theta =\bar{\partial }B$, so $\Psi$ is metric independent. If holomorphic frames change by $e_{\alpha }^{\prime }=u_{\alpha }{e}_{\alpha }$, the corresponding local tensors $t_{\alpha }^{\prime }-t_{\alpha }$, expressed in the old frame, are $B_{\alpha }=u_{\alpha }^{-1}\partial u_{\alpha }$. They are holomorphic, and their differences change the cocycle by $\delta B$. Hence $\Psi$ depends only on the holomorphic bundle, not on its metric or trivializations.

Apply exterior product and endomorphism composition to curvature to defineThese are closed for the Dolbeault operator by the product rule. Their independence can also be verified without commuting matrices. If ${\Theta }_1-{\Theta }_0=\bar{\partial }B$, thenThis follows by the noncommutative telescoping identity and the even total degree of curvature. The matrix products are interpreted in the fixed frame convention; powers of the degree-two curvature transpose to the corresponding usual curvature powers. The trace contraction is invariant under frame changes, so its class is well defined. This proves metric independence of curvature Dolbeault powers; for $k>\dim M$ the forms and groups in question vanish.

Finally take a smooth unitary frame. Metric compatibility gives ${\theta }^{†}=-\theta$, and the Cartan curvature equation with input indices gives ${\Theta }^{†}=-\Theta$. ThusThe second expression is therefore a real differential form. It is also $d$-closed: differentiating Cartan's equation gives $d\Theta =\theta \wedge \Theta -\Theta \wedge \theta$, and cyclicity of trace cancels the resulting commutator in $d\mathrm{tr}({\Theta }^k)$. On a compact Kähler manifold, the Hodge decomposition theorem for compact Kähler manifolds identifies $H^k(M,{\Omega }_M^k)$ with the $(k,k)$ component of complex de Rham cohomology. HenceIt is $k!$ times the degree-$2k$ component of the Chern character. Reality does not assert integrality of these individual power-sum classes.

Let $M$ be a closed manifold of even dimension $n=2m$, with a Riemannian metric and a spin structure. Let $S=S^{+}\oplus S^{-}$ be its spinor bundle, and let $W$ be a Hermitian vector bundle with a unitary connection of vector-bundle curvature $F^W=({\nabla }^W{)}^2$. We use Clifford multiplication satisfying $c(v)c(w)+c(w)c(v)=-2⟨v,w⟩$, so the Twisted Dirac operatoris self-adjoint and $D_W^{-}=(D_W^{+}{)}^{\ast }$. Here $(e_i)$ is an oriented local orthonormal basis and $(e^i)$ its dual. The Atiyah-Singer index theorem in this setting isThe second factor is the Chern character; the first is the A-hat formThe square root has constant term one. All functions of the vector-bundle curvature matrices mean power series truncated above the dimension of $M$. The brackets select the top-degree differential form. The Bianchi identity shows that these forms are closed, and Chern-Weil connection transgression shows that their de Rham cohomology classes do not depend on the chosen connections on a vector bundle.

The global step is supersymmetric quantum mechanics. On the Hilbert space $L^2(S\otimes W)$, take the grading operator $\Gamma$, the odd supercharge $D_W$, and the nonnegative Hamiltonian $H=D_W^2$. They obey $\Gamma D_W=-D_W\Gamma$ and $D_W^2=H$. The principal symbol of $D_W$ is invertible away from the zero covector, so elliptic regularity and Rellich-Kondrachov compactness theorem give a smooth discrete orthonormal eigenbasis for $H$, finite-dimensional eigenspaces, and a trace-class operator $e^{-tH}$ for $t>0$. Define its supertrace by $\mathrm{Str}A=\mathrm{Tr}(\Gamma A)$.

For every positive eigenvalue $\lambda$ of $H$, the map ${\lambda }^{-1/2}{D}_W$ is an isomorphism between its positive and negative grading eigenspaces, with inverse itself. Their contributions to the supertrace cancel. The zero eigenspaces are $\ker D_W^{+}$ and $\ker D_W^{-}$. ConsequentlyThis also proves independence of $t$ without differentiating an unbounded operator inside a trace. If $K_t$ is the heat kernel, the heat kernel trace formula givesThe remaining task is to compute this local integrand as $t\downarrow 0$.

Fix $p\in M$, use geodesic normal coordinates $x$, and trivialize $S\otimes W$ by radial parallel transport. Expanding $D_W^2$ at $p$ gives the Lichnerowicz formula for a twisted Dirac operator:Indeed the terms with identical indices give the rough Laplacian. The other terms are ${\sum }_{i<j}c(e^i)c(e^j)[{\nabla }_i,{\nabla }_j]$. Decompose this vector-bundle curvature into spin curvature and $F^W$; substituting the spin curvature into the Clifford algebra relations and the algebraic Bianchi identity leaves $\mathrm{Scal}/4$. Thus the calculation retains the curvature of the twisting bundle explicitly.

There is an especially strong cancellation in the spinor supertrace. With $\Gamma =i^{m}c(e^1)\cdots c(e^{2m})$, every ordered product of distinct Clifford generators of degree less than $2m$ has zero supertrace, whileFor an even product of lower degree, conjugate $\Gamma$ times that product by a missing Clifford generator: it changes sign, so its matrix trace is zero. An odd product exchanges the grading summands and also has zero supertrace. For the full product, $(c(e^1)\cdots c(e^{2m}){)}^2=(-1{)}^m$, and $\dim S=2^m$, giving the displayed constant.

To exploit this, identify the Clifford algebra as a filtered vector space with the exterior algebra by sending an ordered Clifford product to the corresponding wedge product of differential forms. Implement Getzler rescaling: put $x=\epsilon y$, $t={\epsilon }^{2}s$, multiply the degree-$k$ exterior component of the kernel by ${\epsilon }^{-k}$, and multiply the whole kernel by ${\epsilon }^{2m}$. A derivative and a Clifford generator have rescaling degree one; a coordinate has degree minus one. Clifford contractions lower the degree by two relative to the wedge product of differential forms, so the leading product becomes exterior multiplication.

In the radially parallel frame, the linear Taylor term of the connection is determined by its vector-bundle curvature: if $A_i$ is its matrix, then $A_i(x)=\frac{1}{2}{x}^j{F}_{ji}(p)+O(|x{|}^2)$. To check the coefficient, radial gauge means $x^i{A}_i=0$, and integration of $x^j{F}_{ji}$ along the radial segment gives $A_i(x)={\int }_0^{1}s{x}^j{F}_{ji}(sx)ds$. Combining this formula with the spin representation, the symmetries of Riemann curvature tensor, and the Lichnerowicz formula for a twisted Dirac operator, the rescaled square has leading modelHere $\mathcal{R}$ is the skew matrix of tangent-bundle curvature two-forms at $p$; changing the curvature-matrix sign convention changes the sign inside the covariant derivatives but not the determinant below. The coefficients act in $\Lambda T_p^{\ast }M\otimes \mathrm{End}(W_p)$. The scalar-curvature term has degree zero and disappears after multiplication by ${\epsilon }^2$; the linear spin-connection term and the Clifford action of $F^W$ have degree two and survive. Higher Taylor terms have smaller degree and disappear.

For clarity, the analytic meaning of this limiting calculation is the following. Construct the local heat kernel expansion to any fixed order and insert the Taylor expansion of the rescaled coefficients into its transport equations. At each exterior degree, the leading equation is the heat equation of ${\mathcal{H}}_p$; the remaining terms acquire positive powers of $\epsilon$. Equivalently, successive substitutions ingive the same expansion. Polynomial spatial factors are integrable against the local Gaussian kernels, and only finitely many exterior degrees exist. A cutoff outside a fixed normal neighbourhood contributes $O(e^{-c/t})$. Choosing the initial expansion order arbitrarily large bounds its differentiated remainder to any required order. This proves convergence of the rescaled diagonal kernel to the model diagonal kernel, uniformly in $p$ on the compact manifold. Its degree-$2m$ component has no net power of $\epsilon$, precisely the component detected by the spinor supertrace.

We can compute the model kernel rather than invoke a local index formula. Set $F=F_p^W$ and seek its kernel from the origin in the formThe scalar even exterior coefficients of $\mathcal{R}$ commute. On this ansatz the rotational first-order term vanishes because $Q$ is a function of ${\mathcal{R}}^2$. Expanding the model operator gives $-\sum {\partial }_i^2+\frac{1}{2}(\mathcal{R}y)\cdot \nabla +\frac{1}{16}{y}^T{\mathcal{R}}^{2}y+F$, so substitution into the heat equation givesThe Euclidean initial condition $Q(s)\sim s^{-1}I$, $a(s)\sim (4\pi s{)}^{-m}$ selectsThese expressions have well-defined power series at $\mathcal{R}=0$. This is the curvature version of the Gaussian calculation underlying the Mehler formula for Hermite functions.

At $s=1$, $y=0$, multiply the top exterior coefficient by the spinor supertrace constant. Since $(4\pi {)}^{-m}(-2i{)}^m=(2\pi i{)}^{-m}$, and every curvature factor is a two-form, the result isIntegration and the constant supertrace established above prove the boxed Atiyah-Singer index theorem. The mechanism is that odd symmetry pairs the nonzero spectrum globally, while the Clifford filtration makes the surviving local contribution an explicitly solvable curvature oscillator. Odd-dimensional spin Dirac operators have no canonical chiral index of this type; their self-adjoint Fredholm index is zero. For comparison of normalization conventions, Raphaël Ponge's local index calculation writes the same unnormalized curvature model and spinor supertrace constant.

For the First Chern class identity, use finite-dimensional classifying maps. A complex line bundle on a compact Hausdorff space embeds in a finite-dimensional trivial vector bundle, so it is a pullback vector bundle of the tautological bundle on some Complex projective space. For the two complex line bundles, the universal tensor product of vector bundles is classified by the mapIts restriction to either factor pulls the tautological bundle back to the tautological bundle on that factor. The degree-two cohomology of the product is the direct sum of the degree-two cohomology of its factors, so these two restrictions determine its First Chern class. Pulling back to $X$ provesThis proves the integral identity, including possible torsion elements in the cohomology of $X$; an argument using only curvature forms would not detect those torsion elements.

The splitting principle for complex vector bundles says that for a vector bundle $E\to X$ there is an iterated projective bundle $p:F(E)\to X$ for which $p^{\ast }$ is injective on integral cohomology, and $p^{\ast }E$ is a direct sum of complex line bundles. The same assertion holds with rational coefficients, and a common such space can split any finite collection of vector bundles. The injectivity follows at each stage from the projective bundle formula for complex vector bundles; a Hermitian metric splits the resulting filtration into a direct sum.

Write $x_i=c_1(L_i)$ for the Chern roots of the pulled-back vector bundle. Define the degree-$2j$ component of its Chern character byThe Fundamental theorem of symmetric polynomials expresses each power-sum symmetric polynomial ${\sum }_i{x}_i^j$ uniquely as an integral polynomial in the elementary symmetric polynomials, which are the Chern classes of $E$. Thus the definition makes sense on $X$ itself, without choosing actual Chern roots there. On a compact Hausdorff space, each vector bundle is classified by a finite-dimensional Grassmannian; its high-degree Chern character components therefore vanish. Hence this defines a class in the direct sum $H^{2\ast }(X;\mathbb{Q})$ even if $X$ has no finite dimension. On more general spaces an infinite Chern character is instead interpreted in the product of the even-degree cohomology groups.

On a common splitting space, the Chern roots of a direct sum are the combined root lists, whereas the First Chern class identity makes the Chern roots of a tensor product of vector bundles the pairwise sums $x_i+y_j$. ConsequentlyThe injectivity in the splitting principle for complex vector bundles descends both identities to $X$. Additivity extends the Chern character to the Grothendieck group by $\mathrm{ch}([E]-[F])=\mathrm{ch}(E)-\mathrm{ch}(F)$. Multiplicativity and $\mathrm{ch}(1)=1$ then show that the Chern character is a unital ring homomorphism.

For Complex K-theory of complex projective space, let $\gamma$ be the tautological bundle, put $t=1-[\gamma ]$, and set $h=-c_1(\gamma )$. The cohomology ring of complex projective space is $\mathbb{Z}[h]/(h^{n+1})$. The CW filtration gives a cofibrationThe K-theory six-term exact sequence and Complex K-theory of a sphere give, inductively,Here $b_n$ is the image of a Bott element from $S^{2n}$, normalized so that $\mathrm{ch}(b_n)=h^n$. This normalization follows from the multiplicative form of Bott periodicity: the Chern character of the degree-two Bott element is an integral generator, and multiplication yields the top-degree generator on $S^{2n}$. In particular, the abelian group $K^0({\mathbb{CP}}^n)$ is a free abelian group of rank $n+1$.

Assume inductively that $1,t,\dots ,t^{n-1}$ form an integral basis on ${\mathbb{CP}}^{n-1}$. Their lifts, together with $b_n$, form an integral basis on ${\mathbb{CP}}^n$. Sincethe Chern characters of this basis are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$: their first nonzero degrees are $0,2,\dots ,2n$. Thus the Chern character is injective on $K^0({\mathbb{CP}}^n)$. By induction $t^n$ restricts to zero on ${\mathbb{CP}}^{n-1}$, so $t^n=a{b}_n$ for an integer $a$. Comparing Chern characters gives $a=1$. Also $\mathrm{ch}(t^{n+1})=0$, so $t^{n+1}=0$. This proves the integral answer, rather than merely its rationalization:The induction begins with ${\mathbb{CP}}^0$ a point and $t=0$.

All Topological K-theory groups below are complex and are indexed modulo two using Bott periodicity. For $n\ge 1$, Complex K-theory of a sphere givesFor an even-dimensional sphere, choose a generator $u$ of Reduced topological K-theory. Its square vanishes: the Chern character sends $u$ to a top-degree cohomology class, whose square is zero, and the Chern character is injective on this torsion-free abelian group. Thus the ring answers areThe exceptional zero-dimensional sphere consists of two points: $K^0(S^0)=\mathbb{Z}\times \mathbb{Z}$ with coordinatewise multiplication and $K^{-1}(S^0)=0$. In particular its reduced generator is idempotent rather than square-zero.

For the Euler characteristic identity, induct over the cells of a finite CW complex. The starting CW complex consisting of $v$ vertices has $K^0\cong {\mathbb{Z}}^v$, $K^{-1}=0$, and $\chi =v$. If $X$ is obtained from $A$ by attaching one $d$-dimensional cell, the quotient is $S^d$, and the K-theory six-term exact sequence isThese abelian groups are finitely generated by induction. Tensoring the exact sequence with $\mathbb{Q}$ preserves exactness. The alternating sum of dimensions in a cyclic six-term exact sequence is zero, soTherefore

There is a genuine convention issue in the nilpotence assertion. With the usual definition of Reduced topological K-theory as the kernel of restriction to one basepoint, the assertion needs $X$ to be connected. For $X=S^0$ based at its first point, $(0,1)$ lies in ${\tilde{K}}^0(X)$ and satisfies $(0,1{)}^m=(0,1)$ for every $m\ge 1$. Thus it is not a nilpotent element. For an arbitrary finite CW complex, the correct assertion uses the rank map in topological K-theory on every connected component:For a connected space, $I(X)={\tilde{K}}^0(X)$.

Here is an induction proving the corrected assertion. On the vertices, $I(X)=0$. For a positive-dimensional cell attachment $A\subset X$, the ideal $J=\ker (K^0(X)\to K^0(A))$ is square-zero. Indeed, lift two elements of $J$ to relative topological K-theory $K^0(X,A)$. Their product is induced by the reduced diagonalThis map is null-homotopic, since $d<2d$ and $S^{2d}$ is $(2d-1)$-connected. The relative product in topological K-theory is therefore zero, giving $J^2=0$. If $a\in I(X)$, its restriction belongs to $I(A)$, so induction gives $(a{|}_A{)}^m=0$ for some $m$. Then $a^m\in J$ and $a^{2m}=0$. We have proved every Topological K-theory class of rank zero on every connected component is a nilpotent element, and hence the requested result for connected $X$.

For a compact space $X$, $K^0(X)$ is the Grothendieck group of isomorphism classes of finite-rank complex vector bundles under direct sum. Tensor product descends to this group and makes it a ring, with $[{\mathbb{C}}_X]$ as its unit.

The hypothesis $E_0\oplus {\mathbb{C}}_X\cong E_1\oplus {\mathbb{C}}_X$ says that $E_0$ and $E_1$ define the same stable class. Rank-$d$ bundles are classified by maps to $BU(d)$, and the stabilization $BU(d)\to BU$ is $2d$-connected. Since the finite CW complex $X$ has dimension $k\le 2d$, stabilization is injective on $[X,BU(d)]$. Thus stable cancellation for complex vector bundles gives

Now let $E_0,E_1$ have rank $d$ over Complex projective space ${\mathbb{CP}}^d$ and have the same Chern classes. Their Chern characters agree because each component of $\mathrm{ch}(E)$ is a universal rational polynomial in the Chern classes. The ringis torsion-free, while the Chern character becomes an isomorphism after tensoring with $\mathbb{Q}$; it is therefore injective. Hence $[E_0]=[E_1]$ in K-theory, so after adding trivial bundles they are isomorphic. Since ${\mathbb{CP}}^d$ has real dimension $2d$, cancellation applies once more:

The splitting principle for complex vector bundles says that for every complex vector bundle $E\to X$ there is a map $p:F(E)\to X$ such that $p^{\ast }$ is injective on cohomology andsplits into complex line bundles. Write $x_i=c_1(L_i)$ for the formal Chern roots.

Define the Chern character after this injective pullback byEach homogeneous component is a symmetric polynomial in the $x_i$ with rational coefficients, hence a polynomial in the elementary symmetric functions $c_j(E)$. It therefore descends uniquely to $H^{\mathrm{ev}}(X;\mathbb{Q})$ and depends only on $E$. Seton the Grothendieck group $K^0(X)$; additivity under direct sums makes this well defined.

If $E$ has roots $x_i$ and $F$ has roots $y_j$, then $E\otimes F$ has roots $x_i+y_j$. ConsequentlyIt also sends the trivial line to $1$, so it is a unital ring homomorphism.

For $S^{2n}$, a generator of ${\tilde{K}}^0(S^{2n})$ is the $n$-fold exterior product of the degree-two Bott element. The Chern character respects exterior products, and the degree-two Bott element has Chern character equal, up to sign, to the integral generator of ${\tilde{H}}^2(S^2;\mathbb{Z})$. Its $n$-fold product maps to the integral top-dimensional generator. Hence the Chern character on an even-dimensional sphere is integral.

Let the formal Chern roots of $E\to S^{2n}$ be $x_1,\dots ,x_r$ and write $p_n={\sum }_i{x}_i^n$. Sinceall lower Chern classes $c_1(E),\dots ,c_{n-1}(E)$ vanish. The Newton identities then reduce toThe degree-$2n$ term of the Chern character is thereforeIts evaluation on the fundamental class is an integer by integrality of the reduced Chern character. Thusis divisible by $(n-1)!$, proving the Divisibility of the top Chern number on an even-dimensional sphere.

A smooth self-adjoint projection $p:M\to M_N(\mathbb{C})$ of locally constant rank defines the Hermitian vector bundle $\mathrm{im}p$ inside the trivial bundle. Projecting the flat derivative gives the unitary connection $\nabla s=pds$ for $ps=s$. Differentiating $p^2=p$ gives $pdp=dp(1-p)$ and $pdpp=0$. For a section $s$, ${\nabla }^{2}s=pdp\wedge ds=p(dp{)}^{2}s$, proving the curvature formula. Relative to $\mathrm{im}p\oplus \ker p$, $dp$ is off-diagonal and $(dp{)}^2$ is diagonal. Therefore $d\mathrm{tr}(p(dp{)}^{2k})=\mathrm{tr}(dp{)}^{2k+1}=0$. These are explicit closed representatives of the Chern character.