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Chern curvature defines $\alpha (E)=[\Theta ]\in H^1(M,{\Omega }_M^1\otimes \mathrm{End}E)$. If two metrics give connections differing by $a$, then ${\Theta }_1-{\Theta }_0={\bar{\partial }}_{\mathrm{End}E}a$. Thus this vector-bundle curvature class depends on the holomorphic bundle rather than the chosen metric.

The form ${\omega }_{\mathrm{int}}=\frac{i}{2\pi }\partial \bar{\partial }\log (1+\sum |z_j{|}^2)$ patches on Complex projective space. The dual tautological metric on $\mathcal{O}(1)$ identifies it with normalized Chern curvature, so $[{\omega }_{\mathrm{int}}]=c_1(\mathcal{O}(1))$. With the unnormalized convention $i\partial \bar{\partial }\log (1+\sum |z_j{|}^2)$, divide by $2\pi$ to obtain this integral class.

For a nonzero holomorphic vector bundle $F$ on the curve, its degree of a holomorphic vector bundle and slope of a holomorphic vector bundle areWe obtain a bound independent of the particular holomorphic subbundle by fixing a Hermitian metric on a holomorphic vector bundle $E$ once and for all. Let $D_E$ be its Chern connection, $F_E=D_E^2$ its Chern curvature, and $\omega$ any positive area form on the compact Riemann surface. WriteHere $K$ is a smooth Hermitian endomorphism of $E$. By compactness, its largest eigenvalue is bounded above by some finite constant $C$ on the whole curve.

Let $F\subseteq E$ be a holomorphic subbundle of positive rank $r$, with the induced metric. Use the smooth orthogonal splitting of a vector subbundle $E=F\oplus F^{\perp }$. In this splitting the connection has block formwhere $D_F$ is the projected Chern connection and $B$ is the second fundamental form of a holomorphic subbundle. The latter has type $(1,0)$: the $(0,1)$ part of $D_E$ preserves the holomorphic subbundle. The adjoint $B^{†}$ includes conjugation of the form factor and has type $(0,1)$. Squaring this block matrix givesThis derives the curvature formula for a holomorphic subbundle in the column-vector convention used here. Locally write $B=bdz$. ThenThe degree of a holomorphic vector bundle is the trace-curvature integral, since the trace is the curvature of the determinant line bundle. HenceThe last integrand is a nonnegative real two-form and is independent of the local unitary frame and coordinate. Since $K\le C{I}_E$, the compressed trace is at most $rC$ pointwise. ThereforeThis is the subbundle slope bound from ambient Chern curvature. The right side depends only on $E$ and the initially chosen metrics, and is finite. It proves the requested uniform upper bound for every positive-rank subbundle, without assuming any stability property of $E$ or using a bound that depends on $F$.

The flat unitary connection on $E_V$ is its Chern connection, since it preserves the induced Hermitian metric and its $(0,1)$ part is the Dolbeault operator. Its curvature is zero. The trace-curvature formula for the degree of a holomorphic vector bundle therefore givesFor any positive-rank proper holomorphic subbundle $F\subset E_V$, equip $F$ with the induced metric and use the block-connection calculation of Question 4(a). Since the ambient curvature vanishes, its Chern curvature iswhere $B=bdz$ is the second fundamental form of a holomorphic subbundle. ConsequentlyThe term being integrated is nonnegative, so its sign gives the inequality for every such subbundle, not just for parallel subbundles. By the definition of a semistable holomorphic vector bundle,If semistability is formulated using coherent subsheaves instead, saturate a subsheaf on the smooth curve. The saturation has the same rank, at least as large a degree, and is a subbundle because a torsion-free sheaf on a smooth curve is locally free. The inequality for the saturated subbundle therefore also bounds the original subsheaf. Finally, equality for a subbundle forces $B=0$, so it is parallel; invariant subspaces of $V$ correspond to these degree-zero parallel subbundles. Semistability is the conclusion required here, rather than stability for every unitary representation.

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.

The Hermitian metric on cotangent vectors is the dual metric, and its exterior-power metric is defined on decomposable vectors by the determinant of their pairwise inner products. Tensor this with the metric on $E$. In a unitary coframe and unitary frame of $E$, the forms obtained by wedging distinct holomorphic and antiholomorphic coframe elements and tensoring with a frame vector form an orthonormal basis. Let $dV={\omega }^n/n!$, and use inner products linear in the first variable.

The bundle-valued conjugate-linear Hodge star is characterized by contraction of the $E,E^{\ast }$ coefficients inIt is conjugate-linear, maps type $(p,q)$ to type $(n-p,n-q)$, and uses the metric identification of $E$ with its dual. For total degree $k=p+q$, the ordinary star-square rule giveswhere $E^{\ast \ast }$ is identified with $E$. The conjugate-linear convention is essential for the bidegrees specified here.

If $\psi$ has degree $k-2$ and $\eta$ degree $k$, the even degree of the real form $\omega$ givesSince ${\ast }_E\Lambda \eta =L{\ast }_E\eta$ for $\Lambda \eta =(-1{)}^k{\ast }_{E^{\ast }}L{\ast }_E\eta$, it follows that $(L\psi ,\eta )=(\psi ,\Lambda \eta )$ pointwise. Thus $\Lambda$ is the adjoint Lefschetz operator.

For holomorphic $E$, ${\bar{\partial }}_E$ differentiates coefficients in holomorphic local frames and uses the graded Leibniz rule on forms. Its bundle-valued Dolbeault adjoint is the formal differential operatorIt lowers the antiholomorphic degree by one. To verify this on compact $M$, define $⟨\psi ,\eta {⟩}_{L^2}={\int }_M(\psi ,\eta )dV$. For $\psi \in A^{p,q-1}(E)$ and $\eta \in A^{p,q}(E)$, Stokes applied to the scalar $(n,n-1)$-form $\psi \wedge {\ast }_E\eta$ yieldsThe star-square identity converts the right side into $⟨\psi ,{\bar{\partial }}_E^{\ast }\eta {⟩}_{L^2}$. Compactness and absence of boundary remove boundary terms. This establishes the asserted global adjoint relation on smooth sections.

The Dolbeault Laplacian ${\Delta }_{\bar{\partial }}=B{B}^{\ast }+B^{\ast }B$, with $B={\bar{\partial }}_E$, is formally self-adjoint. Consequently the adjoint of a commutator satisfiesFor the $(1,0)$ part $D^{\prime }$ of the Chern connection, the explicit corresponding adjoint iswhere $D_{E^{\ast }}^{\prime }$ is the $(1,0)$ part of the dual Chern connection. This is the same integration-by-parts formula in holomorphic degree.

Now assume the metric is Kähler. Since $\bar{\partial }\omega =0$, $B$ commutes with $L$. Taking adjoints provesThe scalar Kähler identities needed areThey extend to the bundle-valued Kähler identitiesHere is a local justification of the extension. At any chosen point, take holomorphic normal coordinates for the Kähler metric and a holomorphic local frame of $E$ with $H=I$ and $\partial H=0$ at that point. This is a Chern connection in a normal holomorphic frame. Such a frame is obtained first by normalizing the metric matrix at the point and then prescribing the holomorphic local frame change's first derivatives to cancel $A=H^{-1}\partial H$. The first-order operators and their formal adjoints at the point are then the scalar operators acting componentwise. The scalar identities therefore give the two displayed bundle identities there. Since the point was arbitrary, they hold globally.

Let $A=D^{\prime }$. Its square and $B^2$ vanish, whilebecause the Chern curvature has pure type $(1,1)$. Use the two commutators already proved to calculateTaking adjoints, including conjugation of the scalar $-i$, gives the Lefschetz-Dolbeault curvature commutatorIf $\Theta =0$, commutation follows. Conversely, vanishing of the commutator on all $E$-valued forms implies $\Theta \wedge s=0$ for every smooth section of a vector bundle $s$. At any point, a bump-supported local section can have any prescribed fiber value. Thus $\Theta$ annihilates every vector in every fiber, forcing $\Theta =0$ identically. This proves the flatness criterion from Lefschetz commutation; the test on degree-zero forms is why the assertion is made on the entire form space.

A holomorphic line bundle is semipositive if it admits a smooth Hermitian metric whose normalized Chern curvature form is semipositive. Tensoring a positive holomorphic line bundle with a nonnegative integer power of a semipositive one remains positive, because their curvature forms add. This smooth-metric property is stronger than simply having a nef numerical class.

Fix a Hermitian metric on a holomorphic vector bundle $E$ over a compact Riemann surface and a positive area form $\omega$. Write $i{F}_E=K\omega$ for its Chern curvature. If every eigenvalue of the Hermitian endomorphism $K$ is at most $C$, the curvature formula for a holomorphic subbundle gives $\mathrm{deg}F\le \mathrm{rank}(F)C{\int }_X\omega /(2\pi )$. The second-fundamental-form term is nonpositive. Compactness supplies a finite $C$ independent of the subbundle. If $F_E=0$, every subbundle has nonpositive degree.