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An orthogonal structure on a real vector bundle $E$ of rank $r$ is a choice of local frames whose transition matrices lie in the orthogonal group $O(r)$. In such frames declareOrthogonal transitions preserve this expression, so it defines a smooth positive-definite fiber metric. Conversely, a fiber metric turns any local frame into a smooth orthonormal frame by the Gram-Schmidt process; the resulting transition matrices are orthogonal. The two constructions are inverse, giving the required equivalence.

An orthogonal local trivialization $E{|}_U\cong U\times {\mathbb{R}}^r$ identifies each fiber isometrically with standard Euclidean space. Equivalently, its coordinate frame satisfies $h(e_i,e_j)={\delta }_{ij}$. This is local and does not assert the existence of a global frame.

Every real vector bundle over a smooth manifold admits a fiber metric. Choose a trivializing open cover and local Euclidean metrics $h_i$. The partition of unity theorem for a Hausdorff second-countable smooth manifold supplies nonnegative smooth functions ${\rho }_i$, with locally finite supports contained in the respective cover members, such that ${\sum }_i{\rho }_i=1$. Setextending each weighted metric by zero off its chart. Local finiteness makes this smooth. For every nonzero fiber vector $v$, at least one positive weight gives $h(v,v)={\sum }_i{\rho }_i{h}_i(v,v)>0$. Thus $h$ is a fiber metric and provides an orthogonal structure.

One definition of an orthogonal connection is that its covariant derivative preserves the fiber metric:for all vector fields $X$ and smooth sections of a vector bundle $s,t$. Another is that its parallel transport along every smooth curve is an isometry between the endpoint fibers.

For the first implication, take parallel sections $s,t$ along a curve. Their covariant derivatives vanish, so the displayed identity makes $h(s,t)$ constant: parallel transport preserves a fibre metric. Conversely, if parallel transport preserves the inner product, choose parallel extensions of arbitrary initial fiber vectors along a curve with prescribed initial tangent $X$. Differentiating their constant inner product gives $({\nabla }_{X}h)(s,t)=0$ at the initial point. Since $X,s,t$ were arbitrary, the connection is metric-compatible.

The equivalent local description is that the connection matrix in an orthonormal frame is skew-symmetric. Writing $\nabla e_j={\sum }_i{A}^i{}_j{e}_i$ in an orthogonal trivialization, differentiate $h(e_i,e_j)={\delta }_{ij}$ to obtainConversely this matrix identity gives the metric-preservation formula by expanding arbitrary sections. It is the orthogonal group connection description of the same condition.

The Levi-Civita connection of a Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$ is the unique connection on a vector bundle on $TM$ that is torsion-free and compatible with the Riemannian metric. Any such connection must satisfy the Koszul formulaNondegeneracy of $g$ determines ${\nabla }_{X}Y$ uniquely from the right-hand side. Conversely, define $\nabla$ by this formula. Direct substitution shows that it is $C^{\infty }$-linear in $X$, satisfies the Leibniz rule in $Y$, preserves $g$, and obeys ${\nabla }_{X}Y-{\nabla }_{Y}X=[X,Y]$. It is therefore a torsion-free metric connection. This proves the existence and uniqueness of the Levi-Civita connection.

For the metric vector bundle $E$, choose the stated orthonormal local frame $(e_1,\dots ,e_m)$ and write $d_A{e}_j=A^i{}_j{e}_i$. Since $⟨e_i,e_j⟩={\delta }_{ij}$, metric compatibility givesHence the connection matrix in an orthonormal frame is skew-symmetric:

On an oriented Riemannian $d$-manifold, the Hodge star operator is defined byIt is an orthogonal map $\ast :{\Lambda }^r{T}_x^{\ast }M\to {\Lambda }^{d-r}{T}_x^{\ast }M$ and satisfies ${\ast }^2=(-1{)}^{r(d-r)}$. In dimension $d=2n$ on middle-degree forms, the Adjoint of the Hodge star on middle-degree forms isThus it is self-adjoint when $n$ is even, but it is not always self-adjoint. For $n=1$ on the oriented Euclidean plane,so its matrix in the orthonormal basis $(dx,dy)$ is skew-adjoint.

The Laplace-Beltrami operator on differential forms is the Hodge Laplacianwhere the codifferential $\delta$ is the formal $L^2$ adjoint of the exterior derivative. On a compact manifold without boundary, if $\Delta \omega =\lambda \omega$ for a nonzero differential form $\omega$, then integration by parts givesTherefore the nonnegativity of the Hodge Laplacian yields