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A differential form is harmonic when it lies in the kernel of the Hodge Laplacian $\Delta =d\delta +\delta d$. On a compact manifold, this is equivalent to $d\alpha =0$ and $\delta \alpha =0$.

Its relation to cohomology is part of Hodge theory.

On a compact oriented Riemannian manifold,as an $L^2$-orthogonal direct sum. Every de Rham cohomology class consequently has a unique harmonic representative.

This orthogonal-splitting theorem is one result of Hodge theory.

For a compact Kähler manifold,and every class has a unique harmonic representative of each type.

This is the compact Kähler specialization of Hodge theory.

For a smooth $(0,1)$-form on the complex projective line, solve its Dolbeault operator equation on a disc about zero and a disc about infinity. The difference of the primitives is a holomorphic function on their annular overlap. Split its Laurent series into a nonnegative-power part extending to the finite disc and a negative-power part extending holomorphically across infinity. Subtract the first part from the finite primitive and add the second to the infinite primitive. The results agree and define a global primitive, without Hodge theory.

For a complex K3 surface, $L=H^2(X,\mathbb{Z})$ is torsion-free and has its integral cup product pairingThe K3 intersection lattice isthe even unimodular integral quadratic lattice of signature $(3,19)$. Here $U$ is the hyperbolic plane with Gram matrixand $E_8(-1)$ is the negative of the positive-definite E8 lattice. Thus the rank is $3\cdot 2+2\cdot 8=22$ and the pairing has determinant of absolute value one.

These invariants can be checked from the topology and Hodge theory. The trivial canonical bundle and $H^1(X,{\mathcal{O}}_X)=0$ give $\chi ({\mathcal{O}}_X)=2$. The Noether formula gives $c_2(X)=24$, which is the topological Euler characteristic. Since $X$ is simply connected, $b_1=b_3=0$, so $24=2+b_2$ and $b_2=22$. Integral Poincare duality gives unimodularity; the universal coefficient sequence and $H_1(X,\mathbb{Z})=0$ give torsion-freeness of $H^2(X,\mathbb{Z})$.

Its second Stiefel–Whitney class is the reduction modulo two of $c_1(X)$, hence zero. The characteristic-class identitymakes the lattice even. Finally the real and imaginary parts of a holomorphic two-form give two positive directions, a Kähler class gives a third, and the primitive real $(1,1)$ classes are negative definite by the Hodge–Riemann bilinear relations. Therefore the signature is $(3,19)$. The classification of indefinite even unimodular lattices then identifies the displayed lattice uniquely. In particular the Picard group is only the integral $(1,1)$ part; it should not be confused with this rank-twenty-two topological lattice.