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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.