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For vector bundles on a smooth projective curve, a dualizing sheaf is a line bundle $D_C$ with a trace $H^1(C,D_C)\to k$ making the evaluation pairings $H^i(C,E)\times H^{1-i}(C,E^{\vee }\otimes D_C)\to k$ perfect for $i=0,1$. Choose a finite generically separable map to the projective line. The trace-dual module for this finite map, tensored with ${\Omega }_{{\mathbb{P}}^1}^1$, is ${\Omega }_C^1$ by the different–differential identity. Finite pushforward and residue duality on the projective line then prove the pairings, rather than assuming the curve-duality theorem to establish them.

For a smooth complex vector bundle endomorphism $A$ and a smooth eigenvalue function $\lambda$, a kernel of constant rank is a smooth vector subbundle, called its eigenbundle. Without a constant-rank hypothesis these kernels need not form a vector bundle.

The vector bundle whose fibre at $p$ consists of linear maps $E_p\to E_p$. If a local frame changes by $e^{\prime }=eg$, the coefficient matrix of an endomorphism changes by $T^{\prime }=g^{-1}Tg$, giving smooth fibre-linear transitions. For a line bundle this bundle is canonically the trivial scalar bundle, because every fibre endomorphism is scalar multiplication. A connection on a vector bundle induces the endomorphism bundle connection.

This is a frame of a real vector bundle with a positive-definite fiber metric for which the basis vectors are orthonormal. The Gram-Schmidt process applied to any smooth local frame produces such frames smoothly. They are distinguished from Lorentzian orthonormal frames, whose metric has mixed signature.

A complex rank-$r$ vector bundle has a canonical real orientation, and its Euler class equals its top Chern class. For a complex line this is $e(L_{\mathbb{R}})=c_1(L)$. The splitting principle for complex vector bundles gives an injective cohomology pullback on which the bundle splits into lines. The Whitney product formula for Euler classes and Whitney sum formula for Chern classes then identify both sides with the product of those first Chern classes, proving the general equality.

For a rank-$k$ smooth vector bundle, take the exterior power ${\Lambda }^r{E}_p$ in each fibre. A local frame gives a trivialization with fibre ${\Lambda }^r{\mathbb{R}}^k$, and a transition matrix $A$ acts by ${\Lambda }^{r}A$. Functoriality preserves the cocycle identities, producing a smooth vector bundle of rank $\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{k}{r}\right)$, or the zero bundle when $r>k$. Its top exterior power is the determinant line bundle.

A fiber metric on a real smooth vector bundle is a positive-definite inner product on each fiber that varies smoothly in vector bundle trivializations. A smooth partition of unity subordinate to trivializing charts averages their Euclidean inner products. Nonnegative weights preserve positivity and local finiteness ensures smoothness. Hence every real vector bundle over a Hausdorff second-countable smooth manifold admits a fiber metric. Applied to the tangent bundle, this is existence of a Riemannian metric.

A frame over an open set $U$ is a list of smooth sections $e_1,\dots ,e_r$ of a rank-$r$ vector bundle whose values form a basis in every fibre over $U$. It is equivalent to a vector bundle trivialization by $(x,v)\mapsto {\sum }_a{e}_a(x)v^a$. Two local frames differ by a smooth map $g:U\to \mathrm{GL}(r)$, written $e^{\prime }=eg$.

For a vector bundle of finite positive rank let $B$ be an upper degree bound for the line subbundles of $E^{\ast }\otimes K_C$. If $m-1>B$, no nonzero map ${\mathcal{O}}_C(m{p}_0-p)\to E^{\ast }\otimes K_C$ can exist for any point $p$: its saturated image would have degree at least $m-1$. Serre duality then gives $H^1(E(m{p}_0-p))=0$. The evaluation exact sequence shows that $H^0(E(m{p}_0))\to E(m{p}_0){|}_p$ is surjective at every point, proving the assertion with a uniform bound in $p$.

A vector bundle is globally generated when its global sections span every fibre. The evaluation map in the display expresses this condition. On a projective curve its space of global sections is finite-dimensional, so a finite collection of sections suffices.

A G-structure on a real rank-$m$ vector bundle is a principal $G$ reduction of its frame bundle. Equivalently it has local frames whose transition matrices take values in $G$, with the reduction consisting of their right $G$-orbits. An orthogonal structure on a real vector bundle is equivalent to a fiber metric; a special orthogonal reduction is equivalent to that metric together with an orientation of a vector bundle.

Let $E$ be an oriented real vector bundle of positive even rank $r$, with zero Euler class, and suppose the integral cohomology of $B$ is torsion-free. The Gysin sequence gives $0\to H^j(B)\to H^j(S(E))\to H^{j-r+1}(B)\to 0$. Choose an odd-degree class $a\in H^{r-1}(S(E))$ with ${\pi }_{!}a=1$. The projection formula for sphere bundle integration identifies the cohomology additively with ${\pi }^{\ast }{H}^{\ast }(B)\oplus {\pi }^{\ast }{H}^{\ast }(B)a$. It is torsion-free, so graded commutativity of the cup product gives $a^2=0$ from $2a^2=0$. These facts establish the displayed ring isomorphism, not just a decomposition of groups.

A Hermitian vector bundle is a complex vector bundle with a smoothly varying positive definite Hermitian form on each fibre. When the bundle is holomorphic, this is a Hermitian metric on a holomorphic vector bundle. Orthogonal projection to a smooth subbundle produces its induced metric and the quotient Hermitian metric.

A holomorphic vector bundle is a complex vector bundle whose local trivializations have holomorphic transition functions.

Let $A_b:V\to W$ vary smoothly with $b$ and have constant rank $r$. The spaces $\ker A_b$ form a vector bundle of rank $\dim V-r$. On a neighborhood where one $r$ by $r$ minor is invertible, the corresponding coordinates are smooth linear functions of the remaining coordinates, giving a local trivialization.

For a finite covering map $p:Y\to X$, define the fiber of the transferred vector bundle by $(p_{!}V{)}_x={⨁}_{y\in p^{-1}(x)}{V}_y$. Local trivializations of the covering map make this a vector bundle, and compatibility with direct sums extends it to Topological K-theory.

For a rank-$2n$ symplectic vector bundle $E\to B$, the Lagrangian Grassmannian bundle has fiber $\mathrm{LGr}(E_b)$ over $b$. A symplectic trivialization of $E$ induces a trivialization $\mathcal{L}Gr(E)\cong B\times \mathrm{LGr}({\mathbb{R}}^{2n})$.

A line subbundle is an injective map from a line bundle into a vector bundle whose quotient is locally free. Equivalently the injection splits locally. On a smooth algebraic curve, saturation of a rank-one coherent subsheaf produces a saturated line subbundle on a smooth curve.