Gauge Interpretation of Characteristic Classes

It is proved that characteristic forms generate, over $\Omega^{\bullet}(M)$, the algebra of differential forms on the bundle of connections $p\colon C(P)\rightarrow M$ of a principal $G$-bundle $\pi\colon P\rightarrow M$ which are invariant under the natural representation of the gauge algebra of $P$ on connections. The invariance under the Lie algebra of all infinitesimal automorphisms of $P$ is also analyzed.

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Published 1 January 2001