Horizontal holonomy and foliated manifolds (Q2421934)

Let \(M\) be a smooth manifold, and let \(\pi : P \rightarrow M\) be a principal \(G\) bundle over \(M\). Given a connection \(1\)-form \(\omega\) in \(P\) and a subbundle \(D\) of the tangent bundle \(TM\) of \(M\), the authors define the horizontal holonomy group of \(\omega\) with respect to \(D\), to be the subgroup of the holonomy group of \(\omega\) whose elements are obtained from loops in \(M\) which are everywhere tangent to \(D\). The authors prove that this horizontal holonomy group is a Lie group, and moreover prove versions of the Ambrose-Singer and the Ozeki Theorems which compute its Lie algebra in terms of curvature. The authors apply this theory to two problems concerning a foliated manifold \((M,\mathcal{F})\). Taking \(D\) to be a subbundle such the \(D\oplus T\mathcal{F} = TM\) and taking an appropriate connection associated to the frame bundle of \(\mathcal{F}\), they provide (1) necessary and sufficient conditions for \(\mathcal{F}\) to be totally geodesic, and, (2), in the case \(M\) is a fiber bundle foliated by its fibers, necessary and sufficient conditions for \(M\) to be a principal \(G\) bundle for some \(G\). Ignoring some technicalities, the condition for problem (1) is that there exists a fixed point for the action of the horizontal holonomy group on the positive definite symmetric two-forms on \(T_x\mathcal{F}\), while the condition for problem (2) is that the horizontal holonomy group is trivial.