Generalised connections over a vector bundle map. (Q1405266)

Let \(\pi:E\to M\) be a fiber bundle, \(\nu:N\to M\) a vector bundle, \(\tau_M:TM\to M\) the tangent bundle, and \(\rho:N\to TM\) a vector bundle morphism, such that \(\nu=\tau_M\circ \rho\). The main notion of this well-written and transparent paper, materially generalizing the Ehresmann connection, is the \(\rho\)-connection defined by the aid of a smooth linear bundle map \(h:\pi^*N\to TE\) of the pullback bundle \(\pi^*N\). This yields, as special cases, a number of known connections, such as partial-, pseudo-, Lie algebroid- and the standard Ehresmann connection (i.e. \(\nu\) is a Lie algebroid over \(M\)), linear \(\rho\)-connection, and the standard Ehresmann connection. Also, one obtains special cases if \(\rho\) is of constant rank or \(\text{Im}\, (\rho)\) is integrable. Then parallel transport, the associated derivative operator \(\nabla :\Gamma(\nu)\times \Gamma(\nu)\to \Gamma (\pi)\) (where \(\Gamma\) means all smooth sections of the bundle in the argument), torsion, curvature and principal \(\rho\)-connection are introduced and investigated. The notions of curvature and torsion have sense only if \(\Gamma(\nu)\) is equipped with an algebra structure such that \(\Gamma(\nu)\times\Gamma(\nu)\to \Gamma(\nu)\), \((s_1,s_2)\mapsto s_1*s_2\) satisfies the Koszul axioms and if it is skew symmetric.