Finite-order formulation of Vinogradov's \({\mathcal C}\)-spectral sequence (Q1610240)

Vinogradov's \({\mathcal C}\)-spectral sequence [\textit{A. M. Vinogradov}, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 100, 1-40 (1984; Zbl 0548.58014) and ibid., 41-129 (1984; Zbl 0548.58015)[ is formulated in the case of finite-order jet spaces of a fibred manifold. As a consequence, a finite-order variational sequence which recover Krupka's formulation [\textit{D. Krupka}, Differential Geom. and its Appl., 236-254 (1990; Zbl 0813.58014)] is obtained. The outline of the paper is as follows: Sections 1 and 2 deal with jet spaces \(J^r\pi\), \(\pi:E\to M\) and modules of vector fields \({\mathcal D}_r\), and one forms on jets \(\Lambda^1_r\). Then a relative vector field along \(\pi_r^{r+1}\) and their module \({\mathcal D}_r^{r+1}\) are defined. It is shown \({\mathcal D}_r^{r+1}\) is a direct sum \({\mathcal C}{\mathcal D}_{r+1,r} \oplus{\mathcal V}_{r +1,r}\) of horizontal and vertical vector fields (Prop. 2). Taking duals, the splitting \(\Lambda^1_{r+1,r} ={\mathcal C}^1\Lambda^1_{r+1,r} \oplus{\mathcal H} \Lambda^1_{r+1,r}\) whose projections are given by contact maps [\textit{L. Mangiarotti} and \textit{M. Modugno}, Proc. Int. Meet. on Geometry and Physics, 135-165 (1983; Zbl 0539.53026)] follows (Prop. 3). By using this splitting the \({\mathcal C}\)-splitting \(\Lambda^k_{r+1,r}= \oplus^k_{l=0}{\mathcal C}^{k-1}_{r+1,r} \wedge{\mathcal H}\Lambda^1_{r+1}\) is obtained (Sect. 3, Prop. 5). After remarking parallelism between the language of forms and differential operators in section 4, finite order jet space formulation of the \({\mathcal C}\)-spectral sequence \((r\)th order \({\mathcal C}\)-spectral sequence) is given in section 5 by using \({\mathcal C}\)-splitting together with complete calculation of its \(E_1\)-terms (Th. 25). By this calculation and intrinsic definition of adjoint operator [\textit{I. S. Krasil'shchik} and \textit{A. M. Vinograov} (eds.): `Symmetries and Conservation Laws for Differential Equations of Mathematical Physics', Math. Surveys Monogr. 182, Providence (1999; Zbl 0911.00032)], a finite-order variational sequence is constructed (Th. 26). Applying previous results of the author [\textit{R. Vitolo}, Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 125, No. 2, 321-333 (1999; Zbl 0927.58008) and Geom. Appl. 10, No. 3, 225-255 (1999; Zbl 0930.58001)] it is shown that this sequence recovers Krupka's sequence (5.5.2). The direct limit of \(r\)th order \({\mathcal C}\)-spectral sequences is the standard infinite order \({\mathcal C}\)-spectral sequence. The difference between the finite-order approach and the infinite-order approach is remarked in 5.5.1. It is also noted that Anderson and Duchamps's approach to finite order variational sequences [\textit{T. Anderson} and \textit{T. Duchamp}, Am. Math. J. 102, 781-868 (1980; Zbl 0454.58021)] coincides with the \({\mathcal C}\)-spectral sequence up to the \(n\)th term (5.5.3).