Conditions for nonnegative curvature on vector bundles and sphere bundles. (Q1872787)

In connection with the `soul theorem' of \textit{J. Cheeger} and \textit{D. Gromoll} [Ann. Math. (2) 96, 413--443 (1972; Zbl 0246.53049)] the question arises which vector bundles over a compact Riemannian manifold of nonnegative sectional curvature do admit a complete metric of nonnegative sectional curvature. Generalizing a result by \textit{M. Strake} and \textit{G. Walschap} [Manuscr. Math. 66, No. 3, 309--318 (1990; Zbl 0695.53032)], necessary and sufficient conditions are presented in terms of a differential inequality in theorem A and theorem B. In theorem C, a sufficient condition is given for the associated sphere bundle to admit a metric of positive sectional curvature.