A simple geometric representative for \(\mu\) of a point (Q1924012)

Let \(X\) be an oriented smooth 4-manifold, \(G=\text{SU}(2)\) (or SO(3)), \({\mathcal B}_k\) the space of connections (up to gauge equivalence) on the principal \(G\)-bundle \(P_k\) of instanton number \(k\) over \(X\). Let \({\mathcal B}^*_k\) and \(\widetilde{\mathcal B}^*_k\) be the spaces of irreducible connections and of irreducible framed connections on \(P_k\) modulo gauge equivalence, respectively. \textit{S. K. Donaldson} [J. Differ. Geom. 24, 275-341 (1986; Zbl 0635.57007); Topology 29, 257-315 (1990; Zbl 0715.57007)] defined a map \(\widetilde\mu: H_i(X;Q) \to H^{4-i} (\widetilde {\mathcal B}^*_k;Q)\) for any \(i=1,2,3\) whose image freely generates the rational cohomology of \(\widetilde {\mathcal B}^*_k\). For an \(i\)-cycle \(\Sigma\) in \(X\), the class \(\widetilde\mu ([\Sigma])\) descends to a cohomology class, denoted by \(\mu([\Sigma])\), on \({\mathcal B}^*_k\) since \(\widetilde{\mathcal B}^*_k\) is a principal SO(3) bundle over \({\mathcal B}^*_k\). The class \(\mu([\Sigma])\) together with an additional 4-dimensional class (which can be viewed as \(\mu\) of the point class \([x]\in H_0(X))\) freely generate the cohomology of \({\mathcal B}^*_k\). So the map \(\mu\) sends \(H_i(X)\) to \(h\) \(H^{4-i}({\mathcal B}^*_k)\) for any \(i=0,1,2,3\) and its image freely generates the rational cohomology of \({\mathcal B}^*_k\). The author constructs a simple geometric description of \(\mu([p])\) for a point \(p\) in \(X\). Let \(\nu_p= \{[A]\in {\mathcal B}^*_k/F^-_A\) is reducible at \(p\}\), where \(F^-_A=(F_A-*F_A)/2)\) is the anti-self-dual part of the curvature \(F_A\). Here ``reducible at \(p\)'' means that the components \(F^-_{ij}(p)\) are all colinear as elements of the Lie algebra of \(G\). The main result of the paper states that \(\nu_p\) is a geometric representation of \(-4\mu([p])\).