# Contents

## Definition

For $X$ a smooth manifold and $T X$ its tangent bundle a multivector field on $X$ is an element of the exterior algebra bundle $\wedge^\bullet_{C^\infty(X)}(\Gamma(T X))$ of skew-symmetric tensor powers of sections of $T X$.

• In degree $0$ these are simply the smooth functions on $X$.

• In degree $1$ these are simply the tangent vector fields on $X$.

• In degree $p$ these are sometimes called the $p$-vector fields on $X$.

## Properties

### Hochschild cohomology

In suitable contexts, multivector fields on $X$ can be identified with the Hochschild cohomology $HH^\bullet(C(X), C(X))$ of the algebra of functions on $X$.

### Schouten bracket

There is a canonical bilinear pairing on multivector fields called the Schouten bracket.

### Isomorphisms with de Rham complex

Let $X$ be a smooth manifold of dimension $d$, which is equipped with an orientation exhibited by a differential form $\omega \in \Omega^d(X)$.

Then contraction with $\omega$ induces for all $0 \leq n \leq d$ an isomorphism of vector spaces

$\omega(-) : T^n_{poly}(X) \stackrel{\simeq}{\to} \Omega^{(d-n)}(X) \,.$

The transport of the de Rham differential along these isomorphism equips $T^\bullet_{poly}$ with the structure of a chain complex

$\array{ \Omega^{n}(X) &\stackrel{d_{dR}}{\to}& \Omega^{n+1}(X) \\ \downarrow^{\mathrlap{\simeq}} && \downarrow^{\mathrlap{\simeq}} \\ T^{d-n}_{poly} &\stackrel{div_\omega}{\to}& T^{d-n-1}_{poly} } \,,$

The operation $div_\omega$ is a derivation of the Schouten bracket and makes multivectorfields into a BV-algebra.

A more general discussion of this phenomenon in (CattaneoFiorenzaLongoni). Even more generally, see Poincaré duality for Hochschild cohomology.

## References

The isomorphisms between the de Rham complex and the complex of polyvector field is reviewed for instance on p. 3 of

• Thomas Willwacher, Damien Calaque Formality of cyclic cochains (arXiv:0806.4095)

and in section 2 of

and on p. 6 of

• C. Roger, Gerstenhaber and Batalin-Vilkovisky algebras (ps)

Revised on March 4, 2011 12:05:37 by Urs Schreiber (131.211.232.235)