On Rigidity of ALE vector bundles

Abstract

We discuss topological rigidity of vector bundles with asymptotically conical (AC) total spaces of rank greater than 1 with a sufficiently connected link; our focus will mainly be on ALE (asymptotically locally Euclidean) bundles. Within the smooth category, we topologically classify all ALE tangent bundles by showing only 2-sphere, projective plane and open contractible manifolds admit ALE tangent bundles. We also discuss other interesting topological and geometric rigidities of ALE vector bundles.

14 pages, no figures