Decomposition of Symplectic Vector Bundles and Azumaya Algebras

Abstract

Let $X$ be a connected CW complex. Let $\mathcal{V}$ be a symplectic vector bundle of rank $2mn$ over $X$, and let $\mathcal{A}$ be a topological Azumaya algebra of degree $2mn$ with a symplectic involution over a $X$. We give conditions for the positive integers $m$ and $n$, and the dimension of $X$ so that $\mathcal{V}$ can be decomposed as the tensor product of a symplectic vector bundle of rank $2m$ and an orthogonal vector bundle of rank $n$; and so that $\mathcal{A}$ can be decomposed as the tensor product of topological Azumaya algebras of degrees $2m$ and $n$ with involutions of the first kind.

17 pages