Suppose $X$ is a smooth complex algebraic variety. A necessary condition for a complex topological vector bundle on $X$ (viewed as a complex manifold) to be algebraic is that all Chern classes must be algebraic cohomology classes, that is, lie in the image of the cycle class map. We analyze the question of whether algebraicity of Chern classes is sufficient to guarantee algebraizability of complex topological vector bundles. For affine varieties of dimension ${\leqslant}3$, it is known that algebraicity of Chern classes of a vector bundle guarantees algebraizability of the vector bundle. In contrast, we show in dimension ${\geqslant}4$ that algebraicity of Chern classes is insufficient to guarantee algebraizability of vector bundles. To do this, we construct a new obstruction to algebraizability using Steenrod operations on Chow groups. By means of an explicit example, we observe that our obstruction is nontrivial in general.

Moduli spaces of real bundles over a real curve arise naturally as Lagrangian submanifolds of the moduli space of semi-stable bundles over a complex curve. In this paper, we adapt the methods of Atiyah–Bott's “Yang–Mills over a Riemann Surface” to compute $\mathbb{Z}/2$–Betti numbers of these spaces.

The goal of this note is to prove that the signed Segre forms of Griffiths’ positive vector bundles are positive.

In Connections on a parabolic principal bundle over a curve, $I$ we defined connections on a parabolic principal bundle. While connections on usual principal bundles are defined as splittings of the Atiyah exact sequence, it was noted in the above article that the Atiyah exact sequence does not generalize to the parabolic principal bundles. Here we show that a twisted version of the Atiyah exact sequence generalizes to the context of parabolic principal bundles. For usual principal bundles, giving a splitting of this twisted Atiyah exact sequence is equivalent to giving a splitting of the Atiyah exact sequence. Connections on a parabolic principal bundle can be defined using the generalization of the twisted Atiyah exact sequence.

The aim here is to define connections on a parabolic principal bundle. Some applications are given.

Let E be a principal G–bundle over a smooth projective curve over an algebraically closed field k, where G is a reductive linear algebraic group over k. We construct a canonical reduction of E. The uniqueness of canonical reduction is proved under the assumption that the characteristic of k is zero. Under a mild assumption on the characteristic, the uniqueness is also proved when the characteristic of k is positive.

Holomorphic principal bundles over a compact Riemann surface X that admits a flat connection are considered. A holomorphic G-bundle over X, where G is a connected semisimple linear algebraic group over ${\Bbb C}$, admits a flat connection if and only if the adjoint vector bundle admits one. More generally, for a complex reductive group G, the necessary and sufficient condition on a G-bundle to admit a flat connection is described. This simplifies the criterion obtained by the authors and given in Math. Ann. 322 (2002) 333–346.