In mathematics, the fiber bundle construction theorem is a theorem which constructs a fiber bundle from a given base space, fiber and a suitable set of transition functions. The theorem also gives conditions under which two such bundles are isomorphic. The theorem is important in the associated bundle construction where one starts with a given bundle and surgically replaces the fiber with a new space while keeping all other data the same.
holds, there exists a fiber bundle E → X with fiber F and structure group G that is trivializable over {Ui} with transition functions tij.
Let E′ be another fiber bundle with the same base space, fiber, structure group, and trivializing neighborhoods, but transition functions t′ij. If the action of G on F is faithful, then E′ and E are isomorphic if and only if there exist functions
<math>t_i : U_i \to G</math>
such that
<math>t'_{ij}(x) = t_i(x)^{-1}t_{ij}(x)t_j(x) \qquad \forall x \in U_i \cap U_j.</math>
Taking ti to be constant functions to the identity in G, we see that two fiber bundles with the same base, fiber, structure group, trivializing neighborhoods, and transition functions are isomorphic.
A similar theorem holds in the smooth category, where X and Y are smooth manifolds, G is a Lie group with a smooth left action on Y and the maps tij are all smooth.
Construction
The proof of the theorem is constructive. That is, it actually constructs a fiber bundle with the given properties. One starts by taking the disjoint union of the product spacesUi × F
<math>T = \coprod_{i\in I}U_i \times F = \{(i,x,y) : i\in I, x\in U_i, y\in F\}</math>
The total space E of the bundle is T/~ and the projection π : E → X is the map which sends the equivalence class of (i, x, y) to x. The local trivializations
Let E → X a fiber bundle with fiber F and structure group G, and let F′ be another left G-space. One can form an associated bundle E′ → X with a fiber F′ and structure group G by taking any local trivialization of E and replacing F by F′ in the construction theorem. If one takes F′ to be G with the action of left multiplication then one obtains the associated principal bundle.