Let $V$ be the vector bundle over $BSO(3)$ associated to the adjoint representation of $SO(3).$ Then $V$ does not have a nonzero section. One way to see this is that the Steifel-Whitney class $w\_3(V)$ is nonzero.


Question: What about $V \oplus V$ or $V \oplus V \oplus \dots \oplus V?$


1. Do these bundles have a nonzero section?
2. If not, is there a characteristic class of some sort which obstructs the existence of such a section?


Comments:


1. The representation given by the direct sum of $n$ copies of the adjoint does not have a one dimensional invariant subspace. Is that the same as (1) above??
2. The complexification $V \otimes {\mathbb C}$ has trivial third Chern class.


Thanks. Jonathan



Representations of SO(3) and vector bundles on BSO(3)
$w\_{3n}(nV)=w\_3(V)^n\neq 0$. The (mod $2$) Euler class takes direct sums to cup products.


