Highest DeRahm Cohomology

Question

Let $X$ be a $C^\infty$ manifold, compact oriented and connected of dimension $n$. How do you prove that the integration map $$\int_X: \omega \mapsto \int_X \omega $$ from $H^n_{DR}(X)$ to $\mathbb{R}$ is an isomorphism? (Without using Poincare duality).

Answer 1

Here are the steps to do this:

1. Show that the formula you gave is well-defined (that is, show that it doesn't depend on the class of $w$). This is just Stokes' Theorem, assuming your manifold has no boundary. Linearity is obvious.

2. For surjectivity, since $M$ is oriented there exists a $n$-form $\omega_0$ such that $\int_M \omega_0 = c > 0$. Now just multiply $\omega_0$ by the appropriate constant.

3. Now note that both spaces have the same dimension, so integration must be an isomorphism.