An index theorem for higher orbital integrals (Q2134185): Difference between revisions

If \(G\) is a locally compact group acting properly, isometrically and cocompactly on a Riemannian manifold \(X\), and \(D\) is a \(G\)-equivariant elliptic differential operator on \(X\), then \(D\) has an equivariant index \(\operatorname{ind}_G(D)\) in the \(K\)-theory of the recuded \(C^*\)-algebra of \(G\). To study this index, which plays a fundamental in various areas in geometry, topology, representation theory and more, it is useful to calculate pairings of \(\operatorname{ind}_G(D)\) with various cyclic cocycles in order to extract numerical invariants. The main result of the paper at hand is an index formula for such a pairing, in the case when \(G\) is a real linear reductive Lie group. The cocycles involved in the pairing are generalized orbital integrals, introduced by two of the authors in [\textit{Y. Song} and \textit{X. Tang}, ``Higher orbit integrals, cyclic cocyles, and \(K\)-theory of reduced group \(C^*\)-algebra'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1910.00175}]. Defined on the Harish-Chandra Schwartz algebra of \(G\), these cocycles have the property that if all of their pairings with a given class in \(K_*\left(C^*_r(G)\right)\) vanish, then the class must be zero, making the expression for a general pairing given in the paper particularly meaningful from a topological standpoint. The main theorem is stated for \(\operatorname{Spin}^c\)-Dirac operators. The authors also indicate how to extend it to arbitrary elliptic operators, along with other applications, including a generalization of Connes-Moscovici's \(L^2\)-index theorem and a new proof of injectivity of Dirac induction.