A Cheeger-Müller theorem for symmetric bilinear torsions (Q943068)

This work formulates a Cheeger-Müller type theorem for the complex valued analytic torsion introduced by Burghelea and Haller for flat vector bundles carrying non-degenerate symmetric bilinear forms. The Burghelea-Haller conjecture is fully proved, giving an anlytic interpretation of the square of the Turaev torsion. The authors emphasize that independently and almost at the same time, \textit{D. Burghelea} and \textit{S. Haller} proved their conjecture in the case where the manifold is odd-dimensional, but using a different method [``Complex valued Ray-Singer torsion. II'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:math.DG/0610875}]. The paper after a detailed introduction, splits in to nine more sections. 2. Symmetric bilinear torsions associated to the de Rham and Thom-Smale complexes. 3. Comparison between the Ray-Singer and Milnor symmetric bilinear torsions. 4. Asymptotics of the symmetric bilinear torsion of the Witten complex. 5. Proof of Theorem 3.3. 6. Proof of Theorem 3.5. 7. Proof of Theorem 3.6. 8. Proof of Theorem 3.7. 9. Proof of Theorem 3.8. 10. Euler structure and Burghelea-Haller conjecture. See also the following recent companion works by \textit{M. Braverman} and \textit{T. Kappeler} [Ann. Inst. Fourier 57, No.~7, 2361--2387 (2007; Zbl 1147.58033); J. Differ. Geom. 78, No.~2, 193--267 (2008; Zbl 1147.58034)].