Clifford modules and twisted \(K\)-theory (Q1038773)

Let \(V\) be a real vector bundle over a compact space provided with a non-degenerate quadratic form, \(C(V)\) the associated bundle of Clifford algebras and \(\Lambda\) the ring of continuous sections of \(C(V)\). If \(\Lambda_n=\Lambda\hat\otimes C^{0,n}\) where \(C^{0,n}\) denotes the Clifford algebra of \(\mathbb{R}^n\) with a positive quadratic form then this paper gives a proof that there is an exact sequence of \(K\)-groups \[ K(\Lambda_2)\rightarrow K(\Lambda_1)\rightarrow K(V)\rightarrow K^1(\Lambda_2)\rightarrow K^1(\Lambda_1) \] where \(K(V)\) denotes the \(K\)-theory of the Thom space of \(V\). This identifies the cokernel, \(A(V)\), of the left most map with a subgroup of \(K(V)\) and so connects the results of \textit{M. F. Atiyah, R. Bott} and \textit{A. Shapiro} [Topology 3, Suppl.~1, 3--38 (1964; Zbl 0146.19001)] with more recent results on twisted \(K\)-theory.