Difference operators, covering spaces and determinants (Q1825480)

Some connections between topology and PL analysis are studied. Let \(\tilde M\to M\) be an infinite cyclic cover of simplicial complexes. Once an inner product has been placed on the cochain space of M, and lifted to \(\tilde M,\) we can construct a combinatorial Laplacian \(\square =\delta \delta^*+\delta^*\delta\) (\(\delta\) is the coboundary operator and \(\delta^*\) its adjoint) and the space \({\mathcal H}^*(X)=\ker \square\) of all harmonic cochains on \(X=M\) or \(\tilde M.\) Under the assumption that \(\square\) on \(\tilde M\) is a geometric lift of \(\square\) on M, it is proved that \({\mathcal H}^ i(\tilde M)\) is finite dimensional if and only if so is the simplicial cohomology \(H^ i(\tilde M,{\mathbb{C}})\). Moreover, the Euler characteristic \(\chi(\tilde M)\) of \(\tilde M\) is proved to be equal to \(\Sigma_ i(-1)^{i+1}\quad i\quad \dim {\mathcal H}^ i(\tilde M)/2.\) In addition, a formula for the Reidemeister torsion on M is found in terms of the action of the covering transformations on \({\mathcal H}^*(\tilde M)\).