\(K\)-homology and Fredholm operators. II: Elliptic operators (Q1708370)

In [Acta Math. 213, No. 1, 1--48 (2014; Zbl 1323.58017)], the authors extended the Atiyah-Singer index theory to a class of hypoelliptic (not elliptic) operators on contact manifolds. The topological side of the reasoning is expressed in terms of the geometric \(K\)-homology introduced by \textit{P. Baum} and \textit{R. G. Douglas} [Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 38, Part 1, 117--173 (1982; Zbl. 0532.55004)]. This version of \(K\)-homology has an appealing simplicity that readily admits applications to equivariant and families index theory. To illustrate this simplicity and to clarify the (in)dependence of results in [Baum and van Erp, loc. cit.] on (from) previous results, the authors of the paper under review have written two papers that prove the Atiyah-Singer index theorem within a context provided by geometric \(K\)-homology and G. Kasparov's \(KK\)-theory. In [J. Geom. Phys. 134, 101--118 (2018; Zbl 1409.58014)], the authors proved the index formula for Dirac operators. The paper under review reduces the index problem for arbitrary symbols to the index problem for Dirac operators.