A finite-dimensional approach to the strong Novikov conjecture (Q351693)

In this paper the authors introduce a class FD of groups, in which a group \(\Gamma\) has a finite model for its classifying space \(B \Gamma\) whose rational K-homology groups have classes all, flatly detectable, in the sense that nonzero are their induced images in the corresponding rational K-theory groups of a finite CW complex \(X\) under a detecting map by taking the slant product with the \(K_0\)-class of a vector bundle over the product space \(B \Gamma \times X\), induced from a family of representations, that is a continuous map from \(X\) to the space of all finite-dimensional unitary representations of \(\Gamma\). It is shown as permanence properties for the class FD that the group of integers is in the class FD; the class FD is closed under taking free products and direct products; it is closed under taking extensions by finite index subgroups in FD. What is more, shown is without using those permanence properties but doing like the first author [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 363, No. 2, 1061--1100 (2011; Zbl 1208.58013)] that the fundamental group of a compact, aspherical surface group is in FD. Several interesting questions are left open to the readers. It is yet proved that the groups constructed by \textit{M. Burger} and \textit{S. Mozes} [Publ. Math., Inst. Hautes Étud. Sci. 92, 151--194 (2000; Zbl 1007.22013)] do not belong to FD. Moreover, it is also shown that for each family of representations, the detecting map from the K-homoloy of \(B\Gamma\) to the K-theory of \(X\) factors through the analytic (Baum-Connes) assembly map from the K-homology of \(B \Gamma\) to the K-theory of the full group \(C^*\)-algebra \(C^*(\Gamma)\) of \(\Gamma\), by relating it to the \(K\)-theory class of the tensor product of \(C^*(\Gamma)\) with the \(C^*\)-algebra of continuous functions on \(B \Gamma\), induced from the Miscenko bundle over \(B \Gamma\) with fibers \(C^*(\Gamma)\). It follows as a corollary that if a group is in the class FD, then the strong Novikov conjecture for the group holds, i.e., the analytic (B-C) assembly map is rationally injective.