The longitudinal index theorem for foliations (Q1064597)

A topological formula for the analytical index of a differential operator D elliptic along the leaves of the foliation (V,F) is given. The index in the Atiyah-Singer theorem for families is an element of the \(K^ 0(B)=K_ 0(C(B))\), where B is the basic space of the fibration. On the case of foliations the algebra C(B) is replaced by a canonically defined \(C^*\)-algebra \(C^*(V;F)\) and \(ind(D)\in K_ 0(C^*(V;F))\). The Kasparov K-bifunctor is a basic tool to prove the results of the paper.