Kasparov's bivariant \(K\)-theory and applications (Q1177699)

This is a clearly and concisely written survey on \(KK\)-theory and its applications, by one of the main experts in the field. After the definition of a \(C^*\)-algebra with the basic properties such as functional calculus, the two corner-stones of \(KK\)-theory, operator \(K\)- theory and \(K\)-homology, are introduced. Then Kasparov's bifunctor is defined, using the notion of Fredholm operators on Hilbert \(C^*\)- modules, and some of the elementary (functorial) properties are given, e.g., its homotopy invariance. Deeper properties such as periodicity, duality and \(K\)-equivalence are deduced from the intersection product which is first explained in the Fredholm picture but also by using Cuntz's approach via quasi-homomorphisms. More advanced topics are for instance equivariant \(KK\)-theory, \(K\)-nuclearity, and finally the application of \(KK\)-theory to topology, where it provides a natural setting for index theorems (in particular for operators on foliations) and helps a good deal on the way to prove Novikov's conjecture about the homotopy invariance of higher indices (a task for which \(KK\)-theory was originally invented by G. G. Kasparov). It is not possible to give a more detailed account of the material covered in this survey written in late 1988. But let us add that in the meantime Problem 9.15 has been solved in the affirmative by \textit{P. Julg} and \textit{G. Kasparov} [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 313, No. 5, 259- 264 (1991)].