Continuously controlled algebraic \(K\)-theory of spaces and the Novikov conjecture (Q1377080)

If \(M\) is a smooth orientable manifold with fundamental group \(\pi\), the classical Novikov conjecture states that the higher signatures of \(M\) are homotopy invariants of \(M\). This conjecture is equivalent to the assembly map \(h_*(B\pi; \mathbb{L}(\mathbb{Z}))\to L_*(\mathbb{Z}\pi)\) being a rational monomorphism. The present paper shows that for a class of groups which contains the word hyperbolic groups the corresponding assembly map with \(L\)-theory replaced by Waldhausen's \(A\)-theory is a split monomorphism on spectrum level. Recall that \(A(X)\) is the algebraic \(K\)-theory of the homotopy ring space \(\Omega^\infty\Sigma^\infty(\Omega X_+)\). The line of proof follows the corresponding results for \(K\)- and \(L\)-theory of the first two authors using a variation of the continuously controlled \(A\)-theory developed by the third author. The authors carefully emphasize the points where the arguments of \(K\)- and \(L\)-theory break down for \(A\)-theory and have to be replaced by different ones.