The Baum-Connes conjecture for hyperbolic groups. (Q1401424)

The Baum-Connes conjecture states that for any discrete group \(G\), the K-homology group of the classifying space for proper \(G\)-actions is isomorphic to the K-group of the reduced group \(C^*\)-algebra of \(G\). In the paper under review, the authors prove this conjecture for hyperbolic groups and their subgroups. They use the notion of bolic group, which was introduced by \textit{G. Kasparov} and \textit{G. Skandalis} [in C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 319, No. 8, 815--820 (1994; Zbl 0839.19003)]. The main step in the argument is the introduction of a metric \({\widehat d} \) on an arbitrary hyperbolic group \(G\) which is left-invariant, which is quasi-isometric to the word metric and such that the metric space \((G,{\widehat d})\) is weakly geodesic and strongly bolic. The proof of the conjecture then follows from recent work of V. Lafforgue in which he proves the Baum-Connes conjecture for strongly bolic groups with property RD. The authors note that Lafforgue obtained an independent and different proof of the same result. The Baum-Connes conjecture for a torsion-free group \(G\) implies the Kadison-Kaplansky conjecture, which says that there exists no non-trivial projection in the reduced \(C^*\)-algebra associated to \(G\). The Kadison-Kaplansky conjecture for hyperbolic groups was proven independently by \textit{M. Puschnigg} [in Invent. Math. 149, No. 1, 153--194 (2002; Zbl 1019.22002)].