Atiyah's \(L^2\)-index theorem. (Q1419557)

This paper provides a very concise algebraic proof of the \(L^2\)-index theorem for \(G\)-invariant elliptic operators (\(G\) being a countable discrete group acting freely on a co-compact boundary-less manifold \(\widetilde M\)) originally proved in [\textit{M. F. Atiyah}, Astérisque 32--33, 43--72 (1976; Zbl 0323.58015)]. Let us recall that \(G\)-invariant operators on \(L^2(\widetilde M)\) form a von Neumann algebra, and there is a naturally defined trace \(\text{Tr}_G\) on it. Given an elliptic \(G\)-invariant operator \(\widetilde D\) on \(\widetilde M\) (and \(D\) being the factor operator on the (compact) quotient manifold \(M= \widetilde M/G\)) the \(G\)-index of \(\widetilde D\) is defined as \(\text{Tr}_G(p_{\overline D})- \text{Tr}_G(p_{\widetilde D^*})\), where \(p_{\widetilde D}\) is the projection on the kernel of \(\widetilde D\). Then the \(L^2\)-index theorem states that \(\text{index}_G(\widetilde D)= \text{index}(D)\). The original proof is analytical and involves explicit description of the (smooth) Schwartz kernel of \(p_{\widetilde D}\) as well as of the trace \(\text{Tr}_G\) (in terms of the Schwartz kernel). The proof proposed by the authors of the present paper is purely algebraic and makes use only of formal properties of the index functions and an algebraic fact that any countable group \(G\) is a subgroup of a countable acyclic subgroup \(A_G\). Here is a brief sketch of the proof. The kernel \(\ker(D)\) is easily seen to be a finitely generated module over the von Neumann group algebra \(N(G)\) of \(G\) and therefore (the projection \(p_{\widetilde D}\) on it) is determined by a matrix \((p_{ij})\) over \(N(G)\), and \(\text{Tr}_G(p_{\widetilde D})= \sum p_{ij}(e)\) (\(e\) being the identity of \(G\)). Now assume \(G\) to be a subgroup of a (countable) group \(A_G\), and form the manifold \(A_G\times_G\widetilde M\). This last manifold fibers trivially over \(\widetilde M\) (the fiber being \(A_G/G\)) and \(\widetilde D\) lifts naturally to an \(A_G\)-invariant operator \(\overline D\), and one sees easily that \(\ker(\widetilde D)\) is the representation of \(A_G\) induced from the representation \(\ker(\widetilde D)\) of \(A_G\) and therefore \(\text{Tr}_G(p_{\widetilde D})= \text{Tr}_{AG}(p_{\overline D})\) (both the projections being represented by the same matrix); thus \(\text{index}_G(\widetilde D)= \text{index}_{A_G}(\overline D)\). Both the index functions index and \(\text{index}_G\) extend naturally to homomorphisms index: \(K_0(BG)\to Z= K_0(B\{e\})\) and \(\text{index}_G: K_0(BG)\to R\) (i.e. both these functions are natural with respect to inclusions of groups; this assertion for index is well known, and for \(\text{index}_G\) can be proved directly using the above formula for \(\text{Tr}_G\) or using the Baum-Connes assembly map). Now, imbed \(G\) in an acyclic group \(A_G\). Then index and \(\text{index}_e\) clearly coincide on \(K_0(B\{e\})\), \(K_0(BA_G)\approx K_0(B\{e\})= Z\), and the proof is complete using the naturality of both the index functions.