On the homotopy invariance of higher signatures for manifolds with boundary (Q1609778)

Let \(M\) be a compact manifold with boundary. In dimension \(4k\), the signature of the intersection form on \(H^{2k}(M,\partial M)\) (an oriented-homotopy invariant) is given by the Atiyah-Patodi-Singer formula as the integral on \(M\) of the Hirzebruch \(L\)-form, minus the eta invariant of an odd signature operator on the boundary. As a byproduct, it follows that the quantity \[ \int_M L(TM) -\eta(\partial M) \] is a \(\mathbb{Z}\)-valued oriented-homotopy invariant. The metric on \(M\) is a product near \(\partial M\). By analogy with the Novikov conjecture, the paper under review treats the homotopy invariance of ``higher'' signatures on \(M\). These are defined from maps \(\nu:M\to B\Gamma\) into the classifying space of a finitely generated discrete group \(\Gamma\), and belong to the noncommutative de Rham homology of a certain subalgebra \({\mathcal B}^\infty\) of the reduced \(C^*\)-algebra \(C_r^*(\Gamma)\). The map \(\nu\) induces a flat \(C_r^*(\Gamma)\)-bundle over \(\partial M\). The main analytic assumption deals with the special value \(0\) inside the spectrum in middle degree of the differential forms Laplacian on \(\partial M\) twisted by this bundle (Assumption 1). Under this assumption, the higher signatures are defined and shown to be oriented-homotopy invariants of the pair \((M,\nu)\). To obtain numerical invariants, the authors make an additional assumption about the algebra \({\mathcal B}^\infty\); it is possible to find algebras fulfilling this assumption if \(\Gamma\) is virtually nilpotent or Gromov-hyperbolic. In this case their result extends both the proof of the Novikov conjecture by \textit{A.~Connes} and \textit{H.~Moscovici} [Topology 29, No.3, 345-388 (1990; Zbl 0759.58047)], and the Atiyah-Patodi-Singer formula. Another application is the cut-and-paste invariance of the higher signatures. The authors prove it when \(\Gamma\) is virtually nilpotent or Gromov-hyperbolic (note that it has since been proved for \(\Gamma\) such that the assembly map map in the Baum-Connes conjecture is rationally injective, see \textit{E.~Leichtnam, W.~Lück} and \textit{M.~Kreck} [Topology 41, 725-744 (2002; Zbl 0997.57040)]). The proofs rely on the analysis of three \(C_r^*(\Gamma)\)-signature operators on \(M\), coming from metrics on \(M\) which are conical, finite length, respectively infinite length cylindrical near \(\partial M\).