Model theoretic reformulation of the Baum-Connes and Farrell-Jones conjectures (Q1763641)

The Baum-Connes conjecture as well as the Farrell-Jones conjectures in \(K\)- and \(L\)-theory are all statements about certain assembly maps being isomorphisms. In the paper under review the authors show how these assembly maps can be described within model category theory of diagram spectra. More precisely, let \({\mathcal S}\) denote the category of spectra with its stable model structure, and let \(Or(G)\) denote the orbit category of a discrete group \(G\). Then there is a standard way to put a model structure on the category \(F(Or(G),{\mathcal S})\) of \(Or(G)\)-functors into \({\mathcal S}\). In \textit{P. Balmer} and \textit{M. Matthey} [Topology Appl. 145, 11--59 (2004; Zbl 1060.18009)] the authors show that given any family \({\mathcal F}\) of subgroups of \(G\) there is a corresponding model structure on \(F(Or(G),{\mathcal S})\) with weak equivalences and fibrations been given by the natural transformations which induce weak homotopy equivalences and fibrations when evaluated at orbits with isotropy in \({\mathcal F}\). For a functor \(X: Or(G) \to {\mathcal S}\) let \(QX\) denote the cofibrant replacement of \(X\) with respect to this new model structure. In the article under review the authors show that evaluation of the canonical map \(QX \to X\) at an orbit \(G/H \in Or(G)\) is a model for the \(({\mathcal F} \cap H)\)-assembly map for the subgroup \(H\). The statement that \(QX \to X\) induces a weak equivalence when evaluated at each orbit then translates to the corresponding assembly map being an isomorphism for \(G\) as well as for all its subgroups. In this case the authors would say ``\(X\) satisfies codescent''. More about the abstract concept of codescent can be found in the paper cited above. The concepts and ideas that enter into the paper under review are partly closely related to the foundational paper of \textit{J.F. Davis} and \textit{W. Lück} [K-Theory 15, 201--252 (1998; Zbl 0921.19003)], where the \({\mathcal F}\)-assembly maps for a discrete group \(G\) are obtained by applying approriate homotopy functors to the \(Or(G,{\mathcal F})\)-\(CW\)-approximation map \(E(G,{\mathcal F}) \to \{*\}\). For another but related approach to the Baum-Connes Conjecture via localization of triangulated categories one may consult \textit{R. Meyer} and \textit{R. Nest} [Lett. Math. Phys. 69, Spec. Iss., 237-263 (2004; Zbl 1053.19002)].