Mapping the homology of a group to the \(K\)-theory of its \(C^*\)-algebra (Q1856568)

In the context of Novikov's strong conjecture and also Baum-Connes conjecture for the Novikov assembly map \(\nu^\Gamma_*\), \(\Gamma\) being a countable discrete group, the following basic question arises: Is there any direct connection between the integral homology of \(\Gamma\) and the \(K\)-theory of its reduced \(C^*\)-algebra? As a first step towards answering this question, the author proves that the \(K\)-homology of a CW-complex of dimension \(\leq 3\) is isomorphic to its integral homology; the naturality properties of the isomorphism is also discussed in detail. Moreover, this result is applied to the construction of natural homomorphisms: \[ \beta_j^X: H_j(X; \mathbb{Z}) \to K_j(X)\;(0\leq j\leq 2) \] where \(X\) is any pointed connected CW-complex. Several equivalent constructions of these maps are provided and it is proved that they are rationally injective by showing that they are, rationally, cross-sections (i.e., right inverses) of the Chern character: \[ (\text{ch}_j \otimes\text{Id}_\mathbb{Q}) \circ(\beta_j^X \otimes\text{Id}_\mathbb{Q})= \text{Id}_{H_j (X;\mathbb{Q})} (0\leq j\leq 2). \] A uniqueness result for these maps is given and the injectivity of \(\beta_j^X\) for \(j=0\) and \(j=1\) is established. The injectivity of \(\beta^X_2\) is established if \(X\) has its integral homology concentrated in even degrees, except possibly for \(H_1\) and \(H_3\) and the general non injectivity of \(\beta^X_2\) is discussed. The case \(j=3\) is treated using \(\mathbb{Z}[\tfrac 12]\)-coefficients.