Index theorem for equivariant Dirac operators on noncompact manifolds (Q1866114)

The author introduces deformed Dirac operators whose index theory, on noncompact manifolds, is like that of transversally elliptic operators on compact manifolds. Let \(M\) be a complete Riemannian manifold, and let \(G\) be a compact Lie group that acts on \(M\) by isometries. Assume that there is a \(G\)-equivariant map from \(M\) to \(G\)'s Lie algebra and that the associated vector field \(v\) on \(M\) does not vanish outside some compact subset of \(M\). Let \(\mathcal E\) be a \(G\)-equivariant \(\mathbf Z _{2}\)-graded Clifford module over \(M\), with \(c(v)\) the Clifford action of \(v\). Let \(\sigma\) be the symbol of the Dirac operator \(D\) associated with a Clifford connection on \(\mathcal E\). Then identifying \(M\)'s tangent and cotangent bundles and pulling back to the cotangent bundle, the author observes that \(\sigma +ic(v)\) defines a transversally elliptic symbol, i.e. an element of the compactly supported \(G\)-equivariant \(K\)-theory of \(M\)'s transverse cotangent bundle. Using excision to replace \(M\) by a compact manifold, the author shows that \(\sigma +ic(v)\) defines an element of the completed character ring of \(G\), as in [\textit{M. F. Atiyah}, `Elliptic operators and compact groups', Lect. Notes Math. 401, Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York (1974; Zbl 0297.58009)]. Let \(f\) be a nonnegative-valued \(G\)-invariant function on \(M\) that grows sufficiently rapidly. The author shows that \(D+ic(fv)\) has a well-defined analytic index that equals the character defined by \(\sigma +ic(v)\). In studying the index theory of operators of the form \(D+ic(fv)\), the author develops a noncompact version of cobordism much like that of \textit{V. Guillemin}, \textit{V. Ginzburg}, and \textit{Y. Karshon} [`Moment maps, cobordisms, and Hamiltonian group actions', Math. Surveys and Monographs 98, Am. Math. Soc., Providence, RI (2002; Zbl 1197.53002)], proves a gluing formula, and discovers a proof of the Atiyah-Segal-Singer equivariant index theorem that illustrates the relation of this paper to \textit{M. Vergne} [Duke Math. J. 82, 143-179, 181-194 (1996; Zbl 0855.58033, Zbl 0855.58034)] and \textit{P.-E. Paradan} [J. Funct. Anal. 187, 442-509 (2001; Zbl 1001.53062)].