\(C^*\)-categories, groupoid actions, equivariant \(KK\)-theory, and the Baum--Connes conjecture (Q1883419)

Let \(G\) be a discrete group, \(A\) a \(G-C^*\)-algebra and \(X\) a proper \(G\)-space. By \(K^G_n(X,A)\) denote the equivariant \(K\)-homology groups with coefficients in \(A\) and with \(G\)-compact supports, by \(A\rtimes_r G\) the reduced crossed product of \(A\) with \(G\) and by \[ \beta:K^G_n(X;A)\to K_n(A\rtimes_r G) \] the Baum-Connes assembly map [see \textit{P. Baum, A. Connes}, and \textit{N. Higson}, in: S. Doran, \(C^*\)-algebras: 1943--1993, Contemp. Math., 167, 241--291 (1994; Zbl 0830.46061)] for a full description of this map and of the corresponding Baum-Connes conjecture. Then \({\mathcal{G}}\) is a groupoid rather than a group, a \({\mathcal{G}}-C^*\)-algebra is defined to be a functor from \({\mathcal{G}}\) to the category of \(C^*\)-algebras and a natural notion of the reduced crossed product which is not a \(C^*\)-algebra, but a more general object called \(C^*\)-category is considered by \textit{P. Ghez, R. Lima}, and \textit{J. E. Roberts} [Pac. J. Math. 120, 79--109 (1985; Zbl 0609.46033)]. The \(K\)-theory for such a \(C^*\)-category \(A\) is defined by the author [\textit{P. D. Mitchener}, K-Theory 24, 157--201 (2001; Zbl 1014.46044)]. So, the functor \(A\mapsto K(A)\) is defined and the so-called associated spectrum \(K(A)\) is obtained. The main tool of the present paper is to give a description of the map \(\beta\) at the level of spectra that fits into the framework described by \textit{J. F. Davis} and \textit{W. Lück} [K-Theory 15, 201--252 (1998; Zbl 0921.19003)]. More precisely, the following main theorem is obtained: Let \({\mathbb{E}}^{\%}\) be a \(G\)-homotopy-invariant excisive functor from the category of proper \(G-CW\)-complexes to the category of spectra. Suppose we have a natural transformation \(\alpha:{\mathbb{E}}^{\%}(X)\to{\mathbb{K}}(A\rtimes_r\overline{X})\) such that the map \(\alpha:{\mathbb{E}}^{\%}(G/H)\to{\mathbb{K}}(A\rtimes_r\overline{G,H})\) is a stable equivalence for every finite subgroup, \(H\), of the group \(G\). Let \(i:\overline{X}\to G\) be the obvious inclusion functor. Then the composite \(i_*\alpha:{\mathbb{E}}^{\%}(X)\to{\mathbb{K}}(A\rtimes_r G)\) is the Baum-Connes assembly map. (Here, by \(\overline{Y}\) is denoted the groupoid naturally associated, by a standard construction, with a \(G\)-space \(Y\).) In order to prove this result, a new equivariant \(KK\)-theory spectra of \(C^*\)-algebras in the world of groupoids is developed. Thus this theory generalises equivariant \(KK\)-theory for groups and is related to crossed product \(C^*\)-algebras. Le Gall's equivariant \(KK\)-theory for groupoids [\textit{P.-Y. Le Gall}, K-Theory 16, 361--390 (1999; Zbl 0932.19004)] is different to this.