A topological invariant for continuous fields of Cuntz algebras (Q2035571)

In the structure theory of non-simple C*-algebras, it is natural to study locally trivial bundles over a compact Hausdorff space with all fibers isomorphic to a fixed C*-algebra. The case where each fiber is a matrix algebra or the algebra \(\mathcal{K}\) of compact operators on a separable, infinite-dimensional Hilbert space was studied by \textit{J. Dixmier} and \textit{A. Douady} [Bull. Soc. Math. Fr. 91, 227--284 (1963; Zbl 0127.33102)]. They showed that such bundles with fiber \(\mathcal{K}\) are classified by the third cohomology group \(H^3(X)\). The case where each fiber is a strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra \(D\), or its stabilization \(D\otimes\mathcal{K}\), was considered by \textit{M. Dadarlat} and \textit{U. Pennig} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 718, 153--181 (2016; Zbl 1431.46051)]. They showed that such bundles with fiber \(D\otimes\mathcal{K}\) are classified by a cohomology group \(E^1_D(X)\) that is part of a generalized cohomology theory. This paper studies bundles over a finite CW-complex \(X\) where each fiber is isomorphic to the Cuntz algebra \(\mathcal{O}_{n+1}\). Dadarlat showed that each vector bundle of rank \(n+1\) over \(X\) naturally leads to such an \(\mathcal{O}_{n+1}\) bundle and he showed that the isomorphism class of this bundle is determined by the class of the vector bundle in \(K^0(X)\), see [\textit{M.~Dadarlat}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 670, 121--143 (2012; Zbl 1263.46059)]. The main result of the paper is a characterization of when an \(\mathcal{O}_{n+1}\) bundle over \(X\) arises from a vector bundle over \(X\) in this way. The obstruction is an element in the cohomology theory \(E^1_D(X)\) of Dadarlat-Pennig for a suitable UHF-algebra~\(D\).