\(G\)-homotopy invariance of the analytic signature of proper co-compact \(G\)-manifolds and equivariant Novikov conjecture (Q2073899)

Summary: The main result of this paper is the \(G\)-homotopy invariance of the \(G\)-index of the signature operator of proper co-compact \(G\)-manifolds. If proper co-compact \(G\)-manifolds \(X\) and \(Y\) are \(G\)-homotopy equivalent, then we prove that the images of their signature operators by the \(G\)-index map are the same in the \(K\)-theory of the \(C^*\)-algebra of the group \(G\). Neither discreteness of the locally compact group \(G\) nor freeness of the action of \(G\) on \(X\) are required, so this is a generalization of the classical case of closed manifolds. Using this result, we can deduce the equivariant version of Novikov conjecture for proper co-compact \(G\)-manifolds from the strong Novikov conjecture for \(G\).