An equivariant orbifold index for proper actions (Q2186799)

It is well-known that every orbifold can be realised as the quotient of a locally free action by a compact group \(H\) on a manifold \(\tilde{M}\). Let \(M=\tilde{M}/H\) be such a presented compact orbifold. Let \(D\) be an elliptic operator on \(M\). It is now possible to consider \(D\) as a transversally elliptic operator \(\tilde{D}\) on \(\tilde{M}\), and define the index of \(D\) as the \(H\)-invariant part of the \(H\)-equivariant index of \(\tilde{D}\). Assume then that \(M\) can also be realised as the quotient of a proper action by a discrete group \(\Gamma\) on a manifold \(X\). In this case the orbifold index of an operator on \(M\) is the \(\Gamma\)-invariant part of its lift to an operator on \(X\). The purpose of this paper is to unify and extend these two approaches to orbifold index theory. Let \(H\) and \(G\) be a compact and a locally compact group, respectively. Assume \(H\times G\) acts on a manifold \(\tilde{M}\) by a proper, isometric, cocompact action. The authors define an index of \(H\times G\)-equivariant, \(H\)-transversally elliptic operators on \(\tilde{M}\), with values in \(KK_\ast(C^\ast H, C^\ast G)\). This new index generalises both the Baum-Connes analytic assembly map, Atiyah's index of transversally elliptic operators, and Kawasaki's orbifold index. The authors then consider the special case of compact, locally symmetric spaces \(\Gamma\backslash G / K\), where \(G\) is a real semisimple Lie group, \(\Gamma< G\) is a cocompact lattice, and \(K\) is a maximal compact subgroup of \(G\). They prove an index theorem for Spin-Dirac operators on these spaces.