Positive scalar curvature due to the cokernel of the classifying map (Q2217990)

To get a thorough understanding of the classification of scalar curvature metrics on mainfolds Stolz introduced the so-called scalar curvature exact sequence for connected closed manifolds with a given fundamental group \(\pi\). The typical assumption here is that the manifold at hand is spin and of dimension \(n\) greater or equal to \(5\). One group of particular interest that shows up in the scalar curvature exact sequence is the group Pos\(_n(B\pi)\) of bordism classes of closed spin \(n\)-manifolds with a positive scalar curvature metric and a reference map to the classifying space \(B\pi\). \textit{P. Piazza} and \textit{T. Schick} [Ann. \(K\)-Theory 1, No. 2, 109--154 (2016; Zbl 1335.46063)] show that the geometry of the Dirac operator provides a natural transformation from the above scalar curvature exact sequence to the so-called analytic surgery exact sequence, which is given in terms of \(K\)-theory and which was first investigated in detail in [\textit{N. Higson} and \textit{J. Roe}, \(K\)-Theory 33, No. 4, 325--346 (2004; Zbl 1085.19002)]]. The whole transformation in fact essentially is a homotopy functor, and the classical set-up corresponds to the evaluation of it at the space \(B\pi\). The authors of the paper under review now investigate the evaluation at the given manifold \(M\) itself. As a tool they use the Pontryagin character to analyze the \(K\)-theoretic part of the transformation after tensoring with the rationals. More specifically they consider a 2-equivalence \(c:M \to B\pi\) and derive that the relative rational singular homology groups of the map potentially yield a big contribution to the group Pos\(_n(M)\) of bordism classes of closed spin \(n\)-manifolds of positive scalar curvature metric with a reference map to \(M\), provided the rational Novikov conjecture holds for the fundamental group \(\pi\). In the case where the given manifolds \(M\) can be equipped with a metric of positive scalar curvature they then use the above result to translate classes in Pos\(_n(M)\) to concordance classes of positive scalar curvature metrics on \(M\), using a concept first established in [\textit{R. Carr}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 307, No. 1, 63--74 (1988; Zbl 0654.53049)]. Altogether one can see this way that singular rational homology might detect quite a hugh number of different concordance classes of metrics of positive scalar curvature on a spin manifold, provided that there is a least one such metric.