\(K\)-theory and the quantization commutes with reduction problem (Q2257068)

The authors examine the quantization-commutes-with-reduction phenomenon for Hamiltonian actions of compact Lie groups on closed symplectic manifolds from the point of view of topological \(K\)-theory and \(K\)-homology. This phenomenon has been extensively studied from many different viewpoints since it was discovered by Guillemin and Sternberg. The new contribution of this paper is an explanation of the role Bott periodicity and the Weyl character formula in the transition from the commutative to the noncommutative cases of the quantization commutes with reduction problem. By using Bott periodicity and Weyl character formula, the authors explained how the nonabelian result follows rather easily from a slight K-theoretic strengthening of the abelian result. This paper is also a good introduction to the theory of quantization commutes with reduction for a new audience in noncommutative geometry.