A relative higher index theorem, diffeomorphisms and positive scalar curvature (Q2445374)

This paper proves a relative higher index theorem on complete spin manifolds. This means that \(X_0,X_1\) are complete spin Riemannian manifolds of scalar curvature uniformly bounded from below outside a compact set by a positive constant; \(N_0,N_1\) are compact hypersurfaces separating \(X_0,X_1\) in two components \(\Omega_0\sqcup Y_0\), respectively \(\Omega_1\sqcup Y_1\); there exists an isometry \(\Psi:\Omega_0\to\Omega_1\), which lifts to the spin bundles; finally, there is a discrete group \(\Gamma\) and some Galois \(\Gamma\)-cover spaces \(\tilde{X}_i\) of \(X_i\) compatible with \(\Psi\). Then \(X_0\setminus \Omega_0\) can be glued to \(X_1\setminus \Omega_1\) with its orientation changed, and the resulting manifold, after some deformation of the metric in a compact region, will inherit a spin structure and a \(\Gamma\)-cover. The theorem states that the \(C_r(\Gamma)\)-valued index of the \(\Gamma\)-equivariant Dirac operator is additive with respect to this operation. This result had been proved by \textit{U. Bunke} [Math. Ann. 303, No. 2, 241--279 (1995; Zbl 0835.58035)] when the scalar curvature is globally positive. The authors use this theorem to construct an obstruction with values in the \(K\)-theory of the \(C^*\)-algebra \(C_r(\pi_1(M))\) for two metrics of positive scalar curvature on a closed, odd-dimensional manifold \(M\) to be joinable by a path inside the space \(\mathcal{R}^+(M)\) of metrics of positive scalar curvature. This obstruction is discussed in more detail when the two metrics differ by an element of the mapping class group.