Index theory for quasi-crystals. I: Computation of the gap-label group (Q2461235)

Let \(H\) be a Schrödinger operator whose potential arises from a discrete set \(L\) of equilibrium positions of atoms. The paper under review is relevant to the case where \(L\) is a particular kind of quasi-crystal. By \textit{J.\,Bellissard} [in:\ From number theory to physics.\ Lectures of a meeting on number theory and physics held at the Centre de Physique, Les Houches (France), March 7--16, 1989, Berlin:\ Springer--Verlag, 538--630 (1992; Zbl 0833.47056)] and \textit{J.\,Bellissard, D.\,J.\,L.\thinspace Herrmann} and \textit{M.\,Zarrouati} [in:\ ``Directions in mathematical quasicrystals'', CRM Monogr.\ Ser.\ 13, 207--258 (2000; Zbl 0972.52014)], the values of the physically significant integrated density of states at gaps in \(H\)'s spectrum are contained in the image of a certain trace on the \(K\)-theory of a \(C^*\)-algebra constructed from \(L\). By \textit{J.\,Bellissard, E.\,Contensou} and \textit{A.\,Legrand} [C.\ R.\ Acad.\ Sci., Paris, Sér.\ I, Math.\ 326, No.\,2, 197--200 (1998; Zbl 0920.19003)] this trace's image is equal to the image of a trace defined by an ergodic invariant probability measure on a Cantor set determined by \(L\) and acted on by a free abelian group. Without reference to the dependence on \(L\) and under the assumption that the Cantor set has no nontrivial invariant compact-open subset, the Bellissard gap-labelling conjecture states: the trace maps of the \(K\)-theory of the crossed product algebra arising from the action of the free abelian group on the Cantor set onto the additive subset of the real numbers generated by measures of compact-open subsets of the Cantor set. The paper under review proves this conjecture. After replacing the crossed product algebra of the free abelian group action by the foliation defined by the mapping torus, the authors use the Baum--Connes isomorphism to reduce the calculation to the determination of the values of the trace on the indices of twisted longitudinal Dirac operators. The final steps of the proof rely on A.\,Connes's measured index theorem for foliations and on the integrality of the top-dimensional component of the longitudinal Chern character. (There may be some disagreement about whether the literature contains a correct proof of this integrality.) Different proofs of the gap-labelling conjecture appeared in [\textit{J.\,Bellissard, R.\,Benedetti} and \textit{J.--M.\thinspace Gambaudo} [Commun.\ Math.\ Phys.\ 261, No.\,1, 1--41 (2006; Zbl 1116.46063)] and [\textit{J.\,Kaminker} and \textit{I.\,Putnam}, Mich.\ Math.\ J.\ 51, No.\,3, 537--546 (2003; Zbl 1054.46047)].