Bivariant \(K\)-theory and the Weyl algebra (Q2502108)

The author defines a bivariant topological \(K\)-theory for arbitrary locally convex algebras. The theory admits a bivariant Chern-Connes character to bivariant periodic cyclic homology. Previously the author [\textit{J. Cuntz}, Doc. Math., J. DMV 2, 139--182 (1997; Zbl 0920.19004)] defined a bivariant \(K\)-theory for locally convex algebras with submultiplicative seminorms. In addition to applying to a larger class of algebras, the paper under review introduces some simplifications motivated by work of \textit{A. B. Thom} [Diss. Münster: Univ. Münster, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät (2003; Zbl 1030.46100)]. Most of the algebras relevant to the noncommutative approach to differential geometry are locally convex. While many such algebras are topologized by families of submultiplicative seminorms, dropping the dependence on submultiplicative seminorms allows the theory to apply to algebras of differential operators, such as the Weyl algebra. The coefficient ring \(kk^{\text{alg}} (\mathbb C , \mathbb C )\) of the theory introduced in the paper under review has not yet been calculated. For a related theory in which stabilization by the algebra of rapidly decreasing matrices is replaced by stabilization by Schatten ideals, \textit{J. Cuntz} and \textit{A. Thom} [Math. Ann. 334, 339--371 (2006; Zbl 1095.19003)] have shown that the graded coefficient ring is isomorphic to \(\mathbb Z [u,u^{-1}]\), with the generator in degree two (and so the degree-zero part, often referred to as the coefficient ring, is isomorphic to \(\mathbb Z\)).