Categories of fractions and excision in KK-theory (Q2639306)

The author uses techniques from category theory to construct a new version of bivariant K-theory for \(C^*\)-algebras. Its properties are similar to those of Kasparov's theory KK(A,B) which has proved to be a fundamental tool in \(C^*\)-algebra theory and non-commutative topology. The new theory E(A,B) which is constructed abstractly as a category of fractions from the category of \(C^*\)-algebras, has the advantage that every short exact sequence of \(C^*\)-algebras induces long exact sequences in both variables of E. For KK this is known to hold only on the class of K-nuclear \(C^*\)-algebras introduced by G. Skandalis. In fact, on this class, both theories coincide. Moreover, there is a canonical functor from KK to E, so that E is in certain respects even more computable than KK. One advantage of KK over E however is the fact, that KK is compatible with the minimal tensor product. Recently, a concrete realization of E(A,B), using ``asymptotic homomorphisms'' between A and B has been obtained by A. Connes and N. Higson. Even more recently, G. Skandalis has produced an example showing that KK and E are different.