Geometric \(K\)-homology with coefficients. II: The analytic theory and isomorphism. (Q2874238)

As suggested by M. F. Atiyah, the Atiyah-Singer index theorem can be regarded as a manifestation of an isomorphism between geometrically and analytically defined versions of \(K\)-homology. The author extends that perspective to the case of \({\mathbb Z} / k {\mathbb Z}\) coefficients, where the underlying index theorem is that of \textit{D. S. Freed} and \textit{R. B. Melrose} [Invent. Math. 107, No. 2, 283--299 (1992; Zbl 0760.58039)]. \textit{R. J. Deeley} [J. K-Theory 9, No. 3, 537--564 (2012; Zbl 1256.19005)] proposed a geometric version of \(K\)-homology with \({\mathbb Z} / k {\mathbb Z}\) coefficients. He proved that the groups he defined fit in a Bockstein exact sequence. The paper under review shows that, for a finite \(CW\)-complex, his groups are isomorphic to the analytically defined \(K\)-homology groups with \({\mathbb Z} / k {\mathbb Z}\) coefficients defined by \textit{C. Schochet} [Pac. J. Math. 114, 447--468 (1984; Zbl 0491.46062)]. It follows that the groups defined by the author are \(K\)-homology with \({\mathbb Z} / k {\mathbb Z}\) coefficients. The author's geometric cycles are \({\mathbb Z} / k {\mathbb Z}\)-manifolds with additional structure. Following ideas of \textit{J. Rosenberg} [Geom. Dedicata 100, 65--84 (2003; Zbl 1036.58020)], the author associates to each cycle a groupoid \(C^{*}\)-algebra. The cycle has a Dirac operator, which defines a class in the \(K\)-homology of the groupoid \(C^{*}\)-algebra. This observation is the crucial step in defining the image of the cycle's class in Schochet's analytically defined \(K\)-homology.