Analytic Torsion and R-Torsion for Unimodular Representations (Q5289713)

Let \(M^ n\) be a closed manifold, \(\rho: \pi_ 1(M) \to O_ N\) or \(U_ N\) an acyclic orthogonal or unitary representation. \(\rho\) induces a flat vector bundle \(E_{\rho}\) over \(M\). Then the Reidemeister torsion \(\tau_ M(\rho)\) is well defined. Endowing \(M^ n\) with a Riemannian metric \(g\), the analytic torsion \(T_ M(\rho)\) is defined. As well known, Cheeger and the author proved \(T_ M(\rho) = \tau_ M(\rho)\). Since \(\pi_ 1(M)\) will have in general many nonorthogonal finite dimensional representations, the applicability of the above result is certainly limited. In this paper the author partially removes this limitation. He defines Reidemeister and analytic torsion for unimodular representations and obtains the following main theorem. Let \(M\) be a closed Riemannian manifold of odd dimension and let \(\rho: \pi_ 1(M) \to Gl(E)\) be a unimodular representation on a finite dimensional real or complex vector space. Let \(E_ \rho\) be the associated flat bundle. Then for any choice of a metric on \(E_ \rho\) we have \(T_ M(\rho;h) = \tau_ M(\rho;h)\). This theorem does not hold in even dimensions. The main idea is to study the variation of \(T_ M(\rho;h)\) with respect to the metric \(h\) in \(E_ \rho\) and \(g\) on \(M\). The author derives an explicit formula. If \(\dim M\) is even, the variational formula contains additional terms which are locally computable. There are examples showing that these terms may not vanish even if the representation is acyclic.