\(K\)-theory of the commutator ideal (Q5947283)

Let \(A\) and \(B\) be separable unital \(C^*\)-algebras, for which the Künneth formula for tensor products holds without Tor-terms. Let \(I\) denote the kernel of the natural surjective \(*\)-homomorphism from the unital free product \(A*_{\mathbb C}B\) onto the maximal tensor product \(A\otimes_{\text{max}}B\). The main result of the paper is an explicit formula for the \(K\)-theory boundary map \(\partial:K_*(A\otimes_{\text{max}}B)\to K_{*+1}(I)\). Let \(F_n\) denote the free group on \(n\) generators and let \(\Gamma\) be its one-relator quotient group. It was conjectured in [\textit{C. Béguin}, \textit{H. Bettaieb}, \textit{A. Valette}. \(K\)-Theory 16, No. 3, 277-298 (1999; Zbl 0932.46063)] that for the short exact sequence \(0\to I\to C^*(F_n)\to C^*(\Gamma)\to 0\) of full group \(C^*\)-algebras the group \(K_*(I)\) is always generated by the relation, which defines \(\Gamma\). The author proves this conjecture in the case, when the relation is a commutator (otherwise the conjecture is easy), by reducing it to the extension \(0\to I\to C^*(F_2)\to C^*({\mathbb Z}\times{\mathbb Z})\to 0\) and to explicit computations in cyclic cohomology.