Chern classes on differential \(K\)-theory (Q600639)

A differential cohomology theory is a refinement of a generalized cohomology theory. This notion has been introduced by \textit{M. J. Hopkins} and \textit{I. M. Singer} [J. Differ. Geom. 70, No.~3, 329--452 (2005; Zbl 1116.58018)], and developed in an axiomatic framework by \textit{U. Bunke} and \textit{T. Schick} [J. Topol. 3, No.~1, 110--156 (2010; Zbl 1252.55002), corrected in arXiv 1007.2788]. Let us recall the definition: if \(\mathbb{E}\) is a generalized cohomology theory and \(V=\mathbb{E}(\star)\otimes_{\mathbb{Z}} \mathbb{R}\), a differential cohomology theory lifting \(\mathbb{E}\) is a contravariant functor \(\hat{\mathbb{E}}\) defined on the category of differentiable manifolds with values in the category of graded abelian groups, and three natural transformations \(R: \hat{\mathbb{E}} \to \Omega_{\text{closed}}(\;*\;, V)\), \(a: \hat{\mathbb{E}} \to \mathbb{E}\) and \(I: \Omega^{\star -1}(\;*\;, V)/{d\Omega^{\star-2}(\;*\;, V)} \to \hat{\mathbb{E}}\), satisfying the following conditions: {\parindent7mm \begin{itemize}\item[(i)] The composition \(R \circ a\) is the de Rham differential map. \item[(ii)] The functor \(R\) lifts the Chern character of \(\mathbb{E}\) to the level of closed \(V\)-valued differential forms. \item[(iii)] The three functors \(\text{ch}\), \(I\) and \(a\) fit into an exact sequence \[ \mathbb{E}^{\star -1} \to \Omega^{\star -1}(\;*\;, V)/{d\Omega^{\star-2}(\;*\;, V)} \to \hat {\mathbb{E}} \to \mathbb{E} \to 0. \] \end{itemize}} A well-known differential cohomology theory is given by the Cheeger-Simons differential characters, which refine the ordinary Betti cohomology groups [see \textit{J. Cheeger} and \textit{J. Simons}, Lect. Notes Math. 1167, 50--80 (1985; Zbl 0621.57010)]. This theory is called differential integral cohomology, and can be interpreted as a smooth version of Deligne-Beilinson cohomology. In the case of complex \(K\)-theory, differential extensions were introduced first by \textit{M. Karoubi} [K-Theory 4, No.~1, 55--87 (1990; Zbl 0716.57018)] under the name ``multiplicative \(K\)-theory'' and have appeared later on in different works, e.g. Hopkins-Singer [loc.\,cit.] and \textit{U. Bunke} and \textit{T. Schick} [Astérisque 328, 45--135 (2009; Zbl 1202.19007)]. In the article under review, the author is interested in defining Chern classes (instead of a Chern character) from differential \(K\)-theory to differential integral cohomology, which satisfy a Whitney additivity formula. This problem of lifting refined rational Chern classes to integral ones received a partial answer in the work of \textit{A. Berthomieu} [J. K-Theory 6, No.~2, 197--230 (2010; Zbl 1236.19007)], using an explicit model for differential \(K\)-theory. However his approach had two main drawbacks: the Chern classes were defined only on \(\widehat{K}^0\) (and not on \(\widehat{K}^1\)), and no Whitney formula was available. The main result in the present paper is the existence and unicity of integral Chern classes defined on differential \(K\)-theory, with values in differential integral cohomology. The even Chern classes from \(\hat{K^0}\) to \(\widehat{H\mathbb{Z}}^{2 \star}\) satisfy a Whitney additivity formula, and the odd and even Chern classes are compatible via differentiable suspension.