L\({}_ 2\)-cohomology of arithmetic varieties (Q755804)

Suppose that G is the group of real points of a semi-simple algebraic group defined over the rationals, that K is a maximal compact subgroup of G and that the associated symmetric space \(D=G/K\) is Hermitian. The quotient X of D by an arithmetic subgroup of G which acts freely on D has a natural complete metric induced from the Bergman metric on D. It was conjectured by \textit{S. Zucker} in Invent. Math. 70, 169-218 (1982; Zbl 0508.20020) that there is a natural isomorphism between the \(L_ 2\)- cohomology of X and the (middle perversity) intersection cohomology of the Satake-Baily-Borel compactification of X. In the paper under review the authors present a proof of this conjecture which was announced earlier by them in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 5516-5519 (1987; Zbl 0653.14010). A different and independent proof has been given by \textit{E. Looijenga} in Compos. Math. 67, No.1, 3-20 (1988; Zbl 0658.14010).