The Godbillon-Vey invariant and equivariant \(KK\)-theory (Q782360)

Let \((M,F)\) be a transversely orientable foliated manifold with holonomy groupoid \(G\). The authors construct two \(G\)-equivariant \(KK\)-elements which are dual-Dirac elements involving the manifold and sections of certain complexified Clifford bundles. In the codimension \(1\) case of the foliated manifold, one of the two dual-Dirac elements is put into the descent map to yield a \(KK\)-element between crossed product algebras, which then again gives a semifinite spectral triple. To it, a semifinite local index formula is applied to obtain the following theorem. If the foliated manifold \((M,F)\) has codimension 1, then the Chern character of the above semifinite spectral triple is up to a universal numerical constant a certain cyclic cocycle defined by Connes and Moscovici. The authors point out the connection of their approach to the Godbillon-Vey invariant, a secondary characteristic class for transversely orientable foliations, by a final technical theorem about some involved forms.