Geometric cycles, index theory and twisted \(K\)-homology (Q951975)

\textit{P. Baum} and \textit{R. G. Douglas} [Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 38, Part 1, 117--173 (1982; Zbl 0532.55004)] formulated the foundation of the Atiyah-Singer index theorem as the existence of a commutative triangle of isomorphisms among the compactly supported \(K\)-theory of a smooth closed manifold's cotangent bundle and the topologically and analytically defined \(K\)-homology groups of the manifold. The paper under review extends this formulation to the setting of twisted \(K\)-theory. A twisting of the \(K\)-theory of \(X\) is determined by a continuous map from \(X\) to the Eilenberg-MacLane space \(K(\mathbb Z,3)\), i.e., by a principal bundle with fiber the projective unitary group of Hilbert space. The principal bundle determines a bundle with fibers the complex \(K\)-theory spectrum and a bundle with fibers the compact operators. The twisted \(K\)-theory groups of \(X\) can be defined in two equivalent ways: the homotopy classes of compactly supported sections of the former bundle; or the algebraic \(K\)-cohomology groups of the algebra of sections of the latter bundle. The topological twisted \(K\)-homology is defined using stable homotopy groups. The analytic twisted \(K\)-homology is the Kasparov \(KK\)-group with the algebra of sections of the bundle of compact operators in the first entry and with the scalar field in the second entry. As part of the reasoning, the author develops the theory of twisted \(\text{Spin}^{c}\) bordism, on which are defined analytic and topological index maps. He also defines Baum-Douglas-style geometric twisted \(K\)-homology groups. Arguments involving \(K\)-theoretic Poincaré duality and the contangent bundle establish that, for smooth closed manifolds \(X\), the topological, geometric, and analytic twisted \(K\)-homology groups of \(X\) form a commutative triangle of isomorphisms. The author hopes to prove this result for more general spaces. He proves a twisted longitudinal index theorem that generalizes the Atiyah-Singer families index theorem and the index theorem, for projective families of elliptic operators associated to a torsion twisting, of \textit{V. Mathai, R. B. Melrose} and \textit{I. M. Singer} [Geom. Topol. 9, 341--373 (2005; Zbl 1083.58021)]. The paper ends with a brief discussion of \(KO\) twisting and string theory. Twisted \(K\)-theory has a long history, including papers of \textit{P. Donovan} and \textit{M. Karoubi} [Publ. Math., Inst. Hautes Étud. Sci. 38, 5--25 (1970; Zbl 0207.22003)] and \textit{J. Rosenberg} [J. Aust. Math. Soc., Ser. A 47, No. 3, 368--381 (1989; Zbl 0695.46031)]. Renewed interest is due to the role of twisted \(K\)-theory in string theory.