An index theorem in differential \(K\)-theory (Q969681)

Differential \(K\)-theory \(\check K(X)\) of a manifold \(X\) is a refinement of the topological \(K\)-theory \(K(X)\) which takes into account the differential structure of \(X\): There is a map from \(\check K(X)\) to the space of closed differential forms on \(X\). In cohomology, it agrees with the composition of \(\check K(X) \to K(X)\) with the Chern character. The main result of the present paper is an analogue of the Atiyah-Singer family index theorem for differential \(K\)-theory. Given a smooth fiber bundle \(\pi:X \to B\) with closed fibers of dimension \(n\) and such that some condition concerning \(\mathrm{spin}^c\)-structures is fulfilled, the authors define a topological and an analytic index \(\check K^0(X) \to \check K^{-n}(B)\) which they prove to be equal. We sketch the construction in the case of even-dimensional fibers: As in the classical case the definition of the topological index map uses a factorization of \(\pi\) as \(X \to S^N \times B \to B\), where the first map is a fiberwise embedding. The main step is a construction of a pushforward for embeddings. As a tool, the authors introduce a new refinement of \(K\)-theory called currential \(K\)-theory. Roughly speaking, the analytic index map is defined as follows: In the authors' description, \(\check K^0(X)\) is generated by quadrupels \((E,h, \nabla, \varphi)\), where \(E\) is a \(\mathbb{Z}/2\)-graded complex vector bundle on \(X\), \(h\) a Hermitian metric on \(E\), \(\nabla\) a compatible connection on \(E\) and \(\varphi\) a differential form on \(X\) modulo exact forms. If the kernel of the vertical Dirac operator \(D^E\) is a smooth vector bundle, then the analytic index of \((E,h, \nabla, \varphi)\) is represented by the kernel of \(D^E\) with induced metric and connection and the form \(\pi_*\varphi + \eta\), where \(\eta\) is the Bismut-Cheeger eta-form of \(D^E\). Thus, the construction and the proofs rely heavily on local index theory for families. Using a different picture of differential (\(=\) smooth) \(K\)-theory, a pushforward map \(\check K^0(X) \to \check K^{-n}(B)\) has been constructed by \textit{U. Bunke} and \textit{T. Schick} [in: From probability to geometry II. Volume in honor of the 60th birthday of Jean-Michel Bismut. Paris: Société Mathématique de France (SMF). Astérisque 328, 45--135 (2009; Zbl 1202.19007)] and has been used there to prove an index theorem in rational differential cohomology, which is recovered here by applying a Chern character.