A relative higher index theorem, diffeomorphisms and positive scalar curvature

DOI10.1016/J.AIM.2013.09.011MaRDI QIDQ2445374zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Publication date 14 April 2014

Published in Advances in Mathematics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1204.3664

\(K\)-theory group \(C^*\)-algebras higher index theory positive scalar curvature

(K)-theory and operator algebras (including cyclic theory) (46L80) Spin and Spin({}^c) geometry (53C27) Index theory and related fixed-point theorems on manifolds (58J20)

Abstract: We prove a general relative higher index theorem for complete manifolds with positive scalar curvature towards infinity. We apply this theorem to study Riemannian metrics of positive scalar curvature on manifolds. For every two metrics of positive scalar curvature on a closed manifold and a Galois cover of the manifold, we define a secondary higher index class. Non-vanishing of this higher index class is an obstruction for the two metrics to be in the same connected component of the space of metrics of positive scalar curvature. In the special case where one metric is induced from the other by a diffeomorphism of the manifold, we obtain a formula for computing this higher index class. In particular, it follows that the higher index class lies in the image of the Baum-Connes assembly map.

Review text

This paper proves a relative higher index theorem on complete spin manifolds. This means that \(X_0,X_1\) are complete spin Riemannian manifolds of scalar curvature uniformly bounded from below outside a compact set by a positive constant; \(N_0,N_1\) are compact hypersurfaces separating \(X_0,X_1\) in two components \(\Omega_0\sqcup Y_0\), respectively \(\Omega_1\sqcup Y_1\); there exists an isometry \(\Psi:\Omega_0\to\Omega_1\), which lifts to the spin bundles; finally, there is a discrete group \(\Gamma\) and some Galois \(\Gamma\)-cover spaces \(\tilde{X}_i\) of \(X_i\) compatible with \(\Psi\). Then \(X_0\setminus \Omega_0\) can be glued to \(X_1\setminus \Omega_1\) with its orientation changed, and the resulting manifold, after some deformation of the metric in a compact region, will inherit a spin structure and a \(\Gamma\)-cover. The theorem states that the \(C_r(\Gamma)\)-valued index of the \(\Gamma\)-equivariant Dirac operator is additive with respect to this operation. This result had been proved by \textit{U. Bunke} [Math. Ann. 303, No. 2, 241--279 (1995; Zbl 0835.58035)] when the scalar curvature is globally positive. The authors use this theorem to construct an obstruction with values in the \(K\)-theory of the \(C^*\)-algebra \(C_r(\pi_1(M))\) for two metrics of positive scalar curvature on a closed, odd-dimensional manifold \(M\) to be joinable by a path inside the space \(\mathcal{R}^+(M)\) of metrics of positive scalar curvature. This obstruction is discussed in more detail when the two metrics differ by an element of the mapping class group.

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