L^2-invariants: Theory and applications to geometry and K-theory
\(L^2\)-Betti number\(L^2\)-cohomology\(L^2\)-torsionAtiyah conjecturedeterminant classNovikov-Shubin invariantsimplicial volumevon Neumann algebra
Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to (K)-theory (19-02) (K)-theory and operator algebras (19K99) Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to functional analysis (46-02) Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to algebraic topology (55-02) Homology with local coefficients, equivariant cohomology (55N25) Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to manifolds and cell complexes (57-02) Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to global analysis (58-02) Partial differential equations on manifolds; differential operators (58J99)
\(L^2\)-methods were introduced into topology by Atiyah in the 1970's, from an analytic perspective (elliptic operators on infinite covering spaces of Riemannian manifolds). He defined \(L^2\)-Betti numbers by means of the von Neumann dimension associated to the von Neumann algebra \({\mathcal N}(\pi)\) of the covering group \(\pi\). Subsequently, two further types of \(L^2\)-invariants were introduced: the Novikov-Shubin invariants, which measure the asymptotic behaviour of the spectrum of the Laplace operator, and the \(L^2\)-torsion, which is an analogue of the Reidemeister torsion. Although these invariants were all originally defined in terms of elliptic operators on the \(L^2\)-completions of spaces of differential forms on the covering space, the analysis has been stripped away and the method given a more algebraic appearance, notably by Lück and Farber. The von Neumann algebra \({\mathcal N}(\pi)\) is the algebra of bounded (left) \(\mathbb{C}[\pi]\)-linear operators on \(\ell^2(\pi)\), the Hilbert space completion of \(\mathbb{C}[\pi]\). The von Neumann trace gives rise to a dimension function on finitely generated projective \({\mathcal N}(\pi)\)-modules, with values in \([0,\infty)\), and which extends to a \([0,\infty]\)-valued function on arbitrary \({\mathcal N}(\pi)\)-modules. The \(L^2\)-cohomology modules of a cell-complex \(X\) with finite skeleta and \(\pi_1(X)=\pi\) are determined by the complex of cellular cocycles with square summable values on the universal covering of \(X\), and the \(L^2\)-Betti numbers of \(X\) are the dimensions of these modules. They are in general non-negative real numbers, rather than integers, but their alternating sum is the Euler characteristic \(\chi(X)\), if \(X\) is finitely dominated, and they satisfy Poincaré duality, if \(X\) is a Poincaré duality complex. In addition, they are multiplicative in finite covers, and in degrees 0 and 1 depend only on the fundamental group. In Farber's version of the theory the Novikov-Shubin invariants are invariants of the ``torsion of the \(L^2\)-cohomology modules. (The \(L^2\)-Betti numbers are invariants of the reduced \(L^2\)-cohomology, obtained by factoring out the torsion part). The \(L^2\)-torsion is defined when all the \(L^2\)-Betti numbers are 0. (We shall not attempt detailed definitions here). The above-mentioned properties of the \(L^2\)-Betti numbers all hold for formal reasons, and the proofs are straightforward. The hard work lies in determing the nature of these invariants, in particular whether they are rational, integral or 0. The Atiyah conjecture is that the \(L^2\)-Betti numbers of a finite complex are rational, and are integral if the fundamental group is torsion-free. This is known to imply that the complex group rings of torsion-free groups have no zero-divisors. It is similarly conjectured that the Novikov-Shubin invariants of a finite complex are rational numbers (when finite). The known properties of Riemannian manifolds of constant negative curvature suggest the Singer conjecture, that the \(L^2\)-Betti numbers of an aspherical closed manifold should be nonzero only in the middle dimension. In particular, if the dimension is odd the \(L^2\)-Betti numbers should all be 0. There is then a related conjecture for the sign of the \(L^2\)-torsion of such a manifold. Vanishing criteria for some or all of the \(L^2\)-Betti numbers have surprisingly strong consequences, particularly in combinatorial group theory and low-dimensional topology. The present book is the first substantial monograph on this topic. There are 17 numbered chapters: \S 0. Introduction; \S 1. \(L^2\)-Betti numbers; \S 2. Novikov-Shubin invariants; \S 3. \(L^2\)-torsion; \S 4. \(L^2\)-Invariants of 3-manifolds; \S 5. \(L^2\)-Invariants of symmetric spaces; \S 6. \(L^2\)-Invariants for general spaces with group action; \S 7. Application to groups; \S 8. The algebra of affiliated operators; \S 9. Middle \(K\)- and \(L\)-theory of von Neumann algebras; \S 10. The Atiyah conjecture; \S 11. The Singer conjecture; \S 12. The zero-in-the-spectrum conjecture; \S 13. The approximation and determinant conjectures; \S 14. \(L^2\)-Invariants and the simplicial volume; \S 15. Survey on other topics related to \(L^2\)-invariants; and \S 16. Solutions to the exercises; and a list of over 500 references. This is an impressive account of much of what is presently known about these invariants, focused on the major applications and a number of key conjectures, with strong implications for other areas of mathematics. It combines features of a text and a reference work; to a considerable degree the chapters can be read independently, and there are numerous nontrivial exercises, with nearly 50 pages of detailed hints at the end. As the author states, it would require another book to treat in detail the topics outlined in \S 15. In particular, the applications to the classical knot concordance group (due to Cochran, Orr and Teichner) are probably still evolving too rapidly to be incorporated in a reference work. However, this reviewer would have liked to have seen a more substantial discussion of Farber's approach, here confined to one paragraph in \S 6.8. (It should be noted also that operator algebra methods have had significant impact on other areas of manifold topology and \(K\)-theory, notably in connection with the Baum-Connes conjecture and the Novikov conjecture, but these applications involve \(C^*\)-algebras rather than von Neumann algebras).
- A \(C^*\)-algebra of geometric operators on self-similar CW-complexes. Novikov-Shubin and \(L^2\)-Betti numbers
- Low degree bounded cohomology and \(L^{2}\)-invariants for negatively curved groups
- \(L ^{2}\)-Betti numbers of plane algebraic curves
- Reidemeister torsion and the \(K\)-theory of von Neumann algebras
- \(L^ 2\)-invariants of manifolds and groups
- Geometry of growth: approximation theorems for L^2 invariants
- On Invariants of Hirzebruch and Cheeger-Gromov
- Equivariant Euler characteristics and K-homology Euler classes for proper cocompact G-manifolds
- \(L^ 2\)-torsion invariants and homology growth of a torus bundle over \(S^ 1\).
- Introduction to _2-methods in topology: Reduced _2-homology, harmonic chains, _2-Betti numbers
- Geometry of the smallest 1-form Laplacian eigenvalue on hyperbolic manifolds
- Mean dimension, mean rank, and von Neumann-Lück rank
- The Atiyah conjecture and \(L^2\)-cohomology computations
- L^2-Burau maps and L^2-Alexander torsions
- Mellin transformation, propagation, and abelian duality spaces
- A short note about diffuse Bieberbach groups
- Mean quantum percolation
- Spectral zeta functions of graphs and the Riemann zeta function in the critical strip
- Dynamical correspondences of \(L^2\)-Betti numbers
- Canonical measures on metric graphs and a Kazhdan's theorem
- Callias-type operators in von Neumann algebras
- Characters, \(L^2\)-Betti numbers and an equivariant approximation theorem
- The \(L^2\)-torsion polytope of amenable groups
- Sofic groups and direct finiteness.
- \(L^ 2\)-topological invariants of 3-manifolds
- \(L^2\)-invariants of locally symmetric spaces
- Homological algebra of Novikov-Shubin invariants and Morse inequalities
- Groups not presentable by products.
- Delocalized L^2-invariants
- Complete group rings as Hecke algebras
- Von Neumann dimension, Hodge index theorem and geometric applications
- Unique Cartan decomposition for \(\mathrm{II}_1\) factors arising from arbitrary actions of free groups
- Rank gradient in co-final towers of certain Kleinian groups
- Homoclinic groups, IE groups, and expansive algebraic actions
- On Murray-von Neumann algebras. I: Topological, order-theoretic and analytical aspects
- A multiplicative ergodic theorem for von Neumann algebra valued cocycles
- \(S\)-arithmetic spinor groups with the same finite quotients and distinct \(\ell^2\)-cohomology
- Entropy, Shannon orbit equivalence, and sparse connectivity
- A counterexample to the unit conjecture for group rings
- \(PD_4\)-complexes and 2-dimensional duality groups
- An \(L^2\)-Cheeger Müller theorem on compact manifolds with boundary
- Markovian properties of continuous group actions: algebraic actions, entropy and the homoclinic group
- Fuglede-Kadison determinants over free groups and Lehmer's constants
- Characteristic numbers, Jiang subgroup and non-positive curvature
- On invariant von Neumann subalgebras rigidity property
- Families torsion and Morse functions for covering spaces
- Growth of mod-2 homology in higher-rank locally symmetric spaces
- Volume and macroscopic scalar curvature
- Integral foliated simplicial volume and S^1-actions
- On the top-dimensional \(\ell^2\)-Betti numbers
- Twisted \(L^2\)-torsion on the character variety
- Approximating the group algebra of the lamplighter by infinite matrix products
- On the simplicial volume and the Euler characteristic of (aspherical) manifolds
- Amenable covers and integral foliated simplicial volume
- Two-generator one-relator groups and marked polytopes
- Alternative to Morse-Novikov theory for a closed 1-form. I
- Perverse sheaves on semi-abelian varieties -- a survey of properties and applications
- Invariant means and the structure of inner amenable groups
- Sylvester rank functions for amenable normal extensions
- On the curvature of vortex moduli spaces
- Trivial unit conjecture and homotopy theory.
- \(L^2\)-Betti numbers and Plancherel measure
- The \(L^2\)-Alexander torsions of 3-manifolds
- Counting maximally broken Morse trajectories on aspherical manifolds
- The Bieri-Neumann-Strebel invariants via Newton polytopes
- Analytic, Reidemeister and homological torsion for congruence three-manifolds
- Cost, \(\ell^2\)-Betti numbers and the sofic entropy of some algebraic actions
- Asymptotics of Cheeger constants and unitarisability of groups
- Lattice envelopes
- The strong Atiyah and Lück approximation conjectures for one-relator groups
- Sofic mean length
- Rational manifold models for duality groups
- Group-graded rings satisfying the strong rank condition
- Matrix group integrals, surfaces, and mapping class groups. I. \(\mathrm{U}(\mathrm{n})\)
- Anosov diffeomorphisms of products II. Aspherical manifolds
- Asymptotics of analytic torsion for hyperbolic three-manifolds
- Group approximation in Cayley topology and coarse geometry. III: Geometric property (T)
- Thompson's group \(F\) is not SCY
- Estimates for spectral density functions of matrices over \(\mathbb{C} [\mathbb{Z}^d]\)
- \(\ell^2\)-homology of the free group
- Approximating L^2-invariants and homology growth
- The \(L^2\)-Alexander invariant detects the unknot
- Homological properties of abstract and profinite modules and groups.
- Dimension and torsion theories for a class of Baer *-rings.
- Fillings of unit cotangent bundles
- The \(L^2\)-Alexander torsion for Seifert fiber spaces
- The base change in the Atiyah and the Lück approximation conjectures
- \(L^{2}\)-invariants of Riemannian foliations
- Non-orientable surface-plus-one-relation groups.
- Smith theory, \(L^2\)-cohomology, isometries of locally symmetric manifolds, and moduli spaces of curves
- On a conjecture of Gottlieb
- The \(\ell^2\)-cohomology of hyperplane complements
- Torsion theories for algebras of affiliated operators of finite von Neumann algebras
- Class of Baer *-rings defined by a relaxed set of axioms.
- Thin buildings.
- Fuglede-Kadison determinants and sofic entropy
- Algebraic entropy of amenable group actions
- Spectral properties of a class of random walks on locally finite groups
- Vanishing results for the cohomology of complex toric hyperplane complements
- The integral polytope group
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