Index theory and non-commutative geometry. I: Higher families index theory (Q1772110)

Atiyah identified the index of an elliptic differential operator on a compact manifold with the trace in an associated von Neumann algebra of the primary \(K\)-theory invariant of the operator. This latter invariant is a generalized index of the lifted operator to the universal cover. Connes and Moscovici generalized Atiyah's covering index theorem to higher traces, giving a cyclic cohomology proof of the Novikov conjecture for hyperbolic groups. Connes extended this construction to leafwise elliptic operators on compact foliated manifolds which are endowed with a holonomy invariant measure. Connes and Skandalis defined a push forward map in \(K\)-theory for any \(K\)-oriented map from a manifold to the space of leaves of a foliation of a compact manifold. They proved that the analytic index map from the \(K\)-theory of the tangent bundle to the foliation to the \(K\)-theory of the \(C^*\)-algebra of the foliation and the topological index map are equal, an extension of the classical Atiyah-Singer families index theorem. In this paper, the authors construct a push forward map in cohomology for a \(K\)-oriented map from an arbitrary manifold to the space of leaves of an oriented foliation, and a Chern-Connes character from the \(K\)-theory of the compactly supported smooth functions on the holonomy groupoid of the foliation to the Haefliger cohomology of the foliation. Combining these with the Connes-Skandalis topological index map and the classical Chern character they induce a commutative diagram from which the index theorem for foliated manifolds follows.