Analytic and topological index maps with values in the K-theory of mapping cones

Index maps taking values in the $K$-theory of a mapping cone are defined and discussed. The resulting index theorem can be viewed in analogy with the Freed-Melrose index theorem. The framework of geometric $K$-homology is used in a fundamental way. In particular, an explicit isomorphism from a geometric model for $K$-homology with coefficients in a mapping cone, $C_{\phi}$, to $KK(C(X),C_{\phi})$ is constructed.Comment: 22 page

Realizing the analytic surgery group of Higson and Roe geometrically, Part II: Relative eta-invariants

We apply the geometric analog of the analytic surgery group of Higson and Roe to the relative $\eta$-invariant. In particular, by solving a Baum-Douglas type index problem, we give a "geometric" proof of a result of Keswani regarding the homotopy invariance of relative $\eta$-invariants. The starting point for this work is our previous constructions in "Realizing the analytic surgery group of Higson and Roe geometrically, Part I: The geometric model" (arXiv:1308.5990).Comment: 38 pages, to appear in Mathematische Annale

Relative geometric assembly and mapping cones, Part I: The geometric model and applications

Inspired by an analytic construction of Chang, Weinberger and Yu, we define an assembly map in relative geometric $K$-homology. The properties of the geometric assembly map are studied using a variety of index theoretic tools (e.g., the localized index and higher Atiyah-Patodi-Singer index theory). As an application we obtain a vanishing result in the context of manifolds with boundary and positive scalar curvature; this result is also inspired and connected to work of Chang, Weinberger and Yu. Furthermore, we use results of Wahl to show that rational injectivity of the relative assembly map implies homotopy invariance of the relative higher signatures of a manifold with boundary.Comment: 37 pages. Accepted in Journal of Topolog

Group actions on Smale space C*-algebras

Group actions on a Smale space and the actions induced on the C*-algebras associated to such a dynamical system are studied. We show that an effective action of a discrete group on a mixing Smale space produces a strongly outer action on the homoclinic algebra. We then show that for irreducible Smale spaces, the property of finite Rokhlin dimension passes from the induced action on the homoclinic algbera to the induced actions on the stable and unstable C*-algebras. In each of these cases, we discuss the preservation of properties---such as finite nuclear dimension, Z-stability, and classification by Elliott invariants---in the resulting crossed products.Comment: 30 pages. Final version, to appear in Ergodic Theory Dynam. System

Smale space C*-algebras have nonzero projections

The main result of the present paper is that the stable and unstable C*-algebras associated to a mixing Smale space always contain nonzero projections. This gives a positive answer to a question of the first listed author and Karen Strung and has implications for the structure of these algebras in light of the Elliott program for simple C*-algebras. Using our main result, we also show that the homoclinic, stable, and unstable algebras each have real rank zero.Comment: 15 page