The quantum Euclidean spheres, SqN−1, are (noncommutative) homogeneous
spaces of quantum orthogonal groups, \SO_q(N). The *-algebra A(SqN−1)
of polynomial functions on each of these is given by generators and relations
which can be expressed in terms of a self-adjoint, unipotent matrix. We
explicitly construct complete sets of generators for the K-theory (by
nontrivial self-adjoint idempotents and unitaries) and the K-homology (by
nontrivial Fredholm modules) of the spheres SqN−1. We also construct the
corresponding Chern characters in cyclic homology and cohomology and compute
the pairing of K-theory with K-homology. On odd spheres (i. e., for N even) we
exhibit unbounded Fredholm modules by means of a natural unbounded operator D
which, while failing to have compact resolvent, has bounded commutators with
all elements in the algebra A(SqN−1).Comment: LaTeX, Euler package, a few improvements and added reference