English

The two definitions of the index difference

K-Theory and Homology 2016-09-06 v3 Algebraic Topology Differential Geometry Geometric Topology

Abstract

Given two metrics of positive scalar curvature metrics on a closed spin manifold, there is a secondary index invariant in real KK-theory. There exist two definitions of this invariant, one of homotopical flavour, the other one defined by a index problem of Atiyah-Patodi-Singer type. We give a complete and detailed proof of the folklore result that both constructions yield the same answer. Moreover, we generalize this to the case of two families of positive scalar curvature metrics, parametrized by a compact space. In essence, we prove a generalization of the classical "spectral-flow-index theorem" to the case of families of real operators.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1308.4998,
  title  = {The two definitions of the index difference},
  author = {Johannes Ebert},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1308.4998},
  year   = {2016}
}

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Revised version

R2 v1 2026-06-22T01:13:43.106Z