D-branes and bivariant K-theory

Abstract: We review various aspects of the topological classification of D-brane charges in K-theory, focusing on techniques from geometric K-homology and Kasparov's KK-theory. The latter formulation enables an elaborate description of D-brane charge on large classes of noncommutative spaces, and a refined characterization of open string T-duality in terms of correspondences and KK-equivalence. The examples of D-branes on noncommutative Riemann surfaces and in constant H-flux backgrounds are treated in detail. Mathematical constructions include noncommutative generalizations of Poincare duality and K-orientation, characteristic classes, and the Riemann-Roch theorem.