Local index theory and $\mathbb{Z}/k\mathbb{Z}$ $K$-theory (2410.16399v1)

Abstract: For any given submersion $\pi:X\to B$ with closed, oriented and spin$^c$ fibers of even dimension, equipped with a Riemannian and differential spin$^c$ structure $\boldsymbol{\pi}$, we construct an analytic index $\textrm{ind}^a_k$ in odd $\mathbb{Z}/k\mathbb{Z}$ $K$-theory on the cocycle level by associating to every cocycle $(\mathbf{E}, \mathbf{F}, \alpha)$ of the odd $\mathbb{Z}/k\mathbb{Z}$ $K$-theory group of $X$ a cocycle $\textrm{ind}^a_k(\mathbf{E}, \mathbf{F}, \alpha)$ of the odd $\mathbb{Z}/k\mathbb{Z}$ $K$-theory group of $B$. The cocycle $\textrm{ind}^a_k(\mathbf{E}, \mathbf{F}, \alpha)$ is defined in terms of the twisted spin$^c$ Dirac operators associated to $(\mathbf{E}, \boldsymbol{\pi})$ and $(\mathbf{F}, \boldsymbol{\pi})$, which are not assumed to satisfy the kernel bundle assumption. We prove a Riemann-Roch-Grothendieck type formula in odd $\mathbb{Z}/k\mathbb{Z}$ $K$-theory, which expresses the Cheeger-Chern-Simons form of $\textrm{ind}^a_k(\mathbf{E}, \mathbf{F}, \alpha)$ in terms of that of $(\mathbf{E}, \mathbf{F}, \alpha)$. Furthermore, we show that the analytic index $\textrm{ind}^a_k$ and the Riemann-Roch-Grothendieck type formula in odd $\mathbb{Z}/k\mathbb{Z}$ $K$-theory refine the geometric bundle part of the analytic index and the Riemann-Roch-Grothendieck theorem in $\mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z}$ $K$-theory, respectively. An as intermediate result, we give a proof that the analytic indexes in differential $K$-theory defined without the kernel bundle assumption via the Atiyah-Singer-Gorokhovsky-Lott approach and the Miscenko-Fomenko-Freed-Lott approach, respectively, are equal.