Homotopy

Homotopy theory and C*-algebras are central topics in contemporary mathematics. This book introduces a modern homotopy theory for C*-algebras. One basic idea of the setup is to merge C*-algebras and spaces studied in algebraic topology into one category comprising C*-spaces. These objects are suitable fodder for standard homotopy theoretic moves, leading to unstable and stable model structures. With the foundations in place one is led to natural definitions of invariants for C*-spaces such as homology and cohomology theories, K-theory and zeta-functions. The text is largely self-contained. It serves a wide audience of graduate students and researchers interested in C*-algebras, homotopy theory and applications.

Before I get down to the business of exposition, I'd like to offer a little motivation. I want to show that there are one or two places in homotopy theory where we strongly suspect that there is something systematic going on, but where we are not yet sure what the system is. The first question concerns the stable J-homomorphism. I recall that this is a homomorphism J: ~ (SQ) ~ ~S = ~ + (Sn), n large. r r r n It is of interest to the differential topologists. Since Bott, we know that ~ (SO) is periodic with period 8: r 6 8 r = 1 2 3 4 5 7 9· . · Z o o o z On the other hand, ~S is not known, but we can nevertheless r ask about the behavior of J. The differential topologists prove: 2 Th~~: If I' = ~ - 1, so that 'IT"r(SO) ~ 2, then J('IT"r(SO)) = 2m where m is a multiple of the denominator of ~/4k th (l\. being in the Pc Bepnoulli numher.) Conject~~: The above result is best possible, i.e. J('IT"r(SO)) = 2m where m 1s exactly this denominator. status of conJectuI'e ~ No proof in sight. Q9njecture Eo If I' = 8k or 8k + 1, so that 'IT"r(SO) = Z2' then J('IT"r(SO)) = 2 , 2 status of conjecture: Probably provable, but this is work in progl'ess.

Two top experts in topology, O.Ya. Viro and D.B. Fuchs, give an up-to-date account of research in central areas of topology and the theory of Lie groups. They cover homotopy, homology and cohomology as well as the theory of manifolds, Lie groups, Grassmanians and low-dimensional manifolds. Their book will be used by graduate students and researchers in mathematics and mathematical physics.