Equivariant KK-Theory and the Continuous Rokhlin Property

We introduce and study the continuous Rokhlin property for actions of compact groups on $C^*$-algebras. An important technical result is a characterization of the continuous Rokhlin property in terms of asymptotic retracts. As a consequence, we derive strong $KK$-theoretical obstructions to the continuous Rokhlin property. Using these, we show that the Universal Coefficient Theorem (UCT) is preserved under formation of crossed products and passage to fixed point algebras by such actions, even in the absence of nuclearity. As an application of the case of ${{\mathbb{Z}}}_3$-actions, we answer a question of Phillips–Viola about algebras not isomorphic to their opposites. Our analysis of the $KK$-theory of the crossed product allows us to prove a ${{\mathbb{T}}}$-equivariant version of Kirchberg–Phillips: two circle actions with the continuous Rokhlin property on Kirchberg algebras are conjugate whenever they are $KK^{{{\mathbb{T}}}}$-equivalent. In the presence of the UCT, this is equivalent to having isomorphic equivariant $K$-theory. We moreover characterize the $KK^{{{\mathbb{T}}}}$-theoretical invariants that arise in this way. Finally, we identify a $KK^{{{\mathbb{T}}}}$-theoretic obstruction to the continuous property, which is shown to be the only obstruction in the setting of Kirchberg algebras. We show by means of explicit examples that the Rokhlin property is strictly weaker than the continuous Rokhlin property.

Circle Actions

This chapter focuses on circle actions. Specifically, it specializes the Weil algebra and the Weil model to a circle action. In this case, all the formulas simplify. The chapter derives a simpler complex, called the Cartan model, which is isomorphic to the Weil model as differential graded algebras. It considers the theorem that for a circle action, there is a graded-algebra isomorphism. Under the isomorphism F, the Weil differential δ‎ corresponds to a differential called the Cartan differential. An element of the Cartan model is called an equivariant differential form or equivariant form for a circle action on the manifold M.