# K-Thy mapping cone in pullback diagram

Let $X, Y$ be connected, compact Hausdorff spaces and $\mathcal{H}_1, \mathcal{H}_2$ Hilbert spaces with $A \subset \mathcal{L}(\mathcal{H}_1), B \subset \mathcal{L}(\mathcal{H}_2)$ $\ast$-subalgebras. Set $\mathcal{K}_1 := \mathcal{K}(\mathcal{H}_1)$ for the compact operators and $\mathcal{K}_2 := \mathcal{K}(\mathcal{H}_2)$.

Assume that we have the canonical isomorphisms $A / \mathcal{K}_1 \cong C(X), B / \mathcal{K}_2 \cong C(Y)$ (via the quotient maps).

Let $\Sigma$ be a $C^{\ast}$-algebra pullback: $\Sigma := {(F, G) \in C(X, B) \oplus C(Y, A) : q_Y(F) = q_X(G)}$

with the maps $$q_Y \colon C(X, B) \to C(X \times Y), q_X \colon C(Y, A) \to C(X \times Y)$$

which are the pointwise quotient maps.

We can write down the Mayer-Vietoris theorem in K-theory and then we have the middle terms $K_i(C(X, A)) \oplus K_i(C(Y, B))$ in this sequence.

I would prefer $K^i(C(X)) \oplus K^i(C(Y)) \cong K^i(X) \oplus K^i(Y)$, i.e. a six-term exact sequence in K-theory no longer depending on $A, B$ and nontrivial examples of such situations.

I have the following observations (question at the end):

The mapping cone of $q_Y$ is defined as follows $$C q_Y := \{(F, f) \in C(X, B) \oplus C C(X \times Y) : f(0) = q_Y(F)\} \\$$

for $q_X$ $$C q_X := \{(G, g) \in C(Y, A) \oplus C C(X \times Y) : g(0) = q_X(G)\}$$

Note that with the short exact sequence $$0 \to C(X, \mathcal{K}_2) \to C q_Y \to C C(X \times Y) \to 0$$

we have the isomorphism $K_i(C q_Y) \cong K_i(\ker q_Y) = K^i(X)$ and similarly for $q_X$.

Now define the (special) cone $$C_{\Sigma} := \{(F, G, f) \in \Sigma \oplus C C(X \times Y) : f(0) = q_Y(F) = q_X(G)\}$$

We have an injective homomorphism $\kappa \colon C_{\Sigma} \to C q_X \oplus C q_Y, (F, G, f) \mapsto (F, f) \oplus (G, f)$.

Consider the short exact sequence $$0 \to SC(X \times Y) \to C_{\Sigma} \to \Sigma \to 0$$

Where $j \colon SC(X \times Y) \to C_{\Sigma}, f \mapsto (0, 0, f)$ and $\varphi \colon C_{\Sigma} \to \Sigma, (F, G, f) \mapsto (F, G)$.

Now we can calculate the six-term exact sequence in K-theory. What I would like to have are isomorphisms in K-theory $K_i(C_{\Sigma}) \cong K_i(C q_X) \oplus K_i(C q_Y) \cong K^i(X) \oplus K^i(Y)$.

We would obtain a Mayer-Vietoris sequence which no longer depends on $A, B$.

But these cones are not homotopy equivalent. I would just like to know a concrete counterexample that such an isomorphism in K-theory does not hold (given $X, Y, A, B$ etc.).

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I just want to make sure I understand your question before I try to formulate an answer. You begin with compact Hausdorff spaces $X$ and $Y$ together with extensions $A$ and $B$ of $C(X)$ and $C(Y)$, respectively, by compact operators. The main issue is that you want to calculate the K-theory of $C(X,B)$ and $C(Y,A)$ purely in terms of $X$ and $Y$, and the reason why you care is that you want to understand the Mayer-Vietoris sequence associated to a certain pullback diagram. Is that about right? –  Paul Siegel May 27 '12 at 3:13
That is about right. If I wanted to calculate the K-theory of $\Sigma$ via Mayer-Vietoris in some concrete situation, I have to first know the K-theory of $A, B$ to use the Künneth theorem, which might be hard. Therefore it would be nice to have a MV-type sequence no longer depending on $A, B$. –  santker heboln May 27 '12 at 9:59