We use a spectral sequence developed by Graeme Segal in order to understand the twisted G-equivariant K-theory for proper and discrete actions. We show that the second page of this spectral sequence is isomorphic to a version of Bredon cohomology with local coefficients in twisted representations. We furthermore explain some phenomena concerning the third differential of the spectral sequence, and recover known results when the twisting comes from finite order elements in discrete torsion.

In this paper we give explicit formulas for differential characteristic classes of principal $G$-bundles with connections and prove their expected properties. In particular, we obtain explicit formulas for differential Chern classes, differential Pontryagin classes and the differential Euler class. Furthermore, we show that the differential Chern class is the unique natural transformation from (Simons–Sullivan) differential $K$-theory to (Cheeger–Simons) differential characters that is compatible with curvature and characteristic class. We also give the explicit formula for the differential Chern class on Freed–Lott differential $K$-theory. Finally, we discuss the odd differential Chern classes.

Twisted K-theory on a manifold X, with twisting in the 3rd integral cohomology, is discussed in the case when X is a product of a circle and a manifold M. The twist is assumed to be decomposable as a cup product of the basic integral one form on and an integral class in H2(M,ℤ). This case was studied some time ago by V. Mathai, R. Melrose, and I.M. Singer. Our aim is to give an explicit construction for the twisted K-theory classes using a quantum field theory model, in the same spirit as the supersymmetric Wess-Zumino-Witten model is used for constructing (equivariant) twisted K-theory classes on compact Lie groups.

We decompose θ(M), the twisted index obstruction to a positive scalar curvature metric for closed oriented manifolds with spin universal cover, into a pairing of a twisted K-homology with a twisted K-theory class and prove that θ(M) does not vanish if M is a closed orientable enlargeable manifold with spin universal cover.

We develop equivariant KK–theory for locally compact groupoid actions by Morita equivalences on real and complex graded C*-algebras. Functoriality with respect to generalised morphisms and Bott periodicity are discussed. We introduce Stiefel-Whitney classes for real or complex equivariant vector bundles over locally compact groupoids to establish the Thom isomorphism theorem in twisted groupoid K–theory.

There is an equivalence relation on the set of smooth maps of a manifold into the stable unitary group, defined using a Chern-Simons type form, whose equivalence classes form an abelian group under ordinary block sum of matrices. This construction is functorial, and defines a differential extension of odd K-theory, fitting into natural commutative diagrams and exact sequences involving K-theory and differential forms. To prove this we obtain along the way several results concerning even and odd Chern and Chern-Simons forms.

Twisted K-theory classes over compact Lie groups can be realized as families of Fredholm operators using the representation theory of loop groups. In this paper we show how to deform the Fredholm family in the sense of quantum groups. The family of Dirac-type operators is parametrized by vectors in the adjoint module for a quantum affine algebra and transforms covariantly under a central extension of the algebra.