Introduction to the Baum-Connes Conjecture

A quick description of the conjecture The Baum-Connes conjecture is part of Alain Connes'tantalizing "noncommuta tive geometry" programme [18]. It is in some sense the most "commutative" part of this programme, since it bridges with classical geometry and topology. Let r be a countable group. The Baum-Connes conjecture identifies two objects associated with r, one analytical and one geometrical/topological. The right-hand side of the conjecture, or analytical side, involves the K theory of the ...