In mathematics, a Riemann–Roch theorem for smooth manifolds is a version of results such as the Hirzebruch–Riemann–Roch theorem or Grothendieck–Riemann–Roch theorem (GRR) without a hypothesis making the smooth manifolds involved carry a complex structure. Results of this kind were obtained by Michael Atiyah and Friedrich Hirzebruch in 1959, reducing the requirements to something like a spin structure.
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Formulation
Let X and Y be oriented smooth closed manifolds, and f: X → Y a continuous map. Let vf=f*(TY) − TX in the K-group K(X). If dim(X) ≡ dim(Y) mod 2, then
where ch is the Chern character, d(vf) an element of the integral cohomology group H2(Y, Z) satisfying d(vf) ≡ f* w2(TY)-w2(TX) mod 2, fK* the Gysin homomorphism for K-theory, and fH* the Gysin homomorphism for cohomology . This theorem was first proven by Atiyah and Hirzebruch.
The theorem is proven by considering several special cases. If Y is the Thom space of a vector bundle V over X, then the Gysin maps are just the Thom isomorphism. Then, using the splitting principle, it suffices to check the theorem via explicit computation for line bundles.
If f: X → Y is an embedding, then the Thom space of the normal bundle of X in Y can be viewed as a tubular neighborhood of X in Y, and excision gives a map
and
The Gysin map for K-theory/cohomology is defined to be the composition of the Thom isomorphism with these maps. Since the theorem holds for the map from X to the Thom space of N, and since the Chern character commutes with u and v, the theorem is also true for embeddings. f: X → Y.
Finally, we can factor a general map f: X → Y into an embedding
and the projection
The theorem is true for the embedding. The Gysin map for the projection is the Bott-periodicity isomorphism, which commutes with the Chern character, so the theorem holds in this general case also.
Corollaries
Atiyah and Hirzebruch then specialised and refined in the case X = a point, where the condition becomes the existence of a spin structure on Y. Corollaries are on Pontryagin classes and the J-homomorphism.