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# Higher arithmetic 𝐾-theory

## 1. Preliminaries

### 1.1. Conventions on complexes

Let us first settle some conventions on complexes. For a complex $`A^{}=(A^n,d_A)`$ of an abelian category $`𝔄`$ and $`n`$, the $`n`$-th translation $`A[n]^{}`$ is defined as $`A[n]^k=A^{n+k}`$ and $`d_{A[n]}=(1)^nd_A`$. For a morphism of complexes $`u:A^{}B^{}`$, the mapping cone $`Cone(u)`$ is defined by

$$Cone(u)^k=A^{k+1}B^k$$

and the differential $`d:A^{k+1}B^kA^{k+2}B^{k+1}`$ is defined by

$$d(a,b)=(d_A(a),u(a)+d_B(b)).$$

A homological complex is a family $`\{A_n\}_n`$ of objects of $`𝔄`$ with morphisms $`_A:A_nA_{n1}`$ such that $`_A^2=0`$. For a homological complex $`(A_n,_A)`$, we can define a complex $`A^{}`$ by $`A^n=A_n`$ and $`d_A=_A`$. The $`n`$-th translation of a homological complex $`A_{}`$ is defined by $`A[n]_k=A_{kn}`$ and $`_{A[n]}=(1)^n_A`$.

### 1.2. $`S`$-construction

In this subsection we recall $`S`$-construction developed by Waldhausen . Let $`[n]`$ be the finite ordered set $`\{0,1,\mathrm{},n\}`$ and $`\mathrm{Ar}[n]`$ the category of arrows of $`[n]`$. For a small exact category $`𝔄`$, let $`S_n𝔄`$ be the set of functors

$$E:\mathrm{Ar}[n]𝔄,ijE_{i,j}$$

satisfying the following conditions:

1. $`E_{i,i}=0`$ for any $`0in`$.
2. For any $`ijk`$, $`E_{i,j}E_{i,k}E_{j,k}`$ is a short exact sequence of $`𝔄`$.

For example, $`S_0𝔄=\{0\}`$, $`S_1𝔄`$ is the set of objects of $`𝔄`$ and $`S_2𝔄`$ is the set of short exact sequences of $`𝔄`$. The functor

$$S𝔄:[n]S_n𝔄$$

becomes a simplicial set with the base point $`0S_0𝔄`$.

The set $`S_n𝔄`$ can be identified with the set of sequences of injections

$$E_{0,1}\mathrm{}E_{0,n}$$

with quotients $`E_{i,j}E_{0,j}/E_{0,i}`$ for each $`i<j`$. By using this identification, we can describe the boundary maps and the degeneracy maps of $`S𝔄`$ as follows:

$$_k(E_{0,1}\mathrm{}E_{0,n})=\{\begin{array}{cc}E_{1,2}\mathrm{}E_{1,n},\hfill & k=0,\hfill \\ E_{0,1}\mathrm{}E_{0,k1}E_{0,k+1}\mathrm{}E_{0,n},\hfill & k1\hfill \end{array}$$

and

$$s_k(E_{0,1}\mathrm{}E_{0,n})=\{\begin{array}{cc}0E_{0,1}\mathrm{}E_{0,n},\hfill & k=0,\hfill \\ E_{0,1}\mathrm{}E_{0,k}\stackrel{id}{}E_{0,k}\mathrm{}E_{0,n},\hfill & k1.\hfill \end{array}$$

###### Theorem 1.1.

\[16, §1.9\] There is a homotopy equivalence map between the topological realizations of simplicial sets

$$|S𝔄||BQ𝔄|,$$

where $`BQ𝔄`$ is the classifying space of the Quillen’s $`Q`$-construction of $`𝔄`$ . Therefore for $`n0`$, it follows that

$$\pi _{n+1}(|S𝔄|,0)K_n(𝔄).$$

### 1.3. Exact $`n`$-cubes

Let us recall the notion of an exact $`n`$-cube. For more details, see . Let $`<1,0,1>`$ be the ordered set consisting of three elements and $`<1,0,1>^n`$ its $`n`$-th power. For a small exact category $`𝔄`$, a functor $`:<1,0,1>^n𝔄`$ is called an $`n`$-cube of $`𝔄`$. Let $`_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _n}`$ denote the image of an object $`(\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _n)`$ of $`<1,0,1>^n`$. For integers $`i`$ and $`j`$ satisfying $`1in`$ and $`1j1`$, an $`(n1)`$-cube $`_i^j`$ is defined by $`(_i^j)_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{n1}}=_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},j,\alpha _i,\mathrm{},\alpha _{n1}}`$. It is called a face of $``$. For an object $`\alpha `$ of $`<1,0,1>^{n1}`$ and an integer $`i`$ satisfying $`1in`$, a $`1`$-cube $`_{i^c}^\alpha `$ called an edge of $``$ is defined by

$$_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},1,\alpha _i,\mathrm{},\alpha _{n1}}_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},0,\alpha _i,\mathrm{},\alpha _{n1}}_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},1,\alpha _i,\mathrm{},\alpha _{n1}}.$$

An $`n`$-cube $``$ is said to be exact if all edges of $``$ are short exact sequences. Let $`C_n𝔄`$ denote the set of all exact $`n`$-cubes of $`𝔄`$. If $``$ is an exact $`n`$-cube, then any face $`_i^j`$ is also exact. Hence $`_i^j`$ induces a map

$$_i^j:C_n𝔄C_{n1}𝔄.$$

Let $``$ be an exact $`n`$-cube of $`𝔄`$. For an integer $`i`$ satisfying $`1in+1`$, let $`s_i^1`$ be an exact $`(n+1)`$-cube defined as follows:

$$(s_i^1)_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+1}}=\{\begin{array}{cc}0,\hfill & \alpha _i=1,\hfill \\ _{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+1}},\hfill & \alpha _i1\hfill \end{array}$$

and the morphism $`(s_i^1)_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},1,\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+1}}(s_i^1)_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},0,\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+1}}`$ is the identity of $`_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+1}}`$. In addition, let $`s_i^1`$ be an exact $`(n+1)`$-cube defined as follows:

$$(s_i^1)_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+1}}=\{\begin{array}{cc}0,\hfill & \alpha _i=1,\hfill \\ _{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+1}},\hfill & \alpha _i1\hfill \end{array}$$

and the morphism $`(s_i^1)_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},0,\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+1}}(s_i^1)_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},1,\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+1}}`$ is the identity of $`_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+1}}`$. Then the map

$$s_i^j:C_n𝔄C_{n+1}𝔄$$

is also defined. An exact cube written as $`s_i^j`$ is said to be degenerate.

Let $`C_n𝔄`$ be the free abelian group generated by $`C_n𝔄`$. Let $`D_nC_n𝔄`$ be the subgroup generated by all degenerate exact $`n`$-cubes. Let $`\stackrel{~}{}C_n𝔄=C_n𝔄/D_n`$ and

$$=\underset{i=1}{\overset{𝑛}{}}\underset{j=1}{\overset{1}{}}(1)^{i+j+1}_i^j:\stackrel{~}{}C_n𝔄\stackrel{~}{}C_{n1}𝔄.$$

Then $`\stackrel{~}{}C_{}𝔄=(\stackrel{~}{}C_n𝔄,)`$ becomes a homological complex.

We can construct an exact $`(n1)`$-cube $`\mathrm{Cub}(E)`$ associated with an element $`ES_n𝔄`$ in an inductive way. In the case of $`n=1`$, let us define $`\mathrm{Cub}(E)=E`$ for $`ES_1𝔄`$. When an exact $`(m1)`$-cube is associated with any element of $`S_m𝔄`$ for $`m<n`$, an $`(n1)`$-cube $`\mathrm{Cub}(E)`$ associated with $`ES_n𝔄`$ is defined as

$$_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(E)=s_{n2}^1\mathrm{}s_1^1(E_{0,1}),$$

$$_1^0\mathrm{Cub}(E)=\mathrm{Cub}(_1E),$$

$$_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(E)=\mathrm{Cub}(_0E).$$

Then $`\mathrm{Cub}:S_n𝔄C_{n1}𝔄`$ induces a homomorphism of complexes

$$\mathrm{Cub}:S_{}𝔄[1]\stackrel{~}{}C_{}𝔄.$$

Remark: The differential of $`\stackrel{~}{}C_{}𝔄`$ defined above is the minus of the one defined in . But since the differential of $`S_{}𝔄[1]`$ is also the minus of the one of $`S_{}𝔄`$, the homomorphism $`\mathrm{Cub}`$ is compatible with the differentials of complexes.

### 1.4. Deligne cohomology

Let $`M`$ be a complex algebraic manifold of dimension $`n`$, that is, let $`M`$ be the analytic space consisting of all $``$-valued points of a smooth algebraic variety of dimension $`n`$ over $``$. Then higher Chern character map from higher algebraic $`K`$-theory to a reasonable cohomology theory

$$\mathrm{ch}_i:K_i(M)\underset{𝑗}{}H^{2ji}(M,\mathrm{\Gamma }(j))$$

has been developed in . In the case of $`i=0`$, it is given by the Chern characters of vector bundles. But when $`i>0`$ and $`M`$ is compact, $`\mathrm{ch}_i`$ with values in the singular cohomology is known to be trivial.

In order to obtain a nontrivial higher Chern character map, we should consider Deligne cohomology. From now on we assume that $`M`$ is compact. Let $`\mathrm{\Omega }_M^{}`$ be the complex of analytic sheaves of holomorphic differential forms and let $`F^p\mathrm{\Omega }_M^{}`$ be the de Rham filtration of $`\mathrm{\Omega }_M^{}`$, that is,

$$F^p\mathrm{\Omega }_M^{}=(0\mathrm{\Omega }_M^p\mathrm{\Omega }_M^{p+1}\mathrm{}\mathrm{\Omega }_M^n).$$

The real Deligne complex $`(p)_𝒟`$ on $`M`$ is a complex of sheaves defined as follows:

$$\mathrm{𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑒}((p)F^p\mathrm{\Omega }_M^{}\stackrel{\epsilon \iota }{}\mathrm{\Omega }_M^{})[1],$$

where $`\epsilon `$ and $`\iota `$ are natural inclusions. It is obvious that $`(p)_𝒟`$ is quasi-isomorphic to the complex

$$0(p)𝒪_M\mathrm{\Omega }_M^1\mathrm{}\mathrm{\Omega }_M^{p1}0,$$

where $`(p)`$ is of degree zero. The real Deligne cohomology $`H_𝒟^i(M,(p))`$ is defined as the hypercohomology of $`(p)`$, that is,

$$H_𝒟^i(M,(p))=𝐇^i(M,(p)_𝒟).$$

In fact, Deligne cohomology can be defined when $`M`$ is neither smooth nor compact . Moreover, it can be a target of a nontrivial higher Chern character map, that is, there is a homomorphism

$$\mathrm{ch}_i:K_i(M)\underset{𝑝}{}H_𝒟^{2pi}(M,(p)),$$

which is far from trivial.

Let $`_{}^p(M)`$ be the space of real smooth differential forms of degree $`p`$ on $`M`$ and $`^p(M)=_{}^p(M)\underset{}{}`$. Let $`^{p,q}(M)`$ be the space of complex differential forms of type $`(p,q)`$ on $`M`$. We set

$$𝒟^n(M,p)=\{\begin{array}{cc}_{}^{n1}(M)(p1)\underset{p^{}<p,q^{}<p}{\underset{p^{}+q^{}=n1}{}}^{p^{},q^{}}(M),\hfill & n<2p,\hfill \\ _{}^{2p}(M)(p)^{p,p}(M)\mathrm{Ker}d,\hfill & n=2p,\hfill \\ 0,\hfill & n>2p\hfill \end{array}$$

and define a differential $`d_𝒟:𝒟^n(M,p)𝒟^{n+1}(M,p)`$ by

$$d_𝒟(\omega )=\{\begin{array}{cc}\pi (d\omega ),\hfill & n<2p1,\hfill \\ 2\overline{}\omega ,\hfill & n=2p1,\hfill \\ 0,\hfill & n>2p1,\hfill \end{array}$$

where $`\pi :^n(M)𝒟^n(M,p)`$ is the canonical projection.

###### Theorem 1.2.

\[3, Thm.2.6\] Let $`M`$ be a compact complex algebraic manifold. Then $`(𝒟^{}(M,p),d_𝒟)`$ becomes a complex of $``$-vector spaces and there is a canonical isomorphism

$$H^n(𝒟^{}(M,p),d_𝒟)H_𝒟^n(M,(p))$$

if $`n2p`$.

### 1.5. Higher Bott-Chern forms

In this subsection we recall the higher Bott-Chern forms developed by Burgos and Wang. For more details, the reader should consult the original paper  or a survey . A hermitian vector bundle $`\overline{E}=(E,h)`$ on a complex algebraic manifold $`M`$ is an algebraic vector bundle $`E`$ on $`M`$ with a smooth hermitian metric $`h`$. On a hermitian vector bundle $`\overline{E}`$, there is a unique connection $`_{\overline{E}}`$ that is compatible with both the metric and the complex structure. Let $`K_{\overline{E}}`$ denote the curvature form of $`_{\overline{E}}`$. The Chern form of $`\overline{E}`$ is defined as

$$\mathrm{ch}_0(\overline{E})=\mathrm{Tr}(\mathrm{exp}(K_{\overline{E}}))\underset{𝑝}{}𝒟^{2p}(M,p).$$

Hereafter we assume that $`M`$ is compact. An exact metrized $`n`$-cube on $`M`$ is an exact $`n`$-cube made of hermitian vector bundles on $`M`$. Let $`=\{\overline{E}_\alpha \}`$ be an exact metrized $`n`$-cube on $`M`$. For an $`n`$-tuple $`\alpha =(\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _n)`$ with $`1\alpha _k1`$ and an integer $`i`$ satisfying $`\alpha _i=1`$, there is a surjection $`\overline{E}_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},0,\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _n}\overline{E}_\alpha `$. $``$ is called an emi-$`n`$-cube if the metric on any $`\overline{E}_\alpha `$ with $`\alpha _i=1`$ coincides with the metric induced from $`\overline{E}_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},0,\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _n}`$ by the above surjection.

Let $`(x:y)`$ be the homogeneous coordinate of $`^1`$. Let $`\overline{𝒪(1)}`$ be the tautological line bundle on $`^1`$ with the Fubini-Study metric. For a hermitian vector bundle $`\overline{E}`$ on $`M`$, let $`\overline{E}(1)`$ be the hermitian vector bundle on $`M\times ^1`$ given by $`\pi _1^{}\overline{E}\pi _2^{}\overline{𝒪(1)}`$. Let $`\sigma _x,\sigma _yH^0(^1,𝒪(1))`$ be global sections of $`𝒪(1)`$ determined by $`x`$ and $`y`$ respectively.

For an emi-$`1`$-cube $`:\overline{E}_1\overline{E}_0\overline{E}_1`$, a map $`\psi :\overline{E}_1\overline{E}_0(1)\overline{E}_1(1)`$ on $`M\times ^1`$ is defined by $`e(\iota (e)\sigma _x,e\sigma _y)`$, where $`\iota `$ is the injection $`\overline{E}_1\overline{E}_0`$. The $`1`$-transgression bundle $`\mathrm{tr}_1()`$ of $``$ is a hermitian vector bundle on $`M\times ^1`$ given by the cokernel of $`\psi `$ with the induced metric. It follows from the definition that $`\mathrm{tr}_1()|_{M\times \{x=0\}}\overline{E}_0`$ and $`\mathrm{tr}_1()|_{M\times \{y=0\}}\overline{E}_1\overline{E}_1`$. Hence $`\mathrm{tr}_1()`$ can be viewed as a family of hermitian vector bundles on $`M`$ parametrized by $`^1`$ connecting $`\overline{E}_0`$ with $`\overline{E}_1\overline{E}_1`$.

The $`n`$-transgression bundle of an emi-$`n`$-cube is defined by iterating the above process. The $`1`$-transgression $`\mathrm{tr}_1()`$ of an emi-$`n`$-cube $``$ is an emi-$`(n1)`$-cube on $`M\times ^1`$ defined as

$$\mathrm{tr}_1()_\alpha =\mathrm{tr}_1(_{n^c}^\alpha ())$$

for $`\alpha <1,0,1>^{n1}`$. The $`n`$-transgression bundle of $``$ is defined as

$$\mathrm{tr}_n()=\stackrel{n\text{ times}}{\stackrel{}{\mathrm{tr}_1\mathrm{tr}_1\mathrm{}\mathrm{tr}_1}}(),$$

which is a hermitian vector bundle on $`M\times (^1)^n`$.

Let $`z=x/y`$ be the Euclidean coordinate of $`^1`$ and $`z_i`$ the $`i`$-th Euclidean coordinate of $`(^1)^n`$. For an integer $`i`$ satisfying $`1in`$, a differential form with logarithmic poles $`S_n^i`$ on $`(^1)^n`$ is defined as

$$S_n^i=\underset{\sigma 𝔖_n}{}(1)^\sigma \mathrm{log}|z_{\sigma (1)}|^2\frac{dz_{\sigma (2)}}{z_{\sigma (2)}}\mathrm{}\frac{dz_{\sigma (i)}}{z_{\sigma (i)}}\frac{d\overline{z}_{\sigma (i+1)}}{\overline{z}_{\sigma (i+1)}}\mathrm{}\frac{d\overline{z}_{\sigma (n)}}{\overline{z}_{\sigma (n)}}.$$

Let us define the Bott-Chern form of an emi-$`n`$-cube $``$ as

$$\mathrm{ch}_n()=\frac{1}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^n}_{(^1)^n}\mathrm{ch}_0(\mathrm{tr}_n())T_n\underset{𝑝}{}𝒟^{2pn}(M,p),$$

where

$$T_n=\frac{(1)^n}{2n!}\underset{i=1}{\overset{𝑛}{}}(1)^iS_n^i.$$

###### Proposition 1.3.

Let $``$ be an emi-$`n`$-cube on $`M`$. Then

$$\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}(s_i^j)=0$$

for $`1in+1`$ and $`j=\pm 1`$.

Proof: Let us first consider the case of $`n=0`$. For a hermitian vector bundle $`\overline{E}`$ on $`M`$, it follows that $`s_1^1\overline{E}=\left(0\overline{E}\stackrel{\text{id}}{}\overline{E}\right)`$. Hence the $`1`$-transgression bundle $`\mathrm{tr}(s_1^1\overline{E})`$ is isometric to $`\overline{E}(1)`$. If $`r:^1^1`$ is an involution given by $`r^{}(z)=z^1`$, then $`r^{}(\overline{E}(1))=\overline{E}(1)`$. Hence we have

$`\mathrm{ch}_1(s_1^1\overline{E})`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2\pi \sqrt{1}}}{\displaystyle _^1}\mathrm{ch}_0(\overline{E}(1))\mathrm{log}|z|^2`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2\pi \sqrt{1}}}{\displaystyle _^1}r^{}\left(\mathrm{ch}_0(\overline{E}(1))\mathrm{log}|z|^2\right)`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2\pi \sqrt{1}}}{\displaystyle _^1}\mathrm{ch}_0(\overline{E}(1))\mathrm{log}|z|^2`$
$`=\mathrm{ch}_1(s_1^1\overline{E}),`$
therefore $`\mathrm{ch}_1(s_1^1\overline{E})=0`$. In the same way we can show $`\mathrm{ch}_1(s_1^1\overline{E})=0`$.

Let us move on to the general case. For $`1in+1`$, let $`r_i:(^1)^{n+1}(^1)^{n+1}`$ denote an involution given by

$$r_i^{}z_j=\{\begin{array}{cc}z_j,ij,\hfill & \\ z_j^1,i=j.\hfill & \end{array}$$

Then we have $`r_i^{}(\mathrm{tr}_{n+1}(s_i^j))=\mathrm{tr}_{n+1}(s_i^j)`$ and $`r_i^{}T_{n+1}=T_{n+1}`$. Therefore we can show $`\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}(s_i^j)=0`$ in the same way as above. ∎

Let us extend the definition of the Bott-Chern form to an arbitrary exact metrized $`n`$-cube. Let $``$ be an exact metrized $`n`$-cube, not necessarily emi. For an integer $`i`$ satisfying $`1in`$, $`\lambda _i^1`$ is defined as

$$(\lambda _i^1)_\alpha =\{\begin{array}{cc}\overline{E}_\alpha ,\hfill & \alpha _i=1\text{or}0,\hfill \\ \overline{E^{}}_\alpha ,\hfill & \alpha _i=1,\hfill \end{array}$$

where $`\overline{E^{}}_\alpha `$ is the same vector bundle as $`\overline{E}_\alpha `$ with the metric induced from $`\overline{E}_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},0,\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _n}`$. Let $`\lambda _i^2`$ be an exact metrized $`n`$-cube defined as

$$(\lambda _i^2)_\alpha =\{\begin{array}{cc}\overline{E}_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},1,\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _n},\hfill & \alpha _i=1,\hfill \\ \overline{E^{}}_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},1,\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _n},\hfill & \alpha _i=0,\hfill \\ 0,\hfill & \alpha _i=1\hfill \end{array}$$

and the morphism $`\overline{E}_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},1,\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _n}\overline{E^{}}_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{i1},1,\alpha _{i+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _n}`$ is the identity. We set $`\lambda _i=\lambda _i^1\lambda _i^2`$. An emi-$`n`$-cube $`\lambda `$ is defined as

$$\lambda =\{\begin{array}{cc}\lambda _n\lambda _{n1}\mathrm{}\lambda _1,\hfill & n1,\hfill \\ ,\hfill & n=0.\hfill \end{array}$$

###### Definition 1.4.

The Bott-Chern form of an exact metrized $`n`$-cube $``$ is an element of $`\underset{𝑝}{}𝒟^{2pn}(M,p)`$ defined as

$`\mathrm{ch}_n()={\displaystyle \frac{1}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^n}}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}\mathrm{ch}_0(\mathrm{tr}_n(\lambda ))T_n.`$
Remark: For an emi-$`n`$-cube $``$, the Bott-Chern form $`\mathrm{ch}_n()`$ defined in Def.1.4 is the same form as the one we have defined before, because there is a decomposition

$$\lambda =\text{(a degenerate emi-}n\text{-cube)}.$$

For a compact complex algebraic manifold $`M`$, let $`\widehat{𝒫}(M)`$ be the category of hermitian vector bundles on $`M`$ and $`\widehat{S}(M)`$ the $`S`$-construction of $`\widehat{𝒫}(M)`$. We note that $`\widehat{S}(M)`$ is homotopy equivalent to the $`S`$-construction of vector bundles on $`M`$ by the map forgetting metrics. In particular, it follows that

$$\pi _{n+1}(|\widehat{S}(M)|)K_n(M).$$

Let $`\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}(M)=\stackrel{~}{}C_{}\widehat{𝒫}(M)`$ and $`\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}^{emi}(M)`$ the subcomplex of $`\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}(M)`$ generated by emi-cubes on $`M`$. Then $`\lambda `$ induces a homomorphism of complexes

$$\lambda :\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}(M)\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}^{emi}(M).$$

###### Theorem 1.5.

 If $``$ is an exact metrized $`n`$-cube on $`M`$, then we have

$$d_𝒟\mathrm{ch}_n()=\mathrm{ch}_{n1}(F).$$

Hence the higher Bott-Chern forms induce a homomorphism of complexes

$$\mathrm{ch}:\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}(M)\underset{𝑝}{}𝒟^{}(M,p)[2p].$$

Moreover, the following map

$$K_n(M)=\pi _{n+1}(\widehat{S}(M))\stackrel{Hurewicz}{}H_{n+1}(\widehat{S}(M))\stackrel{Cub}{}H_n(\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}(M))\stackrel{ch}{}\underset{𝑝}{}H_𝒟^{2pn}(M,p)$$

agrees with the higher Chern character with values in the Deligne cohomology.

This is the main theorem of . Here let us prove $`d_𝒟\mathrm{ch}_n()=\mathrm{ch}_{n1}()`$ in a different way from . To do this we introduce another description of the logarithmic forms $`S_n^i`$.

For integers $`\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _k`$ with $`1\alpha _in`$, a $`k`$-form with logarithmic poles $`(\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _k)`$ on $`(^1)^n`$ is given as

$$(\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _k)=d\mathrm{log}|z_{\alpha _1}|^2\mathrm{}d\mathrm{log}|z_{\alpha _k}|^2.$$

Let $`(\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _k)^{(i,ki)}`$ denote the $`(i,ki)`$-part of $`(\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _k)`$. Then we have

$$S_n^i=(i1)!(ni)!\underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}(1)^{\alpha +1}\mathrm{log}|z_\alpha |^2(1,\mathrm{},\widehat{\alpha },\mathrm{},n)^{(i1,ni)}.$$

###### Lemma 1.6.

It follows that

$$S_n^i=i!(ni)!(1\mathrm{}n)^{(i,ni)}+(ni)\underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}(1)^\alpha \overline{}\mathrm{log}|z_\alpha |^2S_{n1,\widehat{\alpha }}^i,$$

$$\overline{}S_n^i=(i1)!(ni+1)!(1\mathrm{}n)^{(i1,ni+1)}(i1)\underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}(1)^\alpha \overline{}\mathrm{log}|z_\alpha |^2S_{n1,\widehat{\alpha }}^{i1},$$

where $`S_{n1,\widehat{\alpha }}^i`$ is the logarithmic form on $`(^1)^n`$ with the same expression as $`S_{n1}^i`$ for the coordinate $`(z_1,\mathrm{},z_{\alpha 1},z_{\alpha +1},\mathrm{},z_n)`$.

We will prove more general identities in Lem.4.3. Let us return to the proof of the identity $`d_𝒟\mathrm{ch}_n()=\mathrm{ch}_{n1}()`$. Since $`\lambda :\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}(M)\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}^{emi}(M)`$ is a homomorphism of complexes, we may assume that $``$ is emi. Lem.1.6 implies

$`{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^idS_n^i`$ $`={\displaystyle \underset{i=0}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^i(S_n^i\overline{}S_n^{i+1})`$
$`=n{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n1}{}}}(1)^i{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^\alpha \overline{}\mathrm{log}|z_\alpha |^2S_{n1,\widehat{\alpha }}^i.`$
If $`\delta _{\{z_\alpha =0\}}`$ (resp. $`\delta _{\{z_\alpha =\mathrm{}\}}`$) is the current on $`(^1)^n`$ given by the integration on the subvariety $`\{z_\alpha =0\}`$ (resp. $`\{z_\alpha =\mathrm{}\}`$), then $`\overline{}\mathrm{log}|z_\alpha |^2=(2\pi \sqrt{1})(\delta _{\{z_\alpha =0\}}\delta _{\{z_\alpha =\mathrm{}\}})`$. Hence we have

$`d_𝒟\mathrm{ch}_n()`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{(1)^{n+1}}{2(2\pi \sqrt{1})^nn!}}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}\mathrm{ch}_0(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda ){\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^idS_n^i`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{(1)^{n+1}}{2(2\pi \sqrt{1})^n(n1)!}}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}\mathrm{ch}_0(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda ){\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n1}{}}}(1)^i{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^\alpha \overline{}\mathrm{log}|z_\alpha |^2S_{n1,\widehat{\alpha }}^i`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{(1)^{n+1}}{2(2\pi \sqrt{1})^{n1}(n1)!}}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^{n1}}}\mathrm{ch}_0(\mathrm{tr}_{n1}(\lambda )){\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^idS_{n1}^i`$
$`=\mathrm{ch}_{n1}().`$
Remark: Burgos and Wang defined the Bott-Chern forms of metrized cubes on complex algebraic manifolds that are not necessarily compact in . They indeed developed the theory of higher Bott-Chern forms in a different way from the above and obtained an integral expression of them in the compact case. In this paper, we adopted their integral expression as the definition of Bott-Chern forms. But we should notice that our definition is the minus of their expression.

### 1.6. Renormalization

The Bott-Chern secondary classes used in Arakelov geometry is not equal to $`\mathrm{ch}_1()`$. This disagreement stems from the definition of Chern forms. Gillet and Soulé have defined the Chern form of a hermitian vector bundle $`\overline{E}`$ as

$$\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})=\mathrm{Tr}\left(\mathrm{exp}\left(\frac{K_{\overline{E}}}{2\pi \sqrt{1}}\right)\right)\underset{𝑝}{}_{}^{2p}(M)^{p,p}(M)\mathrm{Ker}d.$$

Then it follows that $`\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})^{(p,p)}=\frac{1}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^p}\mathrm{ch}_0(\overline{E})^{(p,p)}`$. Therefore to make it possible to apply the theory of higher Bott-Chern forms to Arakelov geometry, we have to redefine them as to be real forms.

We set

$$𝒜^n(M,p)=\{\begin{array}{cc}_{}^{n1}(M)\underset{p^{}<p,q^{}<p}{\underset{p^{}+q^{}=n1}{}}^{p^{},q^{}}(M),\hfill & n<2p,\hfill \\ _{}^{2p}(M)^{p,p}(M)\mathrm{Ker}d,\hfill & n=2p,\hfill \\ 0,\hfill & n>2p\hfill \end{array}$$

and define a differential $`d_𝒜:𝒜^n(M,p)𝒜^{n+1}(M,p)`$ as

$$d_𝒜(\omega )=\{\begin{array}{cc}\pi (d\omega ),\hfill & n<2p1,\hfill \\ dd^cx=\frac{1}{2\pi \sqrt{1}}\overline{}\omega ,\hfill & n=2p1,\hfill \\ 0,\hfill & n>2p1.\hfill \end{array}$$

Then $`(𝒜^{}(M,p),d_𝒜)`$ becomes a complex. The renormalization operator $`\mathrm{\Theta }_{p,n}:𝒟^n(M,p)𝒜^n(M,p)`$ is defined as

$$\mathrm{\Theta }_{p,n}(\omega )=\{\begin{array}{cc}\frac{1}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^p}\omega ,\hfill & n=2p,\hfill \\ \frac{2}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^{p1}}\omega ,\hfill & n<2p.\hfill \end{array}$$

Then $`\mathrm{\Theta }=\mathrm{\Theta }_{p,}:𝒟^{}(M,p)𝒜^{}(M,p)`$ becomes an isomorphism of complexes.

The renormalized Bott-Chern form of an exact metrized $`n`$-cube $``$ is defined as

$$\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()=\mathrm{\Theta }(\mathrm{ch}_n())\underset{𝑝}{}𝒜^{2pn}(M,p).$$

Then we have a homomorphism of complexes

$$\mathrm{ch}^{GS}:\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}(M)\underset{𝑝}{}𝒜^{}(M,p)[2p].$$

###### Proposition 1.7.

The Bott-Chern secondary characteristic class of $``$ defined in  is equal to $`\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}()`$ modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$.

Proof: For an exact metrized $`1`$-cube $``$, we have

$`\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}()^{(p1,p1)}`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{2}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^{p1}}}\mathrm{ch}_1()^{(p1,p1)}`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{2}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^p}}{\displaystyle _^1}\mathrm{ch}_0(\mathrm{tr}_1\lambda )^{(p,p)}\times {\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}\mathrm{log}|z|^2`$
$`={\displaystyle _^1}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\mathrm{tr}_1\lambda )^{(p,p)}\mathrm{log}|z|^2,`$
which completes the proof. ∎

### 1.7. The case of arithmetic varieties

Let $`X`$ be a proper arithmetic variety, that is, we assume that $`X`$ is proper over $``$. Let $`X()`$ denote the compact complex manifold consisting of $``$-valued points on $`X`$ and $`F_{\mathrm{}}`$ the complex conjugation on $`X()`$. The real Deligne cohomology of $`X`$ is defined as

$$H_𝒟^n(X,(p))=H_𝒟^n(X(),(p))^{\overline{F}_{\mathrm{}}^{}=\mathrm{id}}.$$

Hence if we set

$$𝒟^n(X,p)=𝒟^n(X(),p)^{\overline{F}_{\mathrm{}}^{}=\mathrm{id}},$$

then we have an isomorphism

$$H^n(𝒟^{}(X,p),d_𝒟)H_𝒟^n(X,(p)).$$

A hermitian vector bundle on $`X`$ is a pair $`\overline{E}=(E,h)`$ of a vector bundle $`E`$ on $`X`$ and an $`F_{\mathrm{}}`$-invariant hermitian metric $`h`$ on the holomorphic vector bundle $`E()`$ on $`X()`$. An exact metrized $`n`$-cube on $`X`$ is an exact $`n`$-cube made of hermitian vector bundles on $`X`$. Since the Chern form $`\mathrm{ch}_0(\overline{E})`$ is in $`\underset{𝑝}{}𝒟^{2p}(X,p)`$, the Bott-Chern form of an exact metrized $`n`$-cube is in $`\underset{𝑝}{}𝒟^{2pn}(X,p)`$.

Let $`\widehat{𝒫}(X)`$ be the category of hermitian vector bundles on $`X`$ and $`\widehat{S}(X)`$ the $`S`$-construction of $`\widehat{𝒫}(X)`$. Then we have a canonical isomorphism $`\pi _{n+1}(|\widehat{S}(X)|)K_n(X)`$. Let $`\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}(X)=\stackrel{~}{}C_{}\widehat{𝒫}(X)`$. Then we can define a homomorphism of complexes

$$\mathrm{ch}:\widehat{S}_{}(X)\stackrel{Cub}{}\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}(X)[1]\stackrel{\mathrm{ch}[1]}{}\underset{𝑝}{}𝒟^{}(X,p)[2p+1].$$

If we set

$`𝒜^n(X,p)`$ $`=\mathrm{\Theta }_{p,n}(𝒟^n(X,p))`$
$`=\{\begin{array}{cc}𝒜^n(X(),p)^{F_{\mathrm{}}^{}=(1)^{p1}},\hfill & n<2p,\hfill \\ 𝒜^{2p}(X(),p)^{F_{\mathrm{}}^{}=(1)^p},\hfill & n=2p,\hfill \\ 0,\hfill & n>2p,\hfill \end{array}`$
then we can also obtain a homomorphism of complexes

$$\mathrm{ch}^{GS}:\widehat{S}_{}(X)\stackrel{Cub}{}\stackrel{~}{}\widehat{C}_{}(X)[1]\stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}[1]}{}\underset{𝑝}{}𝒜^{}(X,p)[2p+1].$$

## 2. Modified homotopy groups

### 2.1. Definition of modified homotopy groups

In this section we develop a general framework used later in this paper. Let $`I`$ be the closed interval $`[0,1]`$ equipped with the usual CW-complex structure. Throughout this paper we identify the sphere $`S^n`$ with $`I^n/I^n`$. Therefore $`S^n`$ consists of two cells as a CW-complex and any point of $`S^n`$ except the base point is expressed by $`n`$-tuple of real numbers $`(t_1,\mathrm{},t_n)`$ with $`0<t_i<1`$.

Let $`T`$ be a pointed CW-complex with the base point $`T`$. The $`n`$-th homotopy group of $`T`$ is defined as the set of homotopy equivalence classes of pointed continuous maps $`S^nT`$. However the cellular approximation theorem implies that continuous maps and homotopies can be replaced with cellular ones in the definition of homotopy groups.

Let $`\mathrm{sk}_n(T)`$ be the $`n`$-th skeleton of $`T`$ when $`n0`$ and $`\mathrm{sk}_1(T)=\{\}`$. For $`n0`$, we set $`C_n(T)=H_n(\mathrm{sk}_n(T),\mathrm{sk}_{n1}(T))`$, the $`n`$-th relative homology group of the pair $`(\mathrm{sk}_n(T),\mathrm{sk}_{n1}(T))`$. Let $`:C_n(T)C_{n1}(T)`$ be the connecting homomorphism for the triple $`(\mathrm{sk}_n(T),\mathrm{sk}_{n1}(T),\mathrm{sk}_{n2}(T))`$. Then $`(C_{}(T),)`$ is a homological complex whose homology groups are isomorphic to the reduced homology groups of $`T`$.

Suppose that we have a homological complex of abelian groups $`(W_{},)`$ and a homomorphism of complexes $`\rho :C_{}(T)W_{}`$. Let $`\stackrel{~}{W}_n=W_n/\mathrm{Im}`$. Let us consider a pair $`(f,\omega )`$, where $`f:S^nT`$ is a pointed cellular map and $`\omega \stackrel{~}{W}_{n+1}`$. A cellular homotopy from one pair $`(f,\omega )`$ to another pair $`(f^{},\omega ^{})`$ is a pointed cellular map $`H:S^n\times I/\{\}\times IT`$ satisfying the following:

1. $`H(x,0)=f(x)`$ and $`H(x,1)=f^{}(x)`$.
2. Let $`[S^n\times I]C_{n+1}(S^n\times I)`$ denote the fundamental chain of $`S^n\times I`$, where the orientation on $`S^n\times I`$ is inherited from the canonical orientation of the interval $`I`$. Then we have

$$\omega ^{}\omega =(1)^{n+1}\rho H_{}([S^n\times I]).$$

It is shown that the cellular homotopy gives an equivalence relation on the set of pairs. Such two pairs are said to be homotopy equivalent. We denote by $`\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )`$ the set of all homotopy equivalence classes of pairs.

Let us define a multiplication on the set $`\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )`$. Let $`TT=\{(x,y)T\times T;x=\text{or}y=\}`$ for a pointed CW-complex $`T`$. Then there is a natural map $`TTT`$ by $`(x,)x`$ and $`(,y)y`$. A comultiplication map $`\mu :S^nS^nS^n`$ is defined as

$$\mu (t_1,\mathrm{},t_n)=\{\begin{array}{cc}((t_1,t_2,\mathrm{},2t_n),),\hfill & 0<t_n\frac{1}{2},\hfill \\ (,(t_1,t_2,\mathrm{},2t_n1)),\hfill & \frac{1}{2}t_n<1\hfill \end{array}$$

and a homotopy inverse map $`\nu :S^nS^n`$ by $`\nu (t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1},t_n)=(t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1},1t_n)`$. For two pointed cellular maps $`f,g:S^nT`$, a multiplication $`fg`$ is defined as

$$fg:S^n\stackrel{𝜇}{}S^nS^n\stackrel{fg}{}TTT$$

and an inverse $`f^1`$ as

$$f^1:S^n\stackrel{𝜈}{}S^n\stackrel{𝑓}{}T.$$

For two pairs $`(f,\omega )`$ and $`(g,\tau )`$ where $`f,g:S^nT`$ are pointed cellular maps and $`\omega ,\tau \stackrel{~}{W}_{n+1}`$, a multiplication $`(f,\omega )(g,\tau )`$ is defined as

$$(f,\omega )(g,\tau )=(fg,\omega +\tau ).$$

It is easy to show that the multiplication $``$ is compatible with the homotopy equivalence relation of pairs. Hence it gives rise to a multiplication on $`\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )`$, which is also denoted by $``$.

We next verify the associativity of the multiplication $``$. For three pointed cellular maps $`f,g,h:S^nT`$, a cellular homotopy $`H_1:S^n\times I/\{\}\times IT`$ from $`(fg)h`$ to $`f(gh)`$ is given as follows:

$$H_1(t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1},t_n,u)=\{\begin{array}{cc}f(t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1},\frac{4t_n}{u+1}),\hfill & 0<t_n\frac{u+1}{4},\hfill \\ g(t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1},4t_nu1),\hfill & \frac{u+1}{4}t_n\frac{u+2}{4},\hfill \\ h(t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1},\frac{4t_n2u}{2u}),\hfill & \frac{u+2}{4}t_n<1.\hfill \end{array}$$

Since the image of $`H_1`$ is contained in $`sk_n(T)`$, we have $`(H_1)_{}([S^n\times I])=0`$ in $`C_{n+1}(T)`$. Hence $`H_1`$ becomes a cellular homotopy from $`\left((f,\omega )(g,\tau )\right)(h,\eta )`$ to $`(f,\omega )\left((g,\tau )(h,\eta )\right)`$ for any $`\omega ,\tau ,\eta \stackrel{~}{W}_{n+1}`$.

Finally we show the existence of unit and inverse in $`\widehat{\pi }_n(t,\rho )`$ with respect to the multiplication $``$. Let $`0:S^nT`$ be the map defined by $`0(S^n)=`$. For a pointed cellular map $`f:S^nT`$, a homotopy $`H_2`$ from $`f0`$ to $`f`$ is given as

$$H_2(t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1},t_n,u)=\{\begin{array}{cc}f(t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1},\frac{2t_n}{u+1}),\hfill & 0<t_n\frac{u+1}{2},\hfill \\ ,\hfill & \frac{u+1}{2}t_n<1.\hfill \end{array}$$

A homotopy $`H_3`$ from $`0f`$ to $`f`$ can be given similarly. Moreover, a homotopy $`H_4`$ from $`ff^1`$ to $`0`$ is given as

$$H_4(t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1},t_n,u)=\{\begin{array}{cc}f(t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1},\frac{2t_n}{1u}),\hfill & 0<t_n\frac{1u}{2},\hfill \\ ,\hfill & \frac{1u}{2}t_n\frac{1+u}{2},\hfill \\ f(t_1,\mathrm{},t_{n1},\frac{2t_n+2}{1u}),\hfill & \frac{u+1}{2}t_n<1,\hfill \end{array}$$

and a homotopy $`H_5`$ from $`f^1f`$ to $`0`$ can be given similarly. These homotopies are all cellular and their images are contained in $`sk_n(T)`$. Hence $`(f,\omega )(0,0)`$ and $`(0,0)(f,\omega )`$ are homotopy equivalent to $`(f,\omega )`$ and $`(f,\omega )(f^1,\omega )`$ and $`(f^1,\omega )(f,\omega )`$ are homotopy equivalent to $`(0,0)`$.

###### Theorem 2.1.

If $`n1`$, $`\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )`$ is a group by the multiplication $``$ and when $`n2`$, it becomes an abelian group.

Proof: We have already shown that the multiplication

$$[(f,\omega )][(g,\tau )]=[(fg,\omega +\tau )]$$

provides $`\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )`$ with the structure of a group. For two pointed cellular maps $`f,g:S^nT`$, $`fg`$ and $`gf`$ are homotopy equivalent if $`n2`$ and a homotopy between them is given in every textbook of homotopy theory. Although it is too complicated to write it down, it is easy to see that the image of this homotopy is contained in $`sk_n(T)`$. Hence $`(fg,0)`$ is homotopy equivalent to $`(gf,0)`$, therefore $`\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )`$ is an abelian group if $`n2`$. ∎

###### Definition 2.2.

The group $`\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )`$ is called the $`n`$-th homotopy group of $`T`$ modified by the homomorphism $`\rho `$.

Let $`\zeta :\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )\pi _n(T)`$ denote the surjection obtained by forgetting elements of $`\stackrel{~}{W}_{n+1}`$. Then we have the following:

###### Theorem 2.3.

There is an exact sequence

$$\pi _{n+1}(T)\stackrel{𝜌}{}\stackrel{~}{W}_{n+1}\stackrel{𝑎}{}\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )\stackrel{𝜁}{}\pi _n(T)0,$$

where the map $`\rho `$ is defined as

$$\rho :\pi _{n+1}(T)\stackrel{Hurewicz}{}H_{n+1}(T)\stackrel{H_{n+1}(\rho )}{}H_{n+1}(W_{})\stackrel{~}{W}_{n+1}$$

and the map $`a`$ as

$$a(\omega )=[(0,\omega )]\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho ).$$

Proof: The cellular approximation theorem implies $`\mathrm{Im}a=\mathrm{Ker}\zeta `$. Hence we have only to prove $`\mathrm{Ker}a=\mathrm{Im}\rho `$. For an element $`\omega \stackrel{~}{W}_{n+1}`$, the pair $`(0,\omega )`$ is homotopy equivalent to $`(0,0)`$ if and only if there is a cellular homotopy $`H:S^n\times I/\{\}\times IT`$ from $`0`$ to $`0`$ such that $`(1)^{n+1}\rho H_{}([S^n\times I])=\omega `$. Since $`H(S^n\times I)=`$, $`H`$ induces a pointed cellular map $`H^{}:S^{n+1}T`$. Then $`\omega `$ is equal to the image of $`(1)^{n+1}[H^{}]\pi _{n+1}(T)`$ by $`\rho `$, therefore we have $`\mathrm{Ker}a\mathrm{Im}\rho `$. The opposite inclusion $`\mathrm{Im}\rho \mathrm{Ker}a`$ can be obtained by viewing a pointed cellular map $`S^{n+1}T`$ as a cellular homotopy between the collapsing map $`0`$. ∎

### 2.2. A homomorphism from a modified homotopy group

For a pair $`(f,\omega )`$ as in the last subsection, $`\rho (f,\omega )W_n`$ is defined by

$$\rho (f,\omega )=\rho f_{}([S^n])+\omega .$$

###### Proposition 2.4.

The above $`\rho (f,\omega )`$ gives rise to the homomorphism

$$\rho :\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )W_n$$

and $`\mathrm{Im}\rho `$ is contained in $`\mathrm{Ker}(:W_nW_{n1})`$.

Proof: Let us show that $`\rho (f,\omega )`$ is compatible with the homotopy equivalence relation. If $`H:S^n\times I/\{\}\times IT`$ is a cellular homotopy from $`(f,\omega )`$ to $`(f^{},\omega ^{})`$, then we have

$$H_{}([S^n\times I])=(1)^n(f_{}^{}([S^n])f_{}([S^n]))$$

in $`C_n(T)`$ and $`\rho H_{}([S^n\times I])=(1)^{n+1}(\omega ^{}\omega )`$. Hence we have

$`\rho (f,\omega )`$ $`=\rho f_{}([S^n])+\omega `$
$`=\rho f_{}^{}([S^n])+(1)^{n+1}\rho H_{}([S^n\times I]))+\omega `$
$`=\rho f_{}^{}([S^n])+(\omega ^{}\omega )+\omega `$
$`=\rho (f^{},\omega ^{}).`$
The inclusion $`\mathrm{Im}\rho \mathrm{Ker}(:W_nW_{n1})`$ and the claim that $`\rho `$ is a homomorphism of groups are obvious. ∎

The exact sequence in Thm.2.3 implies the following corollaries:

###### Corollary 2.5.

There is an exact sequence

$$\pi _{n+1}(T)\stackrel{𝜌}{}H_{n+1}(W_{},)\stackrel{𝑎}{}\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )\stackrel{\zeta \rho }{}\pi _n(T)\mathrm{Ker}\stackrel{cl}{}H_n(W_{},)0,$$

where $`\mathrm{Ker}=\mathrm{Ker}(:W_nW_{n1})`$ and $`cl`$ is defined as $`cl(x,\omega )=\rho (x)[\omega ]`$.

###### Corollary 2.6.

For $`n1`$, let

$$\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )_0=\mathrm{Ker}(\rho :\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )W_n).$$

Then there is a long exact sequence

$$\mathrm{}\stackrel{𝜁}{}\pi _{n+1}(T)\stackrel{𝜌}{}H_{n+1}(W_{},)\stackrel{𝑎}{}\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )_0\stackrel{𝜁}{}\pi _n(T)\stackrel{𝜌}{}\mathrm{}.$$

Proof: The exactness at $`\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )_0`$ and $`H_{n+1}(W_{},)`$ has already been verified in Thm.2.3. For $`[(f,\omega )]\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )_0`$, we have

$$\rho \zeta ([(f,\omega )])=\rho f_{}([S^n])=[\omega ]=0.$$

Conversely, if a pointed cellular map $`f:S^nT`$ satisfies $`\rho f_{}([S^n])=\omega `$ for some $`\omega W_{n+1}`$, then $`[(f,\omega )]\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )_0`$ and $`\zeta ([(f,\omega )])=[f]\pi _n(T)`$. Hence the exactness at $`\pi _n(T)`$ follows. ∎

### 2.3. A Functorial property of modified homotopy groups

Let $`T`$ and $`T^{}`$ be pointed CW-complexes. Let $`\rho :C_{}(T)W_{}`$ and $`\rho ^{}:C_{}(T^{})W_{}^{}{}_{}{}^{}`$ be homomorphisms of complexes. Given a pointed cellular map $`\alpha :TT^{}`$ and a homomorphism of complexes $`\beta :W_{}W_{}^{}{}_{}{}^{}`$ that make the diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}C_{}(T)& \stackrel{\alpha _{}}{}& C_{}(T^{})\\ \rho & & \rho ^{}& & \\ W_{}& \stackrel{\beta }{}& W_{}^{}{}_{}{}^{}\end{array}$$

commutative, a homomorphism of modified homotopy groups

$$(\alpha ,\beta )_{}:\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )\widehat{\pi }_n(T^{},\rho ^{})$$

is defined by $`[(f,\omega )][(\alpha f,\beta (\omega ))]`$.

We can however define a homomorphism of modified homotopy groups under a weaker assumption than the strict commutativity of the diagram. We assume that the above diagram is commutative up to homotopy. In other words, we assume the existence of a homomorphism

$$\mathrm{\Phi }:C_{}(T)W_{}^{}{}_{+1}{}^{}$$

satisfying $`\rho ^{}\alpha _{}\beta \rho =\mathrm{\Phi }+\mathrm{\Phi }`$.

###### Proposition 2.7.

Under the above notations, we can define a homomorphism

$$(\alpha ,\beta ,\mathrm{\Phi })_{}:\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )\widehat{\pi }_n(T^{},\rho ^{})$$

by $`[(f,\omega )][(\alpha f,\beta (\omega )\mathrm{\Phi }f_{}([S^n]))]`$. This homomorphism enjoys the following functorial property: Let $`\alpha :TT^{}`$ and $`\alpha ^{}:T^{}T^{\prime \prime }`$ be pointed cellular maps and let $`\beta :W_{}W_{}^{}`$ and $`\beta ^{}:W_{}^{}W_{}^{\prime \prime }`$ be homomorphisms of complexes. We assume that the squares

$$\begin{array}{ccccc}C_{}(T)& \stackrel{\alpha _{}}{}& C_{}(T^{})& \stackrel{\alpha _{}^{}}{}& C_{}(T^{\prime \prime })\\ \rho & & \rho ^{}& & \rho ^{\prime \prime }& & \\ W_{}& \stackrel{\beta }{}& W_{}^{}{}_{}{}^{}& \stackrel{\beta ^{}}{}& W_{}^{\prime \prime }{}_{}{}^{}\end{array}$$

are commutative up to homotopy and let $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ and $`\mathrm{\Phi }^{}`$ be homotopies of these squares. Then we have

$$(\alpha ^{},\beta ^{},\mathrm{\Phi }^{})_{}(\alpha ,\beta ,\mathrm{\Phi })_{}=(\alpha ^{}\alpha ,\beta ^{}\beta ,\beta ^{}\mathrm{\Phi }+\mathrm{\Phi }^{}\alpha _{})_{}:\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )\widehat{\pi }_n(T^{\prime \prime },\rho ^{\prime \prime }).$$

Proof: Let $`f,f^{}:S^nT`$ be pointed cellular maps and $`\omega ,\omega ^{}\stackrel{~}{W}_{n+1}`$. If $`H:S^n\times I/\{\}\times IT`$ is a cellular homotopy from $`(f,\omega )`$ to $`(f^{},\omega ^{})`$, then we have

$`(1)^{n+1}\rho ^{}\alpha _{}H_{}([S^n\times I])`$ $`=(1)^{n+1}\beta \rho H_{}([S^n\times I])+(1)^{n+1}\mathrm{\Phi }H_{}([S^n\times I])`$
$`+(1)^{n+1}\mathrm{\Phi }H_{}([S^n\times I])`$
$`(\beta (\omega ^{})\mathrm{\Phi }f_{}^{}([S^n]))(\beta (\omega )\mathrm{\Phi }f_{}([S^n]))`$
modulo $`\mathrm{Im}`$. This tells that the map $`\alpha H:S^n\times I/\{\}\times IT^{}`$ is a cellular homotopy from $`(\alpha f,\beta (\omega )\mathrm{\Phi }f_{}([S^n]))`$ to $`(\alpha f^{},\beta (\omega ^{})\mathrm{\Phi }f_{}^{}([S^n]))`$. Hence $`(\alpha ,\beta ,\mathrm{\Phi })_{}`$ is well-defined. The last identity can be verified by an easy calculation. ∎

###### Proposition 2.8.

Under the above notations, we have a commutative diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\widehat{\pi }_n(T,\rho )& \stackrel{\rho }{}& W_n\\ (\alpha ,\beta ,\mathrm{\Phi })_{}& & \beta & & \\ \widehat{\pi }_n(T^{},\rho ^{})& \stackrel{\rho ^{}}{}& W_n^{}.\end{array}$$

Proof: For a pointed cellular map $`f:S^nT`$, we have

$$\rho ^{}\alpha _{}f_{}([S^n])\beta \rho f_{}([S^n])=\mathrm{\Phi }f_{}([S^n]).$$

Hence we have

$`\rho ^{}(\alpha ,\beta ,\mathrm{\Phi })_{}([(f,\omega )])`$ $`=\rho ^{}([(\alpha f,\beta (\omega )\mathrm{\Phi }f_{}([S^n]))])`$
$`=\rho ^{}\alpha _{}f_{}([S^n])+(\beta (\omega )\mathrm{\Phi }f_{}([S^n]))`$
$`=\beta (\rho f_{}([S^n])+\omega )`$
$`=\beta \rho ([(f,\omega )]),`$
which completes the proof. ∎

## 3. Definition of arithmetic $`K`$-groups

### 3.1. Triviality of the Bott-Chern form of a degenerate $`n`$-cell

Let $`𝔄`$ be a small exact category and $`𝔖_n`$ the $`n`$-th symmetric group. For $`\sigma 𝔖_n`$ and an exact $`n`$-cube $``$ of $`𝔄`$, an exact $`n`$-cube $`\sigma `$ is defined as

$$(\sigma )_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _n}=_{\alpha _{\sigma (1)},\alpha _{\sigma (2)},\mathrm{},\alpha _{\sigma (n)}}.$$

###### Lemma 3.1.

For any $`ES_n𝔄`$, we have

$`\mathrm{Cub}(s_0E)`$ $`=s_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(E),`$
$`\mathrm{Cub}(s_nE)`$ $`=s_n^1\mathrm{Cub}(E)`$
and if $`1in1`$, then we have
$`\mathrm{Cub}(s_iE)`$ $`=\tau _i\mathrm{Cub}(s_iE),`$
where $`\tau _i𝔖_n`$ is the transposition of $`i`$ and $`i+1`$.

Proof: To prove the lemma, we use the following identities, which is proved in Prop.4.5 in : For $`ES_n𝔄`$, it follows that

$`_i^1\mathrm{Cub}(E)`$ $`=s_{n2}^1\mathrm{}s_i^1\mathrm{Cub}(_{i+1}\mathrm{}_nE),`$
$`_i^0\mathrm{Cub}(E)`$ $`=\mathrm{Cub}(_iE),`$
$`_i^1\mathrm{Cub}(E)`$ $`=s_{i1}^1\mathrm{}s_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(_0\mathrm{}_{i1}E)`$
for $`1in1`$. The first identity of the lemma follows from

$`_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_0E)`$ $`=s_{n1}^1\mathrm{}s_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(_2\mathrm{}_{n+1}s_0E)`$
$`=s_{n1}^1\mathrm{}s_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_0_1\mathrm{}_nE)`$
$`=0,`$
$`_1^0\mathrm{Cub}(s_0E)`$ $`=\mathrm{Cub}(_1s_0E)=\mathrm{Cub}(E)`$
and
$`_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_0E)`$ $`=\mathrm{Cub}(_0s_0E)=\mathrm{Cub}(E).`$
The second one follows from

$`_n^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_nE)`$ $`=\mathrm{Cub}(_{n+1}s_nE)=\mathrm{Cub}(E),`$
$`_n^0\mathrm{Cub}(s_nE)`$ $`=\mathrm{Cub}(_ns_nE)=\mathrm{Cub}(E)`$
and
$`_n^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_nE)`$ $`=s_{n1}^1\mathrm{}s_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(_0\mathrm{}_{n1}s_nE)`$
$`=s_{n1}^1\mathrm{}s_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_0_0\mathrm{}_{n1}E)`$
$`=0.`$
We turn to the last one. If $`1in1`$, then we have

$`_i^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_iE)`$ $`=s_{n1}^1\mathrm{}s_i^1\mathrm{Cub}(_{i+1}\mathrm{}_{n+1}s_iE)`$
$`=s_{n1}^1\mathrm{}s_i^1\mathrm{Cub}(_{i+1}\mathrm{}_nE)`$
$`=s_{n1}^1\mathrm{}s_{i+1}^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_i_{i+1}\mathrm{}_nE)`$
$`=s_{n1}^1\mathrm{}s_{i+1}^1\mathrm{Cub}(_{i+2}\mathrm{}_{n+1}s_iE)`$
$`=_{i+1}^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_iE),`$
$`_i^0\mathrm{Cub}(s_iE)`$ $`=\mathrm{Cub}(E)=_{i+1}^0\mathrm{Cub}(s_iE)`$
and
$`_i^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_iE)`$ $`=s_{i1}^1\mathrm{}s_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(_0\mathrm{}_{i1}s_iE)`$
$`=s_{i1}^1\mathrm{}s_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_0_0\mathrm{}_{i1}E)`$
$`=s_{i1}^1\mathrm{}s_1^1s_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(_0\mathrm{}_{i1}E)`$
$`=s_i^1\mathrm{}s_1^1\mathrm{Cub}(_0\mathrm{}_{i1}_is_iE)`$
$`=_{i+1}^1\mathrm{Cub}(s_iE).`$
The last identity follows from them. ∎

Let $`S_nC_n𝔄`$ be the subgroup generated by exact $`n`$-cubes $``$ such that $`\tau _i=`$ for some integer $`i`$ satisfying $`1in1`$. We set

$$\mathrm{Cub}_n(𝔄)=C_n𝔄/(D_n+S_n).$$

###### Lemma 3.2.

We have $`S_nS_{n1}`$. Hence $`\mathrm{Cub}_{}(𝔄)=(\mathrm{Cub}_n(𝔄),)`$ becomes a homological complex.

Proof: Let $``$ be an exact $`n`$-cube satisfying $`\tau _i=`$. If $`k<i`$, then $`_k^j=_k^j\tau _i=\tau _{i1}_k^j`$ and if $`k>i+1`$, then $`_k^j=_k^j\tau _i=\tau _i_k^j`$. Furthermore, $`\tau _i=`$ implies $`_i^j=_{i+1}^j`$. Hence we have

$$=\underset{ki,i+1}{}\underset{j=1}{\overset{1}{}}(1)^{k+j+1}_k^jS_{n1},$$

which completes the proof. ∎

###### Lemma 3.3.

Let $``$ be an exact metrized $`n`$-cube on a complex algebraic manifold $`M`$. For any $`\sigma 𝔖_n`$, there is a canonical isometry of exact metrized $`n`$-cubes

$$\sigma (\lambda )\lambda (\sigma ).$$

Proof: It follows from the definition of $`\lambda _i`$ that $`\sigma (\lambda _i)=\lambda _{\sigma (i)}(\sigma )`$. Therefore we have

$$\sigma (\lambda )=\lambda _{\sigma (n)}\mathrm{}\lambda _{\sigma (1)}(\sigma ).$$

Hence it is sufficient to show the existence of a canonical isometry $`\lambda _i\lambda _j\lambda _j\lambda _i`$. For simplicity, we prove it only in the case of $`n=2`$.

For an exact metrized $`2`$-cube $`=\{\overline{E_{i,j}}\}`$, $`\lambda _2\lambda _1`$ is given as follows:

$$\begin{array}{ccccc}\overline{E_{1,1}}\overline{E_{1,1}}\overline{E_{1,1}}\overline{E_{1,1}}& & \overline{E_{1,0}}\overline{E_{1,0}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}& & \overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\\ & & & & & & \\ \overline{E_{0,1}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\overline{E_{0,1}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}& & \overline{E_{0,0}}\overline{E_{1,0}^{}}\overline{E_{0,1}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}& & \overline{E_{0,1}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\\ & & & & & & \\ \overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}& & \overline{E_{1,0}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}& & \overline{E_{1,1}^{}},\end{array}$$

where $`\overline{E_{i,j}^{}}`$ is the same vector bundle as $`\overline{E_{i,j}}`$ equipped with the metric induced from $`\overline{E_{0,0}}`$. On the other hand, $`\lambda _1\lambda _2`$ is given as follows:

$$\begin{array}{ccccc}\overline{E_{1,1}}\overline{E_{1,1}}\overline{E_{1,1}}\overline{E_{1,1}}& & \overline{E_{1,0}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\overline{E_{1,0}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}& & \overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\\ & & & & & & \\ \overline{E_{0,1}}\overline{E_{0,1}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}& & \overline{E_{0,0}}\overline{E_{0,1}^{}}\overline{E_{1,0}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}& & \overline{E_{0,1}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\\ & & & & & & \\ \overline{E_{1,1}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}& & \overline{E_{1,0}^{}}\overline{E_{1,1}^{}}& & \overline{E_{1,1}^{}}.\end{array}$$

Hence an isometry $`\lambda _2\lambda _1\lambda _1\lambda _2`$ is given by appropriate permutations of direct summands. ∎

###### Theorem 3.4.

The Bott-Chern form of a degenerate element of $`\widehat{S}_n(M)`$ is zero.

Proof: For an integer $`i`$ satisfying $`1in1`$, let $`t_i:(^1)^n(^1)^n`$ denote the involution interchanging the $`i`$-th and the $`(i+1)`$-th component. Then by Prop.2.1 in  and Lem.3.3, there is an isometry

$$t_i^{}\mathrm{tr}_n(\lambda )=\mathrm{tr}_n(\lambda \tau _i).$$

Furthermore, it follows from the definition of $`T_n`$ that $`t_i^{}T_n=T_n`$. Hence if $`\tau _i=`$, then we have

$`\mathrm{ch}_n()`$ $`={\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}\mathrm{ch}_0(\mathrm{tr}_n(\lambda ))T_n`$
$`={\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}t_i^{}(\mathrm{ch}_0(\mathrm{tr}_n(\lambda ))T_n)`$
$`={\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}\mathrm{ch}_0(\mathrm{tr}_n(\lambda ))T_n`$
$`=\mathrm{ch}_n(),`$
therefore $`\mathrm{ch}_n()=0`$.

By Lem.3.1, the cube $`\mathrm{Cub}(E)`$ associated with a degenerate element $`E\widehat{S}_n(X)`$ is either a degenerate cube or a cube satisfying $`\tau _i=`$ for some $`1in2`$. Hence it follows from the above calculation and Prop.1.3 that $`\mathrm{ch}_{n1}(E)=0`$. ∎

For a compact complex algebraic manifold $`M`$, let $`\widehat{\mathrm{Cub}}_{}(M)=\mathrm{Cub}_{}(\widehat{𝒫}(M))`$. We set

$$𝒟_n(M)=\underset{𝑝}{}𝒟^{2pn}(M,p).$$

Then $`(𝒟_{}(M),d_𝒟)`$ becomes a homological complex. It follows from Thm.3.4 that the higher Bott-Chern forms induce a homomorphism

$$\mathrm{ch}:\widehat{\mathrm{Cub}}_{}(M)\stackrel{ch}{}𝒟_{}(M).$$

### 3.2. Definition of higher arithmetic $`K`$-theory

In this subsection we give the definition of higher arithmetic $`K`$-theory. Let $`X`$ be a proper arithmetic variety and $`𝒜_n(X)=\underset{𝑝}{}𝒜^{2pn}(X,p)`$. Then $`(𝒜_{}(X),d_𝒜)`$ is a homological complex and Thm.3.4 yields the homomorphism

$$\mathrm{ch}^{GS}:C_{}(|\widehat{S}(X)|)\stackrel{Cub}{}\widehat{\mathrm{Cub}}_{}(X)[1]\stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}𝒜_{}(X)[1],$$

where $`\widehat{\mathrm{Cub}}_{}(X)=\mathrm{Cub}_{}(\widehat{𝒫}(X))`$.

###### Definition 3.5.

The $`n`$-th arithmetic $`K`$-group $`\widehat{K}_n(X)`$ of a proper arithmetic variety $`X`$ is defined as the $`(n+1)`$-th homotopy group of $`|\widehat{S}(X)|`$ modified by the renormalized higher Bott-Chern forms, that is,

$$\widehat{K}_n(X)=\widehat{\pi }_{n+1}(|\widehat{S}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}).$$

By Thm.2.3, we have the following:

###### Theorem 3.6.

There is an exact sequence

$$K_{n+1}(X)\stackrel{𝜌}{}\stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{n+1}(X)\widehat{K}_n(X)K_n(X)0,$$

where $`\stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{n+1}(X)=𝒜_{n+1}(X)/\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$ and $`\rho `$ is the Beilinson’s regulator map up to a constant multiple.

The $`0`$-th arithmetic $`K`$-group has already been given by Gillet and Soulé in a different way . They indeed defined it as the factor group of the free abelian group generated by $`(\overline{E},\omega )`$, where $`\overline{E}`$ is a hermitian vector bundle on $`X`$ and $`\omega \stackrel{~}{A}_1(X)`$, by the subgroup generated by

$$(\overline{E^{}},\omega )+(\overline{E^{\prime \prime }},\omega ^{})(\overline{E},\omega +\omega ^{}\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}())$$

for all short exact sequences $`:0\overline{E^{}}\overline{E}\overline{E^{\prime \prime }}0`$. In this paper, we denote this factor group by $`\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)`$. We denote by $`[(\overline{E},\omega )]`$ the element of $`\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)`$ determined by a pair $`(\overline{E},\omega )`$.

###### Theorem 3.7.

There is a canonical isomorphism

$$\widehat{\alpha }:\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)\widehat{\pi }_1(|\widehat{S}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})=\widehat{K}_0(X).$$

Proof: This is an analogue of the fact that the Grothendieck group of a small exact category is isomorphic to the fundamental group of its $`S`$-construction. Since $`\widehat{S}_1(X)`$ is the set of all hermitian vector bundles on $`X`$ and $`\widehat{S}_0(X)=\{\}`$, a pointed simplicial loop $`l_{\overline{E}}:S^1|\widehat{S}(X)|`$ can be associated with a hermitian vector bundle $`\overline{E}`$ on $`X`$. Moreover, any short exact sequence $`:0\overline{E^{}}\overline{E}\overline{E^{\prime \prime }}0`$ gives a $`2`$-simplex $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{}`$ in $`\widehat{S}(X)`$ whose faces are $`_0\mathrm{\Delta }_{}=\overline{E^{\prime \prime }}`$, $`_1\mathrm{\Delta }_{}=\overline{E}`$ and $`_2\mathrm{\Delta }_{}=\overline{E^{}}`$. If we regard $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{}`$ as a cellular homotopy from $`l_{\overline{E^{}}}l_{\overline{E^{\prime \prime }}}`$ to $`l_{\overline{E}}`$, then the Bott-Chern form of this homotopy is $`\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}()`$. Hence we have

$$[(l_{\overline{E^{}}}l_{\overline{E^{\prime \prime }}},0)]=[(l_{\overline{E}},\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}())]$$

in $`\widehat{\pi }_1(|\widehat{S}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$. This tells that $`(\overline{E},\omega )(l_{\overline{E}},\omega )`$ gives rise to the homomorphism of groups

$$\widehat{\alpha }:\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)\widehat{\pi }_1(|\widehat{S}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})=\widehat{K}_0(X).$$

Consider the following commutative diagram:

$$\begin{array}{ccccccccc}K_1(X)& \stackrel{\rho }{}& \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_1(X)& \stackrel{a}{}& \widehat{𝒦}_0(X)& & K_0(X)& & 0\\ \text{id}& & \text{id}& & \widehat{\alpha }& & \text{id}& & \\ K_1(X)& \stackrel{\rho }{}& \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_1(X)& \stackrel{a}{}& \widehat{K}_0(X)& & K_0(X)& & 0.\end{array}$$

The upper sequence is exact by Thm.6.2 in  and the lower one is exact by Thm.3.6. Hence $`\widehat{\alpha }`$ is bijective by the five lemma. ∎

The Bott-Chern form of a pointed cellular map $`f:S^{n+1}|\widehat{S}(X)|`$ is defined as

$$\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)=\mathrm{ch}^{GS}(f_{}([S^{n+1}]))𝒜_n(X),$$

where $`[S^{n+1}]C_{n+1}(S^{n+1})`$ is the fundamental chain of $`S^{n+1}`$. The Bott-Chern form $`\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H)`$ of a cellular homotopy $`H:S^{n+1}\times I/\{\}\times I|\widehat{S}(X)|`$ can be defined in the same way.

Let

$$\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}:\widehat{K}_n(X)𝒜_n(X)$$

be the map defined in §2.2. That is to say, $`\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}`$ is defined as

$$\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}([(f,\omega )])=\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)d_𝒜\omega .$$

Let us call it the Chern form map. Applying Cor.2.5 and Cor.2.6 to the present situation, we have the following corollaries:

###### Corollary 3.8.

There is an exact sequence

$$K_{n+1}(X)\stackrel{𝜌}{}H_{n+1}(𝒜_{}(X),d_𝒜)\widehat{K}_n(X)\stackrel{(\zeta ,\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS})}{}K_n(X)\mathrm{Ker}d_𝒜\stackrel{cl}{}H_n(𝒜_{}(X),d_𝒜)0,$$

where $`cl`$ is defined as $`cl(x,\omega )=\rho (x)[\omega ]`$.

###### Corollary 3.9.

We define a subgroup $`KM_n(X)\widehat{K}_n(X)`$ by the kernel of the Chern form map, that is,

$$KM_n(X)=\mathrm{Ker}\left(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}:\widehat{K}_n(X)𝒜_n(X)\right).$$

Then there is a long exact sequence

$$\mathrm{}K_{n+1}(X)\stackrel{𝜌}{}\underset{𝑝}{}H^{2pn1}(𝒜^{}(X,p),d_𝒜)KM_n(X)K_n(X)\mathrm{}.$$

Cor.3.9 tells that the group $`KM_{}(X)`$, which is supposed to be the homotopy groups of the homotopy fiber of the regulator map, can be defined in terms of modified homotopy groups developed in the last section.

We finish this subsection by defining a pull back morphism. Let $`\phi :XY`$ be a morphism of proper arithmetic varieties. Then there is a commutative diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}C_{}(|\widehat{S}(Y)|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(Y)[1]\\ \phi ^{}& & \phi ^{}& & \\ C_{}(|\widehat{S}(X)|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)[1].\end{array}$$

Hence a homomorphism

$$\widehat{\phi }^{}:\widehat{K}_n(Y)\widehat{K}_n(X)$$

is defined by $`\widehat{\phi }^{}([(f,\omega )])=[(\phi ^{}f,\phi ^{}\omega )]`$. In the case of $`n=0`$, the isomorphism $`\widehat{\alpha }`$ in Thm.3.7 identifies the above $`\widehat{\phi }^{}`$ with the pull back morphism on $`\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)`$ defined in . It is obvious that the pull back morphism $`\widehat{\phi }^{}`$ commutes with the Chern form map $`\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}`$.

### 3.3. Arakelov $`K`$-theory

Let $`M`$ be a compact algebraic Kähler manifold and $`h_M`$ a Kähler metric on $`M`$. Let $`_{}^n(M)`$ be the space of real harmonic forms on $`M`$ with respect to $`h_M`$ and $`^{p,q}(M)`$ the space of harmonic forms of type $`(p,q)`$. We set

$$_𝒟^n(M,p)=\{\begin{array}{cc}_{}^{n1}(M)(p1)\underset{p^{}<p,q^{}<p}{\underset{p^{}+q^{}=n1}{}}^{p^{},q^{}}(M),\hfill & n<2p,\hfill \\ _{}^{2p}(M)(p)^{p,p}(M),\hfill & n=2p.\hfill \end{array}$$

The short exact sequence

$$0F^pH^{n1}(M,)H^{n1}(M,(p1))H_𝒟^n(M,(p))0$$

for $`n<2p`$ and the short exact sequence

$$0H_𝒟^{2p}(M,(p))F^pH^{2p}(M,)H^{2p}(M,(p1))0$$

yield the isomorphism

$$H_𝒟^n(M,(p))_𝒟^n(M,p)$$

for $`n2p`$. Let $`_𝒜^n(M,p)`$ denote the image of $`_𝒟^n(M,p)`$ by the renormalization operator $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$. In other words, $`_𝒟^n(M,p)`$ (resp. $`_𝒜^n(M,p)`$) is the space of harmonic forms in $`𝒟^n(M,p)`$ (resp. $`𝒜^n(M,p)`$).

Let us return to the arithmetic situation. An Arakelov variety is a pair $`\overline{X}=(X,h_X)`$ of an arithmetic variety $`X`$ and an $`F_{\mathrm{}}`$-invariant Kähler metric $`h_X`$ on $`X()`$. We now assume that $`X`$ is proper over $``$. Let $`_n(X)`$ denote the space of harmonic forms with respect to $`h_X`$ in $`𝒜_n(X)`$, that is,

$$_n(X)=\{\begin{array}{cc}\underset{𝑝}{}_𝒜^{2pn}(X(),p)^{F_{\mathrm{}}^{}=(1)^{p1}},\hfill & n1,\hfill \\ \underset{𝑝}{}_𝒜^{2p}(X(),p)^{F_{\mathrm{}}^{}=(1)^p},\hfill & n=0.\hfill \end{array}$$

Then there is an isomorphism $`H_n(𝒜_{}(X),d_𝒜)_n(X)`$ and this yields the following:

###### Proposition 3.10.

there is an orthogonal decomposition

$$\mathrm{Ker}d_𝒜=\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜_n(X)$$

in $`𝒜_n(X)`$.

###### Definition 3.11.

The subgroup $`(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS})^1\left(_n(X)\right)`$ of $`\widehat{K}_n(X)`$ is denoted by $`K_n(\overline{X})`$ and called the $`n`$-th Arakelov $`K`$-group of $`\overline{X}=(X,h_X)`$.

###### Theorem 3.12.

There is an exact sequence

$$K_{n+1}(X)\underset{𝑝}{}H^{2pn1}(𝒜^{}(X,p),d_𝒜)K_n(\overline{X})K_n(X)0.$$

Proof: This exact sequence can be deduced from the fact that $`[(0,\omega )]K_n(\overline{X})`$ if and only if $`d_𝒜\omega =0`$, which follows from Prop.3.10. ∎

Künnemann has constructed a section of the inclusion from the Arakelov Chow group to the arithmetic Chow group in . We now adapt his method to the inclusion $`K_n(\overline{X})\widehat{K}_n(X)`$ to get a section of it. Let $`:𝒜_n(X)_n(X)`$ be the orthogonal projection with respect to the $`L_2`$-inner product. Let $`(f,\omega )`$ be a pair of a pointed cellular map $`f:S^{n+1}|\widehat{S}(X)|`$ and $`\omega \stackrel{~}{A}_{n+1}(X)`$. Then we can take $`\omega _{\mathrm{}}\stackrel{~}{A}_{n+1}(X)`$ such that $`\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)d_𝒜\omega _{\mathrm{}}`$ is harmonic and $`(\omega _{\mathrm{}})=(\omega )`$. Existence and uniqueness of $`\omega _{\mathrm{}}`$ follow from Prop.3.10.

If $`(f,\omega )`$ is homotopy equivalent to $`(f^{},\omega ^{})`$, then we have

$$\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f^{})d_𝒜(\omega ^{}\omega _{\mathrm{}}\omega )=\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)d_𝒜\omega _{\mathrm{}}$$

and $`(\omega ^{}\omega _{\mathrm{}}\omega )=(\omega ^{})`$. Hence $`\omega _{\mathrm{}}^{}=\omega ^{}\omega _{\mathrm{}}\omega `$, therefore $`(f,\omega _{\mathrm{}})`$ is homotopy equivalent to $`(f^{},\omega _{\mathrm{}}^{})`$. Hence we can define a section of the inclusion

$$\sigma :\widehat{K}_n(X)K_n(\overline{X})$$

by $`\sigma ([(f,\omega )])=[(f,\omega _{\mathrm{}})]`$. The map $`\sigma `$ is called the harmonic projection of $`\widehat{K}_n(X)`$.

## 4. A product formula for higher Bott-Chern forms

### 4.1. A product formula

We begin this section by recalling the multiplicative structure on $`𝒟^n(X,p)`$ . Let $`M`$ be a compact complex algebraic manifold. A homomorphism

$$:𝒟^n(M,p)𝒟^m(M,q)𝒟^{m+n}(M,p+q)$$

is defined as

$$xy=(1)^n(x^{(p1,np)}\overline{}x^{(np,p1)})y+x(y^{(q1,mq)}\overline{}y^{(mq,q1)})$$

if $`n<2p`$ and $`m<2q`$ and $`xy=xy`$ if $`n=2p`$ or $`m=2q`$. Here $`x^{(\alpha ,\beta )}`$ is the $`(\alpha ,\beta )`$-component of the form $`x`$. Then it satisfies $`d_𝒟(xy)=d_𝒟xy+(1)^nxd_𝒟y`$ and $`xy=(1)^{nm}yx`$. Moreover, it induces the product in the real Deligne cohomology, which is defined in .

The higher Bott-Chern forms are not compatible with products, that is, $`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}(𝒢)`$ is not equal to $`\mathrm{ch}_n()\mathrm{ch}_m(𝒢)`$ for an exact metrized $`n`$-cube $``$ and an exact metrized $`m`$-cube $`𝒢`$. But since the higher Chern character $`K_n(M)H_𝒟^{2pn}(M,p)`$ respects the products, it is quite natural to expect that the difference $`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}(𝒢)\mathrm{ch}_n()\mathrm{ch}_m(𝒢)`$ is expressed in terms of exact forms.

Let us define another operation on $`𝒟^n(M,p)`$. For integers $`i`$ and $`j`$ satisfying $`1in`$ and $`1jm`$, we set

$$a_{i,j}^{n,m}=12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right),$$

where $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{a}{b}\right)=\frac{(a+b)!}{a!b!}`$. When $`b<0`$ or $`a<b`$, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{a}{b}\right)`$ is assumed to be zero.

###### Lemma 4.1.

We have $`a_{i,j}^{n,m}=a_{ni+1,mj+1}^{n,m}`$ and $`a_{i,j}^{n,m}=a_{j,i}^{m,n}`$.

Proof: Let us recall the following formula on binomial coefficients:

$$\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{a}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{b}{a\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{c}{\alpha }\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{b+c}{a}\right).$$

Then we have

$`a_{i,j}^{n,m}+a_{ni+1,mj+1}^{n,m}`$ $`=22\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{ni}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=22\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=0.`$
As for the second equality, we have

$`a_{j,i}^{m,n}`$ $`=12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{m}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{j1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+nji+1}{m\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+i1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=1+2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{m}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =j}{\overset{m}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+nji+1}{m\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+i1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=1+2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{m}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =j}{\overset{m}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+nji+1}{nji+1+\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+i1}{j+i1\alpha }\right).`$
If we put $`\beta =i+j1\alpha `$, then
$`a_{j,i}^{m,n}`$ $`=1+2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\beta =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+nij+1}{n\beta }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\beta }\right)`$
$`=a_{i,j}^{n,m},`$
which completes the proof. ∎

For $`x𝒟^{2pn}(M,p)`$ and $`y𝒟^{2qm}(M,q)`$ with $`n,m1`$, $`x\mathrm{}y`$ is defined as

$$x\mathrm{}y=\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{}}a_{i,j}^{n,m}x^{(pn+i1,pi)}y^{(qm+j1,qj)}.$$

If $`n=0`$ or $`m=0`$, then $`x\mathrm{}y`$ is defined to be zero. The first claim of Lem.4.1 implies that $`x\mathrm{}y`$ is in $`𝒟^{2(p+q)nm1}(M,p+q)`$ and the second claim implies $`x\mathrm{}y=(1)^{nm+n+m}y\mathrm{}x`$.

###### Theorem 4.2.

If $``$ is an exact metrized $`n`$-cube on $`M`$ and $`𝒢`$ is an exact metrized $`m`$-cube on $`M`$, then we have

$`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}(𝒢)`$ $`\mathrm{ch}_n()\mathrm{ch}_m(𝒢)=(1)^{n+1}d_𝒟(\mathrm{ch}_n()\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m(𝒢))`$
$`+(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_{n1}()\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m(𝒢)\mathrm{ch}_n()\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_{m1}(𝒢).`$
### 4.2. Proof of Thm.4.2

Let us first prepare some notations. For differential forms $`u_1,\mathrm{},u_n`$ on $`M`$, let $`(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{(\alpha ,\beta )}`$ be the $`(\alpha ,\beta )`$-component of $`du_1\mathrm{}du_n`$. When $`u_i`$ is a $`(p_i,p_i)`$-form, let

$$(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{(i)}=\underset{p}{}(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{(p+i,p+ni)}$$

and

$$S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)=(i1)!(ni)!\underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}(1)^{\alpha +1}u_\alpha (u_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{u_\alpha },\mathrm{},u_n)^{(i1)}.$$

Then $`S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)𝒟_n(M)`$ if $`u_i𝒟_1(M)`$. We note that $`S_n^i(\mathrm{log}|z_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|z_n|^2)`$ is the same form as $`S_n^i`$ defined in §1.5.

###### Lemma 4.3.

If $`u_i`$ is a $`(p_i,p_i)`$-form on $`M`$, then we have

$`S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)`$ $`=i!(ni)!(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{(i)}`$
$`+(ni){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^\alpha \overline{}u_\alpha S_{n1}^i(u_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{u_\alpha },\mathrm{},u_n)`$
and

$`\overline{}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)`$ $`=(i1)!(ni+1)!(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{(i1)}`$
$`(i1){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^\alpha \overline{}u_\alpha S_{n1}^{i1}(u_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{u_\alpha },\mathrm{},u_n).`$
Proof: We have

$``$ $`S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)=\left(i1\right)!\left(ni\right)!{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^{\alpha +1}\left(u_\alpha (u_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{u_\alpha },\mathrm{}u_n)^{\left(i1\right)}\right)`$
$`=\left(i1\right)!\left(ni\right)!{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^{\alpha +1}u_\alpha \left(\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\alpha }\mathrm{}\right)^{\left(i1\right)}`$
$`+(i1)!(ni)!{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^{\alpha +1}u_\alpha ({\displaystyle \underset{\beta <\alpha }{}}(1)^{\beta 1}\overline{}u_\beta \left(\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\beta }\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\alpha }\mathrm{}\right)^{\left(i1\right)}`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha <\beta }{}}(1)^{\beta 1}\overline{}u_\beta \left(\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\alpha }\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\beta }\mathrm{}\right)^{\left(i1\right)})`$
$`=i!(ni)!(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{\left(i\right)}+(i1)!(ni)!{\displaystyle \underset{\beta =1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^\beta \overline{}u_\beta ({\displaystyle \underset{\alpha <\beta }{}}(1)^{\alpha +1}u_\alpha \left(\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\alpha }\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\beta }\mathrm{}\right)^{\left(i1\right)}`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{\beta <\alpha }{}}(1)^\alpha u_\alpha \left(\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\beta }\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\alpha }\mathrm{}\right)^{\left(i1\right)})`$
$`=i!\left(ni\right)!(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{\left(i\right)}+\left(ni\right){\displaystyle \underset{\beta =1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^\beta \overline{}u_\beta S_{n1}^i(u_1,\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\beta }\mathrm{},u_n).`$
The second identity can be proved in a similar way. ∎

###### Lemma 4.4.

For $`(p_i,p_i)`$-forms $`u_i`$ and $`(q_j,q_j)`$-forms $`v_j`$, we have

$`S_{n+m}^k`$ $`(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n,v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)={\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{k}{}}}{\displaystyle \frac{(k1)!(n+mk)!}{(ni)!(i1)!}}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)^{(ki)}`$
$`+(1)^n{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{k}{}}}{\displaystyle \frac{(k1)!(n+mk)!}{(mj)!(j1)!}}(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{(kj)}S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m).`$
Hence we have

$`{\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{n+m}{}}}`$ $`(1)^kS_{n+m}^k(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n,v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`=\underset{01m}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}(1)^{i+j}{\displaystyle \frac{(n+mij)!(i+j1)!}{(ni)!(i1)!}}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)^{(j)}`$
$`+\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{0in}{}}}(1)^{n+i+j}{\displaystyle \frac{(n+mij)!(i+j1)!}{(mj)!(j1)!}}(v_1,\mathrm{}v_n)^{(i)}S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m).`$
Proof: We have

$`S`$ $`{}_{n+m}{}^{k}(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n,v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`=\left(k1\right)!\left(n+mk\right)!{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^{\alpha +1}u_\alpha (u_1,\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\alpha }\mathrm{}u_n,v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)^{\left(k1\right)}`$
$`+\left(1\right)^n\left(k1\right)!\left(n+mk\right)!{\displaystyle \underset{\beta =1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^{\beta +1}v_\beta (u_1,\mathrm{},u_n,v_1,\mathrm{}\widehat{v_\beta }\mathrm{},v_m)^{\left(k1\right)}`$
$`=\left(k1\right)!\left(n+mk\right)!{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^{\alpha +1}u_\alpha \left({\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{k}{}}}(u_1,\mathrm{}\widehat{u_\alpha }\mathrm{}u_n)^{\left(i1\right)}(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)^{\left(ki\right)}\right)`$
$`+\left(1\right)^n\left(k1\right)!\left(n+mk\right)!{\displaystyle \underset{\beta =1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^{\beta +1}v_\beta \left({\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{k}{}}}(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{\left(kj\right)}(v_1,\mathrm{}\widehat{v_\beta }\mathrm{},v_m)^{\left(j1\right)}\right)`$
$`={\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{k}{}}}\frac{\left(k1\right)!\left(n+mk\right)!}{\left(i1\right)!\left(ni\right)!}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)^{\left(ki\right)}`$
$`+\left(1\right)^n{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{k}{}}}\frac{\left(k1\right)!\left(n+mk\right)!}{\left(j1\right)!\left(mj\right)!}(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{\left(kj\right)}S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m),`$
which completes the proof. ∎

If we assume that $`u_i`$ and $`v_j`$ are in $`𝒟_1(M)`$, then by Lem.4.3 we have

$`d_𝒟`$ $`\left({\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^iS_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)\mathrm{}{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{m}{}}}(1)^jS_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{}v_m)\right)`$
$`=\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}(1)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n,m}dS_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{}v_m)`$
$`+(1)^n\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}(1)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n,m}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)dS_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{}v_m)`$
$`=\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{0in}{}}}(1)^{i+j}i!(ni)!(a_{i,j}^{n,m}a_{i+1,j}^{n,m})(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{(i)}S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{}v_m)`$
$`\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in1}{}}}(1)^{i+j}((ni)a_{i,j}^{n,m}+ia_{i+1,j}^{n,m})`$
$`\times \left({\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^\alpha \overline{}u_\alpha S_{n1}^i(u_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{u_\alpha },\mathrm{},u_n)S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)\right)`$
$`+(1)^n\underset{0jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}(1)^{i+j}j!(mj)!(a_{i,j}^{n,m}a_{i,j+1}^{n,m})S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)(v_1,\mathrm{}v_m)^{(j)}`$
$`+(1)^n\underset{1jm1}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}(1)^{i+j}((mj)a_{i,j}^{n,m}+ja_{i,j+1}^{n,m})`$
$`\times \left(S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n){\displaystyle \underset{\beta =1}{\overset{m}{}}}(1)^\beta \overline{}v_\beta S_{m1}^j(v_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{v_\beta },\mathrm{},v_m)\right).`$
Let us compute the coefficients of the above expression. Since $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n1\alpha }\right)`$ and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha 1}\right)`$, we have

$`a_{i,j}^{n,m}a_{i+1,j}^{n,m}`$ $`=12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`1+2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right)`$
for $`1in1`$ and

$`a_{i,j}^{n,m}a_{i,j+1}^{n,m}`$ $`=12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`1+2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i1}\right)`$
$`=2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{mj}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{j}\right)`$
for $`1jm1`$. It follows from the definition of $`a_{i,j}^{n,m}`$ and Lem.4.1 that

$`a_{1,j}^{n,m}`$ $`=12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mj}{n}\right),`$
$`a_{n,j}^{n,m}`$ $`=1+2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+j1}{n}\right),`$
$`a_{i,1}^{n,m}`$ $`=1+2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mi}{m}\right),`$
$`a_{i,m}^{n,m}`$ $`=12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+i1}{m}\right).`$
By Lem.A.1, we have

$`(n`$ $`i)a^{n,m}_{i,j}+ia^{n,m}_{i+1,j}`$
$`=n2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left((ni){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+i{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right)\right)`$
$`=n2n\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m1}{n1}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n1\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=na_{i,j}^{n1,m}`$
and

$`(m`$ $`j)a^{n,m}_{i,j}+ja^{n,m}_{i,j+1}`$
$`=m2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left((mj){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+j{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right)\right)`$
$`=m2m\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m1}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=ma_{i,j}^{n,m1}.`$
These computations imply that

$`d_𝒟`$ $`\left({\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^iS_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)\mathrm{}{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^jS_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)\right)`$
$`=2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{0in}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}i!\left(ni\right)!\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right)(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{\left(i\right)}S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`n\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in1}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n1,m}{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^\alpha \overline{}u_\alpha S_{n1}^i(u_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{u_\alpha },\mathrm{},u_n)S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`2\left(1\right)^n\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\underset{0jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}j!\left(mj\right)!\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{mj}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{j}\right)S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)^{\left(j\right)}`$
$`+\left(1\right)^nm\underset{1jm1}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n,m1}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n){\displaystyle \underset{\beta =1}{\overset{m}{}}}\left(1\right)^\beta \overline{}v_\beta S_{m1}^j(v_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{v_\beta },\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{1jm}{}}\left(1\right)^jn!(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{\left(0\right)}S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{1jm}{}}\left(1\right)^{n+j}n!(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{\left(n\right)}S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}\left(1\right)^{n+i}m!S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)^{\left(0\right)}`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}\left(1\right)^{n+m+i}m!S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)^{\left(m\right)}`$
$`=2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{0in}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}\frac{\left(n+mij\right)!\left(i+j1\right)!}{\left(mj\right)!\left(j1\right)!}(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)^{\left(i\right)}S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`n\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in1}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n1,m}{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^\alpha \overline{}u_\alpha S_{n1}^i(u_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{u_\alpha },\mathrm{},u_n)S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`2\left(1\right)^n\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\underset{0jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}\frac{\left(n+mij\right)!\left(i+j1\right)!}{\left(ni\right)!\left(i1\right)!}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)^{\left(j\right)}`$
$`+\left(1\right)^nm\underset{1jm1}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n,m1}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n){\displaystyle \underset{\beta =1}{\overset{m}{}}}\left(1\right)^\beta \overline{}v_\beta S_{m1}^j(v_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{v_\beta },\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{1jm}{}}\left(1\right)^j\left(\overline{}S_n^1(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)+\left(1\right)^nS_n^n(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)\right)S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}\left(1\right)^{n+i}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)\left(\overline{}S_m^1(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)+\left(1\right)^mS_m^m(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)\right).`$
Applying Lem.4.4 to the above, we have the following.

###### Proposition 4.5.

For $`u_i𝒟_1(M)`$ and $`v_j𝒟_1(M)`$, we have

$`d_𝒟\left({\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^iS_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)\mathrm{}{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{m}{}}}\left(1\right)^jS_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)\right)`$
$`=2\left(1\right)^{n+1}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{n+m}{}}}\left(1\right)^kS_{n+m}^k(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n,v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`n\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in1}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n1,m}{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^\alpha \overline{}u_\alpha S_{n1}^i(u_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{u_\alpha },\mathrm{},u_n)S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`+\left(1\right)^nm\underset{1jm1}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n,m1}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n){\displaystyle \underset{\beta =1}{\overset{m}{}}}\left(1\right)^\beta \overline{}v_\beta S_{m1}^j(v_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{v_\beta },\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`+\left(1\right)^n\left({\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^iS_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)\right)\left({\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{m}{}}}\left(1\right)^jS_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)\right).`$
Let us return to the proof of Thm.4.2. We may assume that $``$ and $`𝒢`$ are emi-cubes. For $`s<t`$, let $`\pi _1:(^1)^t(^1)^s`$ denote the projection defined by $`(x_1,\mathrm{},x_t)(x_1,\mathrm{},x_s)`$ and let $`\pi _2:(^1)^t(^1)^s`$ denote the projection defined by $`(x_1,\mathrm{},x_t)(x_{ts+1},\mathrm{},x_t)`$. Then by Prop.4.5 we have

$`d_𝒟\left(\mathrm{ch}_n\left(\right)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m\left(𝒢\right)\right)`$
$`=\frac{\left(1\right)^{n+m}}{4n!m!\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m}}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m}}}\pi _1^{}\mathrm{ch}_0\left(\mathrm{tr}\right)\pi _2^{}\mathrm{ch}_0\left(\mathrm{tr}𝒢\right)d_𝒟\left(\left({\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^i\pi _1^{}S_n^i\right)\mathrm{}\left({\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{m}{}}}\left(1\right)^j\pi _2^{}S_m^j\right)\right)`$
$`=\frac{\left(1\right)^{m+1}}{2\left(n+m\right)!\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m}}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m}}}\mathrm{ch}_0\left(\mathrm{tr}\left(𝒢\right)\right){\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{n+m}{}}}\left(1\right)^kS_{n+m}^k`$
$`+\frac{\left(1\right)^{n+m+1}}{4\left(n1\right)!m!\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m1}}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m1}}}\mathrm{ch}_0\left(\mathrm{tr}\left(𝒢\right)\right)\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in1}{{\displaystyle }}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n1,m}\pi _1^{}S_{n1}^i\pi _2^{}S_m^j`$
$`+\frac{\left(1\right)^m}{4n!\left(m1\right)!\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m1}}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m1}}}\mathrm{ch}_0\left(\mathrm{tr}\left(𝒢\right)\right)\underset{1jm1}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n,m1}\pi _1^{}S_n^i\pi _2^{}S_{m1}^j`$
$`+\frac{\left(1\right)^m}{4n!m!\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m}}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m}}}\mathrm{ch}_0\left(\mathrm{tr}\left(𝒢\right)\right)\left(\left({\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^i\pi _1^{}S_n^i\right)\left({\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{m}{}}}\left(1\right)^j\pi _2^{}S_m^j\right)\right)`$
$`=\left(1\right)^{n+1}\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}\left(𝒢\right)+\mathrm{ch}_{n1}\left(\right)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m\left(𝒢\right)`$
$`+\left(1\right)^{n+1}\mathrm{ch}_n\left(\right)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m\left(𝒢\right)+\left(1\right)^n\mathrm{ch}_n\left(\right)\mathrm{ch}_m\left(𝒢\right),`$
which completes the proof. ∎

### 4.3. Renormalization

In this subsection we renormalize the identity in Thm.4.2. Let us define

$$:𝒜^n(M,p)\times 𝒜^m(M,q)𝒜^{n+m}(M,p+q)$$

as

$$xy=\frac{(1)^n}{4\pi \sqrt{1}}(x^{(p1,np)}\overline{}x^{(np,p1)})y+\frac{1}{4\pi \sqrt{1}}x(y^{(q1,mq)}\overline{}y^{(mq,q1)})$$

if $`n<2p,m<2q`$ and $`xy=xy`$ if $`n=2p`$ or $`m=2q`$. Then it follows that

$$\mathrm{\Theta }(xy)=\mathrm{\Theta }(x)\mathrm{\Theta }(y)$$

for $`x𝒟^n(M,p)`$ and $`y𝒟^m(M,q)`$, where $`\mathrm{\Theta }:𝒟^{}(M,)𝒜^{}(M,)`$ is the renormalization operator defined in §1.6.

For $`n,m1`$ let us define

$$\mathrm{}:𝒜^{2pn}(M,p)\times 𝒜^{2qm}(M,q)𝒜^{2p+2qnm1}(M,p+q)$$

by

$$x\mathrm{}y=\frac{1}{4\pi \sqrt{1}}\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{}}a_{i,j}^{n,m}x^{(pn+i1,pi)}y^{(qm+j1,qj)}.$$

If $`n=0`$ or $`m=0`$, then $`x\mathrm{}y`$ is defined to be zero. Then it follows that

$$\mathrm{\Theta }(x\mathrm{}y)=\mathrm{\Theta }(x)\mathrm{}\mathrm{\Theta }(y)$$

for $`x𝒟^{2pn}(M,p)`$ and $`y𝒟^{2qm}(M,q)`$. Then we can rewrite the product formula as follows:

###### Proposition 4.6.

If $``$ is an exact metrized $`n`$-cube on $`M`$ and $`𝒢`$ is an exact metrized $`m`$-cube on $`M`$, then we have

$`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(𝒢)`$ $`\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(𝒢)=(1)^{n+1}d_𝒜(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(𝒢))`$
$`+(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_{n1}^{GS}()\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(𝒢)\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_{m1}^{GS}(𝒢).`$
## 5. Product

### 5.1. Notations on bisimplicial sets

A bisimplicial set is a contravariant functor from the category of pairs of finite ordered sets to the category of sets. The product $`S\times T`$ and the reduced product $`ST`$ of two simplicial sets $`S,T`$ are examples of bisimplicial sets. For a bisimplicial set $`S`$, let $`S_{n,m}=S([n],[m])`$. The topological realization of a bisimplicial set $`S`$ is defined as

$$|S|=\underset{n,m}{}S_{n,m}\times \mathrm{\Delta }^n\times \mathrm{\Delta }^m/,$$

where the relation $``$ is given in a similar way to the case of a simplicial set. Then $`|S|`$ is a CW-complex such that the set of $`k`$-cells of $`|S|`$ can be identified with the set of nondegenerate elements of $`\underset{n+m=k}{}S_{n,m}`$.

For a bisimplicial set $`S`$, $`[n]S_{n,n}`$ becomes a simplicial set. It is denoted by $`\mathrm{\Delta }(S)`$ and called the diagonal simplicial set of $`S`$. The topological realization $`|\mathrm{\Delta }(S)|`$ is homeomorphic to $`|S|`$ and $`|\mathrm{\Delta }(S)|`$ becomes a subdivision of $`|S|`$ as CW-complexes. Hence the identity map $`|S||\mathrm{\Delta }(S)|`$ is cellular, although the inverse is not.

### 5.2. Product in higher $`K`$-theory

In this subsection we review the product in higher algebraic $`K`$-theory by means of $`S`$-construction . For a small exact category $`𝔄`$, let $`S_nS_m𝔄`$ be the set of functors

$$E:\mathrm{Ar}[n]\times \mathrm{Ar}[m]𝔄,(ij,\alpha \beta )E_{(i,j)\times (\alpha ,\beta )}$$

satisfying the following conditions:

1. $`E_{(i,i)\times (\alpha ,\beta )}=0`$ and $`E_{(i,j)\times (\alpha ,\alpha )}=0`$.
2. For any $`ijk`$ and $`\alpha \beta `$, $`E_{(i,j)\times (\alpha ,\beta )}E_{(i,k)\times (\alpha ,\beta )}E_{(j,k)\times (\alpha ,\beta )}`$ is a short exact sequence of $`𝔄`$.
3. For any $`ij`$ and $`\alpha \beta \gamma `$, $`E_{(i,j)\times (\alpha ,\beta )}E_{(i,j)\times (\alpha ,\gamma )}E_{(i,j)\times (\beta ,\gamma )}`$ is a short exact sequence of $`𝔄`$.

Then $`([n],[m])S_nS_m𝔄`$ is a bisimplicial set, which is denoted by $`S^{(2)}𝔄`$. The natural identification $`S_1S_m𝔄=S_m𝔄`$ yields a morphism of bisimplicial sets

$$S^1S𝔄S^{(2)}𝔄,$$

and its adjoint map $`|S𝔄|\mathrm{\Omega }|S^{(2)}𝔄|`$ turns out to be a homotopy equivalence.

When $`𝔄`$ is equipped with a tensor product, a morphism of bisimplicial sets

$$m:S𝔄S𝔄S^{(2)}𝔄$$

is defined by $`m(E,F)_{(i,j)\times (\alpha ,\beta )}=E_{i,j}F_{\alpha ,\beta }`$. This induces a pairing

$$m_{}:\pi _{n+1}(|S𝔄|)\times \pi _{m+1}(|S𝔄|)\pi _{n+m+2}(|S^{(2)}𝔄|).$$

Combining this pairing with the isomorphisms $`K_n(𝔄)\pi _{n+1}(|S𝔄|)\pi _{n+2}(|S^{(2)}𝔄|)`$ yields the product in higher algebraic $`K`$-theory $`K_{}(𝔄)`$.

### 5.3. $`G`$-construction

In , Gillet and Grayson constructed a simplicial set $`G𝔄`$ associated with a small exact category $`𝔄`$ that is homotopy equivalent to the loop space of the $`S`$-construction $`S𝔄`$. In this subsection we recall their construction.

Let $`G_n𝔄`$ be the set of pairs $`(E^+,E^{})`$ of $`E^+,E^{}S_{n+1}𝔄`$ with $`_0E^+=_0E^{}`$. Let us define the boundary maps $`_k:G_n𝔄G_{n1}𝔄`$ by $`(E^+,E^{})(_{k+1}E^+,_{k+1}E^{})`$ and the degeneracy maps $`s_k:G_n𝔄G_{n+1}𝔄`$ by $`(E^+,E^{})(s_{k+1}E^+,s_{k+1}E^{})`$. Then $`(G_{}𝔄,_k,s_k)`$ becomes a simplicial set. We fix $`0=(0,0)G_0𝔄`$ as the base point of $`G𝔄`$.

Let $`\iota _k`$ denote the element of $`\mathrm{\Delta }[1]_n=\mathrm{Hom}([n],[1])`$ defined as

$$\iota _k(i)=\{\begin{array}{cc}0,\hfill & i<k,\hfill \\ 1,\hfill & ik.\hfill \end{array}$$

Then $`\mathrm{\Delta }[1]_n=\{\iota _0,\iota _1,\mathrm{},\iota _{n+1}\}`$. Let

$$\chi _n^\pm :\mathrm{\Delta }[1]_n\times G_n𝔄S_n𝔄$$

be maps defined as

$$\chi _n^\pm (\iota _k,(E^+,E^{}))=\{\begin{array}{cc}_0E^\pm ,\hfill & k=0,\hfill \\ (s_0)^{k1}(_1)^kE^\pm ,\hfill & k1.\hfill \end{array}$$

Then $`\chi ^\pm =\{\chi _n^\pm \}:\mathrm{\Delta }(\mathrm{\Delta }[1]\times G𝔄)S𝔄`$ are morphisms of simplicial sets such that $`\chi ^\pm (\{0\}\times G𝔄)=`$ and $`\chi ^+|_{\{1\}\times G𝔄}=\chi ^{}|_{\{1\}\times G𝔄}`$.

Let $`T^1`$ be a simplicial set given by the following cocartesian square:

We fix the image of $`\{0\}\mathrm{\Delta }[1]`$ as the base point of $`T^1`$. Since the topological realization of $`\mathrm{\Delta }[1]`$ is the unit interval $`I=[0,1]`$, the topological realization of $`T^1`$ is the barycentric subdivision of the circle $`S^1=I/I`$.

###### Theorem 5.1.

 By gluing the morphisms $`\chi ^\pm `$, we obtain a morphism of simplicial sets

$$\chi :\mathrm{\Delta }(T^1G𝔄)S𝔄.$$

The adjoint map $`|G𝔄|\mathrm{\Omega }|S𝔄|`$ to $`|\chi |`$ is homotopy equivalent. Therefore we have an isomorphism

$$\pi _i(|G𝔄|,0)K_i(𝔄).$$

We next introduce a description of the product in $`K`$-theory by means of $`G`$-construction, which is also given in . Let

$$G_nG_m𝔄=\{(E^{++},E^+,E^+,E^{});E^{\pm \pm }S_{n+1}S_{m+1}𝔄,_0E^{+\pm }=_0E^\pm ,_0^{}E^{\pm +}=_0^{}E^\pm \},$$

where $`_0`$ is the boundary map on the first factor of the bisimplicial set $`S^{(2)}𝔄`$ and $`_0^{}`$ is the boundary map on the second factor of $`S^{(2)}𝔄`$. Then $`([n],[m])G_nG_m𝔄`$ becomes a bisimplicial set, which is denoted by $`G^{(2)}𝔄`$. Let $`R:G_n𝔄G_0G_n𝔄`$ be the morphism defined by $`R(E^+,E^{})=(E^+,E^{},0,0)`$. Then it is shown in  that $`R`$ induces a homotopy equivalent morphism $`R:G𝔄G^{(2)}𝔄`$. Therefore we have an isomorphism

$$\pi _n(|G^{(2)}𝔄|)K_n(𝔄).$$

A morphism of bisimplicial sets

$$m^G:G𝔄G𝔄G^{(2)}𝔄$$

is defined by $`m^G(E,F)^{\pm \pm }=E^\pm F^\pm `$ for $`E=(E^+,E^{})G_n𝔄`$ and $`F=(F^+,F^{})G_m𝔄`$. Then the pairing

$$m_{}^G:\pi _n(|G𝔄|)\times \pi _m(|G𝔄|)\pi _{n+m}(|G^{(2)}𝔄|)$$

induces a product in $`K_{}(𝔄)`$, which agrees with the one defined by using the $`S`$-construction.

Finally, let us define a cube associated with an element of $`G𝔄`$ or $`G^{(2)}𝔄`$. The morphism $`\chi :\mathrm{\Delta }(T^1G𝔄)S𝔄`$ in Thm.5.1 yields a morphism of complexes

$$\mathrm{Cub}:C_{}(|G𝔄|)\stackrel{\chi _{}}{}C_{}(|S𝔄|)[1]\stackrel{Cub}{}\mathrm{Cub}_{}(𝔄).$$

The cube $`\mathrm{Cub}(E)`$ associated with $`E=(E^+,E^{})G_n𝔄`$ is defined as the image by $`\mathrm{Cub}`$ of the element of $`C_{}(|G𝔄|)`$ represented by $`E`$. Since $`\chi _{}([E])=[E^+][E^{}]`$ in $`C_{n+1}(|S𝔄|)`$, we have

$$\mathrm{Cub}(E)=\mathrm{Cub}(E^+)\mathrm{Cub}(E^{}).$$

Let us define the cube associated with $`E=(E^{\pm \pm })G_nG_m𝔄`$ as

$$\mathrm{Cub}(E)=\mathrm{Cub}(E^{++})\mathrm{Cub}(E^+)\mathrm{Cub}(E^+)+\mathrm{Cub}(E^{}),$$

where $`\mathrm{Cub}(E^{\pm \pm })`$ is the image of the element of $`E^{\pm \pm }S_{n+1}S_{m+1}𝔄`$ by the homomorphism

$$S_{n+1}S_{m+1}𝔄\mathrm{Cub}_n(S_{m+1}𝔄)\mathrm{Cub}_n(\mathrm{Cub}_m(𝔄))=\mathrm{Cub}_{n+m}(𝔄).$$

If $`E=(E^{\pm \pm })`$ is degenerate, then we can show in the same way as the proof of Lem.3.1 that the cube $`\mathrm{Cub}(E^{\pm \pm })`$ associated with $`E`$ is zero in $`\mathrm{Cub}_{n+m}(𝔄)`$. Hence $`E=(E^{\pm \pm })\mathrm{Cub}(E)`$ induces a homomorphism of complexes

$$\mathrm{Cub}:C_{}(|G^{(2)}𝔄|)\mathrm{Cub}_{}(𝔄).$$

###### Proposition 5.2.

We have the following commutative diagram:

### 5.4. The pairing $`\widehat{𝒦}_0\times \widehat{K}_n\widehat{K}_n`$

For a proper arithmetic variety $`X`$, let $`\widehat{𝒫}(X)`$ be the category of hermitian vector bundles on $`X`$ and $`\widehat{G}(X)=G(\widehat{𝒫}(X))`$ its $`G`$-construction. Then there is a homomorphism of complexes

$$\mathrm{ch}^{GS}:C_{}(|\widehat{G}(X)|)\stackrel{Cub}{}\widehat{\mathrm{Cub}}_{}(X)\stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}𝒜_{}(X).$$

###### Proposition 5.3.

The morphism of simplicial sets $`\chi :\mathrm{\Delta }(T^1\widehat{G}(X))\widehat{S}(X)`$ yields an isomorphism

$$\widehat{\chi }_{}:\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_{n+1}(|\widehat{S}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})$$

by $`[(f,\omega )][(\chi (1f),\omega )]`$. Hence there is a canonical isomorphism

$$\widehat{K}_n(X)\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})$$

if $`n1`$.

Proof: It is obvious that the map $`(f,\omega )(\chi (1f),\omega )`$ gives rise to a homomorphism of the modified homotopy groups. Consider the following commutative diagram:

$$\begin{array}{ccccccccc}\pi _{n+1}(|\widehat{G}(X)|)& \stackrel{\rho }{}& \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{n+1}(X)& & \widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})& & \pi _n(|\widehat{G}(X)|)& & 0\\ \chi _{}& & \text{id}& & \widehat{\chi }_{}& & \chi _{}& & & & \\ \pi _{n+2}(|\widehat{S}(X)|)& \stackrel{\rho }{}& \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{n+1}(X)& & \widehat{\pi }_{n+1}(|\widehat{S}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})& & \pi _{n+1}(|\widehat{S}(X)|)& & 0,\end{array}$$

where the upper and lower sequences are exact by Thm.2.3 and $`\chi _{}`$ is an isomorphism by Thm.5.1. Hence the proposition follows from the five lemma. ∎

If we set $`\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)=G^{(2)}(\widehat{𝒫}(X))`$, then there is a homomorphism of complexes

$$\mathrm{ch}^{GS}:C_{}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|)\stackrel{Cub}{}\widehat{\mathrm{Cub}}_{}(X)\stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}𝒜_{}(X)$$

and the following square is commutative by Prop.5.2:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}C_{}(|\widehat{G}(X)|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)\\ R_{}& & \text{id}& & \\ C_{}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X).\end{array}$$

Hence $`R`$ induces an isomorphism

$$\widehat{R}_{}:\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})$$

by Thm.2.3.

Before discussing product in $`\widehat{K}_{}(X)`$, let us recall the product in $`\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)`$ defined by Gillet and Soulé in . The pairing

$$\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)\times \widehat{𝒦}_0(X)\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)$$

is given by

$$[(\overline{E},\omega )]\times [(\overline{F},\tau )]=[(\overline{E}\overline{F},\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})\tau +\omega \mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{F})+\omega d_𝒜\tau )].$$

Then $`\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)`$ becomes a commutative associative algebra.

To construct a product in higher arithmetic $`K`$-theory, we will use the $`G`$-construction. However, we have not had any expression of $`\widehat{K}_0(X)`$ by means of the $`G`$-construction. Hence we have to distinguish the cases including the $`K_0`$-group from the general case.

Let $`(\overline{E},\eta )`$ be a pair of a hermitian vector bundle on $`X`$ and $`\eta \stackrel{~}{A}_1(X)`$ and let $`(f,\omega )`$ be a pair of a pointed cellular map $`f:S^n|\widehat{G}(X)|`$ and $`\omega \stackrel{~}{A}_{n+1}(X)`$. Let us define the product of these pairs as

$$(\overline{E},\eta )\times (f,\omega )=(\overline{E}f,\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})\omega +\eta \mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+\eta d_𝒜\omega ),$$

where $`\overline{E}f:S^n\stackrel{𝑓}{}|\widehat{G}(X)|\stackrel{\overline{E}}{}|\widehat{G}(X)|`$.

###### Theorem 5.4.

The above product gives rise to a pairing

$$\times :\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)\times \widehat{K}_n(X)\widehat{K}_n(X).$$

Proof: To prove the theorem, we have to show that $`(\overline{E},\eta )\times (f,\omega )`$ is compatible with the equivalence relations of $`\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)`$ and $`\widehat{K}_n(X)`$. Let us first show the compatibility with the relation of $`\widehat{K}_n(X)`$.

Let $`H:S^n\times I/\{\}\times I|\widehat{G}(X)|`$ be a cellular homotopy from $`(f,\omega )`$ to $`(f^{},\omega ^{})`$. Then $`\omega ^{}\omega =(1)^{n+1}\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H)`$ and the map

$$\overline{E}H:S^n\times I/\{\}\times I\stackrel{𝐻}{}|\widehat{G}(X)|\stackrel{\overline{E}}{}|\widehat{G}(X)|$$

is a cellular homotopy from $`\overline{E}f`$ to $`\overline{E}f^{}`$. Furthermore, by Prop.4.6 we have

$`\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(\overline{E}H)`$ $`=\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H)`$
$`=(1)^{n+1}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})(\omega ^{}\omega ).`$
This tells that $`\overline{E}H`$ is a cellular homotopy from $`(\overline{E},\eta )\times (f,\omega )`$ to $`(\overline{E},\eta )\times (f^{},\omega ^{})`$.

Next we show the compatibility with the relation of $`\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)`$. Let

$$:0\overline{E}\overline{F}\overline{G}0$$

be a short exact sequence of hermitian vector bundles on $`X`$. Consider the following $`1`$-dimensional subcomplex of $`|\widehat{G}(X)|`$:

where

$$e_1=\left(\text{}\right),e_2=\left(\text{}\right).$$

We denote by $`\iota _{}:I|\widehat{G}(X)|`$ the cellular map such that $`\iota _{}(I)=e_1e_2^1`$.

For a pointed cellular map $`f:S^n|\widehat{G}(X)|`$, let

$$H:S^n\times I/\{\}\times I\stackrel{𝑇}{}I\times S^n/I\times \{\}\stackrel{\iota _{}f}{}|\widehat{G}(X)||\widehat{G}(X)|\stackrel{m^G}{}|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,$$

where $`T`$ is the switching map defined by $`T(s,t)=(t,s)`$. If $`H_0(s)=H(s,0)`$, then $`H_0`$ is written as

$$S^n\stackrel{𝑓}{}|\widehat{G}(X)|\stackrel{\iota _{\overline{E}\overline{G}}\mathrm{id}}{}|\widehat{G}(X)||\widehat{G}(X)|\stackrel{m^G}{}|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,$$

where $`\iota _{\overline{E}\overline{G}}:S^0|\widehat{G}(X)|`$ is the pointed map determined by $`(\overline{E}\overline{G},0)\widehat{G}_0(X)`$. Since the diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}|\widehat{G}(X)|& \stackrel{\iota _{\overline{E}\overline{G}}\mathrm{id}}{}& |\widehat{G}(X)||\widehat{G}(X)|\\ (\overline{E}\overline{G})& & m^G& & \\ |\widehat{G}(X)|& \stackrel{R}{}& |\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|\end{array}$$

is commutative, it follows that $`H_0=R((\overline{E}\overline{G})f)`$. If $`H_1(s)=H(s,1)`$, then we can show $`H_1=R(\overline{F}f)`$ in the same way. Moreover, Prop.4.6 implies

$`\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H)`$ $`=(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(m_{}^G(\iota _{}f)_{}([I\times S^n]))`$
$`(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}(\iota _{})\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)`$
$`=(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}()\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)`$
modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$. Hence $`H`$ is a cellular homotopy from $`(R((\overline{E}\overline{G})f),\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}()\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f))`$ to $`(R(\overline{F}f),0)`$. Since $`\widehat{R}_{}:\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$ is bijective, we have

$$[((\overline{E}\overline{G})f,\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}()\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f))]=[(\overline{F}f,0)]$$

in $`\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$.

The short exact sequence $``$ gives a relation

$$[(\overline{E},0)]+[(\overline{G},0)]=[(\overline{F},\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}())]$$

in $`\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)`$. We have

$$[(\overline{E},0)\times (f,\omega )][(\overline{G},0)\times (f,\omega )]=[((\overline{E}f)(\overline{G}f),(\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})+\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{G}))\omega )]$$

and

$`[(\overline{F},`$ $`\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}())\times (f,\omega )]`$
$`=[(\overline{F}f,\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{F})\omega \mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}()\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)d_𝒜\mathrm{ch}_1^{GS}()\omega )]`$
$`=[((\overline{E}\overline{G})f,(\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})+\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{G}))\omega )]`$
in $`\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$. Hence Thm.5.4 follows from Lem.5.5 and Lem.5.6 below. ∎

###### Lemma 5.5.

For a pointed cellular map $`f:S^n|\widehat{G}(X)|`$ and two hermitian vector bundles $`\overline{E},\overline{G}`$ on $`X`$, we have

$$[((\overline{E}f)(\overline{G}f),0)]=[((\overline{E}f)(\overline{G}f),0)]$$

in $`\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$.

Proof: Let us first describe the map $`(\overline{E}f)(\overline{G}f)`$ explicitly. Since $`f`$ is a pointed cellular map, the map

$$S^n\stackrel{\Delta }{}S^n\times S^n\stackrel{(\overline{E}f)\times (\overline{G}f)}{}|\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))|$$

is also a pointed cellular map. Moreover, the direct sum of hermitian vector bundles induces a morphism of simplicial sets

$$:\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))\widehat{G}(X).$$

Then the map $`(\overline{E}f)(\overline{G}f)`$ is expressed as the composition of these two cellular maps, that is,

$$(\overline{E}f)(\overline{G}f):S^n\stackrel{\Delta }{}S^n\times S^n\stackrel{(\overline{E}f)\times (\overline{G}f)}{}|\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))|\stackrel{}{}|\widehat{G}(X)|.$$

Consider the homomorphism of complexes

$$\mathrm{ch}^{GS}\mathrm{ch}^{GS}:C_{}(|\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))|)𝒜_{}(X)𝒜_{}(X)$$

defined by $`(E,F)(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(E),\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(F))`$ for $`E,F\widehat{G}_n(X)`$ and the inclusion

$$in_1(\text{resp. }in_2):\widehat{G}(X)\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))$$

defined by $`in_1(t)=(t,)`$ (resp. $`in_2(t)=(,t)`$). Then we have the following commutative diagram:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}C_{}(|\widehat{G}(X)|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)\\ in_{1}^{}{}_{}{}^{}\text{ (resp. }in_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{}\text{)}& & in_1\text{ (resp. }in_2\text{)}& & \\ C_{}(|\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)𝒜_{}(X),\end{array}$$

where the right vertical arrow is defined by $`in_1(\omega )=(\omega ,0)`$ (resp. $`in_2(\omega )=(0,\omega )`$). On the other hand, the projection

$$pr_1(\text{resp. }pr_2):\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))\widehat{G}(X)$$

defined by $`pr_1(x,y)=x`$ (resp. $`pr_2(x,y)=y`$) is also a morphism of simplicial sets and it satisfies the following commutative diagram:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}C_{}(|\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)𝒜_{}(X)\\ pr_{1}^{}{}_{}{}^{}\text{ (resp. }pr_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{}\text{)}& & pr_1\text{ (resp. }pr_2\text{)}& & \\ C_{}(|\widehat{G}(X)|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X),\end{array}$$

where the right vertical arrow is defined by $`pr_1(\omega ,\tau )=\omega `$ (resp. $`pr_2(\omega ,\tau )=\tau `$). Hence we have four homomorphisms

that form an isomorphism

$$\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_n(|\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}\mathrm{ch}^{GS})$$

by $`(x,y)\widehat{in_1}_{}(x)\widehat{in_2}_{}(y)`$. The inverse of it is $`\widehat{pr_1}_{}\widehat{pr_2}_{}`$. Since

$$\widehat{pr_1}_{}([(((\overline{E}f)\times (\overline{G}f))\mathrm{\Delta },0)])=[(\overline{E}f,0)]$$

and
$$\widehat{pr_2}_{}([(((\overline{E}f)\times (\overline{G}f))\mathrm{\Delta },0)])=[(\overline{G}f,0)],$$

we have

$$[(((\overline{E}f)\times (\overline{G}f))\mathrm{\Delta },0)]=\widehat{in_1}_{}([(\overline{E}f,0)])\widehat{in_2}_{}([(\overline{G}f,0)])$$

in $`\widehat{\pi }_{}(|\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$.

The following commutative diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}C_{}(|\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)𝒜_{}(X)\\ _{}& & +& & \\ C_{}(|\widehat{G}(X)|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)\end{array}$$

yields a homomorphism

$$\widehat{}_{}:\widehat{\pi }_n(|\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}).$$

Since $`\widehat{}_{}\widehat{in_j}_{}`$ is the identity homomorphism, we have

$`[((\overline{E}f)(\overline{G}f),0)]`$ $`=\widehat{}_{}\left([(((\overline{E}f)\times (\overline{G}f))\mathrm{\Delta },0)]\right)`$
$`=[(\overline{E}f,0)][(\overline{G}f,0)]`$
$`=[((\overline{E}f)(\overline{G}f),0)],`$
which completes the proof. ∎

###### Lemma 5.6.

In the same notations as Lem.5.5, we have

$$[((\overline{E}\overline{G})f,0)]=[((\overline{E}f)(\overline{G}f),0)]$$

in $`\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$.

Proof: Consider the following diagram:

$$\begin{array}{ccccc}\mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))& \stackrel{(\overline{E})\times (\overline{G})}{}& \mathrm{\Delta }(\widehat{G}(X)\times \widehat{G}(X))& & \\ \mathrm{\Delta }& & & & & & \\ \widehat{G}(X)& \stackrel{(\overline{E}\overline{G})}{}& \widehat{G}(X)& \stackrel{R}{}& \widehat{G}^{(2)}(X).\end{array}$$

This square is commutative up to homotopy. Let $`\alpha _0`$ be the upper map of the diagram and $`\alpha _1`$ the lower map. Then for $`P=(P^\pm )\widehat{G}_n(X)`$, $`\alpha _0(P)`$ and $`\alpha _1(P)`$ are elements of $`\widehat{G}_0\widehat{G}_n(X)`$ described as

$`\alpha _0(P)`$ $`=((\overline{E}P^+)(\overline{G}P^+),(\overline{E}P^{})(\overline{G}P^{}),0,0)`$
and
$`\alpha _1(P)`$ $`=((\overline{E}\overline{G})P^+,(\overline{E}\overline{G})P^{},0,0).`$
The canonical isometries $`(\overline{E}P^\pm )(\overline{G}P^\pm )(\overline{E}\overline{G})P^\pm `$ give an element of $`\widehat{G}_1\widehat{G}_n(X)`$ whose Bott-Chern form is zero. Collecting these elements for all $`P=(P^\pm )`$ provides a morphism of bisimplicial sets

$$\mathrm{\Psi }:\mathrm{\Delta }[1]\times \widehat{G}(X)\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)$$

such that $`\mathrm{\Psi }(0,s)=\alpha _0(s)`$ and $`\mathrm{\Psi }(1,s)=\alpha _1(s)`$. Therefore for any pointed celular map $`f:S^n|\widehat{G}(X)|`$,

$$H:S^n\times I/\{\}\times I\stackrel{𝑇}{}I\times S^n/I\times \{\}\stackrel{\mathrm{id}\times f}{}I\times |\widehat{G}(X)|/I\times \{\}\stackrel{|\mathrm{\Psi }|}{}|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|$$

is a cellular homotopy from $`R((\overline{E}f)(\overline{G}f))`$ to $`R((\overline{E}\overline{G})f)`$ such that $`\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H)=0`$. Since $`\widehat{R}_{}:\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$ is bijective, we have

$$[((\overline{E}f)(\overline{G}f),0)]=[((\overline{E}\overline{G})f,0)]$$

in $`\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$. ∎

In the same way as above, we can define a pairing $`\widehat{K}_n(X)\times \widehat{𝒦}_0(X)\widehat{K}_n(X)`$ by

$$[(f,\omega )]\times [(\overline{E},\eta )]=[(f\overline{E},(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\eta +\omega \mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})+\omega d_𝒜\eta )],$$

where $`f\overline{E}:S^n\stackrel{𝑓}{}|\widehat{G}(X)|\stackrel{\overline{E}}{}|\widehat{G}(X)|`$. Combining these pairings with the isomorphism $`\widehat{\alpha }:\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)\widehat{K}_0(X)`$, we can obtain a pairing

$$\times :\widehat{K}_n(X)\times \widehat{K}_m(X)\widehat{K}_{n+m}(X)$$

when $`n=0`$ or $`m=0`$.

### 5.5. The pairing of higher arithmetic $`K`$-theory

In this subsection we define a pairing $`\widehat{K}_n(X)\times \widehat{K}_m(X)\widehat{K}_{n+m}(X)`$ in the case of $`n,m1`$. For two pointed cellular maps $`f:S^n|\widehat{G}(X)|`$ and $`g:S^m|\widehat{G}(X)|`$, we set

$$f\times g:S^{n+m}=S^nS^m\stackrel{fg}{}|\widehat{G}(X)||\widehat{G}(X)|\stackrel{m^G}{}|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|.$$

For $`\omega \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{n+1}(X)`$ and $`\tau \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{m+1}(X)`$, the product $`(f,\omega )\times (g,\tau )`$ is defined as

$`(f,`$ $`\omega )\times (g,\tau )`$
$`=(f\times g,(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\tau +\omega \mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+\omega d_𝒜\tau +(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)).`$
###### Proposition 5.7.

The above product gives rise to a pairing

$$\widehat{m}_{}^G:\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\times \widehat{\pi }_m(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_{n+m}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}).$$

Proof: For a cellular homotopy $`H`$ from $`(f,\omega )`$ to $`(f^{},\omega ^{})`$, let $`\stackrel{~}{H}`$ be a cellular map given as

$$\stackrel{~}{H}:S^{n+m}\times I/\{\}\times I|\widehat{G}(X)||\widehat{G}(X)|\stackrel{m^G}{}|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,$$

where the first map is defined by $`(s_1,s_2,t)(H(s_1,t),g(s_2))`$ for $`s_1S^n,s_2S^m`$ and $`tI`$. Then $`\stackrel{~}{H}`$ is a homotopy from $`f\times g`$ to $`f^{}\times g`$ and Prop.4.6 and Prop.5.2 imply

$`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m+1}^{GS}(\stackrel{~}{H})`$ $`=(1)^m\mathrm{ch}_{n+m+1}^{GS}(m_{}^G(H\times g)_{}([S^n\times I\times S^m]))`$
$`(1)^m\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H)\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+(1)^{n+m+1}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(H_{}([S^n\times I]))\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)`$
$`=(1)^{n+m+1}(\omega ^{}\omega )\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+(1)^{m+1}(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f^{})\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f))\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)`$
$`=(1)^{n+m+1}(\omega ^{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f^{})\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))`$
$`(1)^{n+m+1}(\omega \mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))`$
modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$. This tells that the map $`\stackrel{~}{H}`$ is a cellular homotopy from $`(f,\omega )\times (g,\tau )`$ to $`(f^{},\omega ^{})\times (g,\tau )`$.

If $`H^{}`$ is a cellular homotopy from $`(g,\tau )`$ to $`(g^{},\tau ^{})`$, we can verify in the same way that the map

$$S^{n+m}\times I/\{\}\times I\stackrel{fH^{}}{}|\widehat{G}(X)||\widehat{G}(X)|\stackrel{m^G}{}|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|$$

is a cellular homotopy from $`(f,\omega )\times (g,\tau )`$ to $`(f,\omega )\times (g^{},\tau ^{})`$. ∎

###### Definition 5.8.

For $`n,m1`$, we define a product in higher arithmetic $`K`$-theory

$$\times :\widehat{K}_n(X)\times \widehat{K}_m(X)\widehat{K}_{n+m}(X)$$

by the following homomorphism:

$$\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\times \widehat{\pi }_m(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\stackrel{\widehat{m}_{}^G}{}\widehat{\pi }_{n+m}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\stackrel{\widehat{R}_{}^1}{}\widehat{\pi }_{n+m}(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}).$$

###### Proposition 5.9.

The Chern form map respects the products, that is, we have

$$\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(x\times y)=\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(x)\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(y)$$

for $`x\widehat{K}_n(X)`$ and $`y\widehat{K}_m(X)`$.

Proof: We assume $`n,m1`$. Let us define the Chern form map on $`\widehat{\pi }_{n+m}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$ as

$$\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}([(f,\omega )])=\mathrm{ch}^{GS}(f_{}([S^{n+m}]))+d_𝒜\omega 𝒜_{n+m}(X).$$

Then it follows that $`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(\widehat{R}_{}(x))=\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(x)`$ for any $`x\widehat{\pi }_{n+m}(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$. Hence it is sufficient to show that

$$\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(\widehat{m}_{}^G(x,y))=\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(x)\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(y).$$

For $`x=[(f,\omega )]`$ and $`y=[(g,\tau )]`$, Prop.4.6 implies

$`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(\widehat{m}_{}^G(x,y))`$ $`=\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(f\times g)+d_𝒜((1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\tau +\omega \mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)`$
$`+\omega d_𝒜\tau +(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))`$
$`=(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+d_𝒜\omega )(\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+d_𝒜\tau )`$
$`=\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(x)\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(y).`$
The case where $`n=0`$ or $`m=0`$ is trivial. ∎

Remark: As far as the author knows, there does not exist a homomorphism

$$\mathrm{Cub}:C_{}(|\widehat{S}^{(2)}(X)|)[2]\widehat{\mathrm{Cub}}_{}(X)$$

that makes the following diagram commutative:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}C_{}(|\widehat{S}(X)|)[1]C_{}(|\widehat{S}(X)|)[1]& \stackrel{\mathrm{Cub}\mathrm{Cub}}{}& \widehat{\mathrm{Cub}}_{}(X)\widehat{\mathrm{Cub}}_{}(X)\\ m_{}& & & & \\ C_{}(|\widehat{S}^{(2)}(X)|)[2]& \stackrel{\mathrm{Cub}}{}& \widehat{\mathrm{Cub}}_{}(X).\end{array}$$

Hence it seems impossible to define a product in $`\widehat{K}_{}(X)`$ using the $`S`$-construction.

### 5.6. The commutativity of the product

In this subsection we discuss the commutativity of the product in $`\widehat{K}_{}(X)`$. When $`n=0`$ or $`m=0`$, it is easy to prove that the product $`\widehat{K}_n(X)\times \widehat{K}_m(X)\widehat{K}_{n+m}(X)`$ is commutative. So we consider only the case of $`n,m1`$.

For a small exact category $`𝔄`$, let $`L:G_n𝔄G_nG_0𝔄`$ be the morphism defined by $`L(E^+,E^{})=(E^+,0,E^{},0)`$. Then it induces a homotopy equivalent morphism

$$L:G𝔄G^{(2)}𝔄$$

and it is homotopy equivalent to the morphism $`R`$.

Let us define a new product in $`\widehat{K}_{}(X)`$ using the morphism $`L`$. For a proper arithmetic variety $`X`$, the diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}C_{}(|\widehat{G}(X)|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)\\ L_{}& & \text{id}& & \\ C_{}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)\end{array}$$

is commutative. Therefore we have an isomorphism

$$\widehat{L}_{}:\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}).$$

###### Definition 5.10.

For $`n,m1`$, we define a new product

$$\underset{𝐿}{\times }:\widehat{K}_n(X)\times \widehat{K}_m(X)\widehat{K}_{n+m}(X)$$

by the pairing

$$\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\times \widehat{\pi }_m(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\stackrel{\widehat{m}_{}^G}{}\widehat{\pi }_m(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\stackrel{\widehat{L}_{}^1}{}\widehat{\pi }_m(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}).$$

Let us compare this new product $`\underset{𝐿}{\times }`$ with the previously defined one. Let $`T:\widehat{S}_n\widehat{S}_m(X)\widehat{S}_m\widehat{S}_n(X)`$ be the switching map defined by $`T(E)_{(i,j)\times (\alpha ,\beta )}=E_{(\alpha ,\beta )\times (i,j)}`$. Then the map

$$\underset{n,m}{}\widehat{S}_n\widehat{S}_m(X)\times \mathrm{\Delta }^n\times \mathrm{\Delta }^m\underset{n,m}{}\widehat{S}_m\widehat{S}_n(X)\times \mathrm{\Delta }^m\times \mathrm{\Delta }^n$$

defined by $`(x,t_1,t_2)(T(x),t_2,t_1)`$ induces an involution of the topological realization

$$𝒯:|\widehat{S}^{(2)}(X)||\widehat{S}^{(2)}(X)|.$$

Similarly we can define the switching map $`T:\widehat{G}_n\widehat{G}_m(X)\widehat{G}_m\widehat{G}_n(X)`$ and the involution

$$𝒯:|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)||\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|.$$

###### Lemma 5.11.

The diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}C_{}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)\\ 𝒯_{}& & \mathrm{id}& & \\ C_{}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)\end{array}$$

is commutative. Hence we have an isomorphism

$$\widehat{𝒯}_{}:\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})$$

by $`[(f,\omega )][(𝒯f,\omega )]`$.

Proof: If we denote by $`[E]`$ the element of $`C_{}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|)`$ determined by $`E\widehat{G}_n\widehat{G}_m(X)`$, then we have $`𝒯_{}([E])=(1)^{nm}[T(E)]`$. Hence we have

$`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(𝒯_{}([E]))`$ $`=(1)^{nm}\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(\mathrm{Cub}(T(E)))`$
$`=(1)^{nm}\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(T_{n,m}(\mathrm{Cub}(E))).`$
In the above, $`T_{n,m}()`$ for an exact metrized $`(n+m)`$-cube $``$ is defined as

$$T_{n,m}()_{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+m}}=_{\alpha _{n+1},\mathrm{},\alpha _{n+m},\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _n}.$$

Then it is easy to see that $`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(T_{n,m}())=(1)^{nm}\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}()`$, therefore $`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(𝒯_{}([E]))=`$ $`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(E)`$. ∎

###### Proposition 5.12.

Let $`x\widehat{K}_n(X)`$ and $`y\widehat{K}_m(X)`$ with $`n,m1`$. Then we have

$$x\times y=(1)^{nm}y\underset{𝐿}{\times }x.$$

Proof: For two pointed spaces $`S_1`$ and $`S_2`$, let $`T:S_1S_2S_2S_1`$ denote the switching map given by $`T(s_1,s_2)=(s_2,s_1)`$. For two pointed cellular maps $`f:S^n|\widehat{G}(X)|`$ and $`g:S^m|\widehat{G}(X)|`$, we consider the following diagram:

$$\begin{array}{ccccc}S^nS^m& \stackrel{fg}{}& |\widehat{G}(X)||\widehat{G}(X)|& \stackrel{m^G}{}& |\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|\\ T& & T& & 𝒯& & \\ S^mS^n& \stackrel{gf}{}& |\widehat{G}(X)||\widehat{G}(X)|& \stackrel{m^G}{}& |\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|.\end{array}$$

The left square is obviously commutative, but the right one is not. In fact, for $`E\widehat{G}_n(X)`$ and $`F\widehat{G}_m(X)`$ we have

$`𝒯m^G(E,F)_{(i,j)\times (\alpha ,\beta )}`$ $`=E_{\alpha ,\beta }F_{i,j}`$
and
$`m^GT(E,F)_{(i,j)\times (\alpha ,\beta )}`$ $`=F_{i,j}E_{\alpha ,\beta }.`$
Hence the homotopy from $`𝒯m^G`$ to $`m^GT`$ can be constructed by means of the canonical isometry $`\overline{P}\overline{Q}\overline{Q}\overline{P}`$ of hermitian vector bundles. More precisely, if $`\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)`$ is the trisimplicial set obtained by taking $`G`$-construction three times and $`R:\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)`$ is the homotopy equivalent map induced from the map $`R:\widehat{G}_n\widehat{G}_m(X)\widehat{G}_0\widehat{G}_n\widehat{G}_m(X)`$ given by $`R(E)^{+\pm \pm }=E^{\pm \pm }`$ and $`R(E)^{\pm \pm }=0`$, then a homotopy between the diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccccc}|\widehat{G}(X)||\widehat{G}(X)|& \stackrel{m^G}{}& |\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|& & \\ T& & 𝒯& & & & \\ |\widehat{G}(X)||\widehat{G}(X)|& \stackrel{m^G}{}& |\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|& \stackrel{R}{}& |\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)|\end{array}$$

is given by means of $`\overline{P}\overline{Q}\overline{Q}\overline{P}`$ in the same way as $`\mathrm{\Psi }`$ in the proof of Lem.5.6. Hence we have

$$[(𝒯(f\times g),0)]=[((g\times f)T,0)]$$

in $`\widehat{\pi }_{n+m}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$.

If $`x=[(f,\omega )]`$ and $`y=[(g,\tau )]`$, then we have

$`\widehat{𝒯}_{}`$ $`\widehat{m}_{}^G([(f,\omega )],[(g,\tau )])`$
$`=[(𝒯(f\times g),(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\tau +\omega \mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+\omega d_𝒜\tau +(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))]`$
$`=[((g\times f)T,(1)^{nm}\tau \mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+(1)^{(n+1)m}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\omega +(1)^{nm}\tau d_𝒜\omega `$
$`+(1)^{(n+1)m}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f))].`$
Since $`T:S^{n+m}S^{n+m}`$ is homotopic to $`(1)^{nm}\mathrm{id}_{S^{n+m}}`$, we have

$$\widehat{𝒯}_{}\widehat{m}_{}^G([(f,\omega )],[(g,\tau )])=(1)^{nm}\widehat{m}_{}^G([(g,\tau )],[(f,\omega )])$$

in $`\widehat{\pi }_{n+m}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$. The commutativity of the square

$$\begin{array}{ccc}|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|& \stackrel{R}{}& |\widehat{G}(X)|\\ 𝒯& & \mathrm{id}& & \\ |\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|& \stackrel{L}{}& |\widehat{G}(X)|\end{array}$$

implies

$`(1)^{nm}\widehat{L}_{}([(g,\tau )]\underset{𝐿}{\times }[(f,\omega )])`$ $`=(1)^{nm}\widehat{m}_{}^G([(g,\tau )],[(f,\omega )])`$
$`=\widehat{𝒯}_{}\widehat{m}_{}^G([(f,\omega )],[(g,\tau )])`$
$`=\widehat{𝒯}_{}\widehat{R}_{}([(f,\omega )]\times [(g,\tau )])`$
$`=\widehat{L}_{}([(f,\omega )]\times [(g,\tau )]).`$
Since $`\widehat{L}_{}`$ is bijective, we have completed the proof. ∎

###### Proposition 5.13.

For $`x\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$, the element

$$\widehat{R}_{}(x)\widehat{L}_{}(x)\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})$$

is contained in $`\mathrm{Im}(\stackrel{~}{A}_{n+1}(X)\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}))`$ and $`2(\widehat{R}_{}(x)\widehat{L}_{}(x))=0`$. In particular, for $`x\widehat{K}_n(X)`$ and $`y\widehat{K}_m(X)`$ with $`n,m1`$, the element $`x\times yx\underset{𝐿}{\times }y`$ is contained in $`\mathrm{Im}(\stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{n+m+1}(X)\widehat{K}_{n+m}(X))`$ and $`2(x\times yx\underset{𝐿}{\times }y)=0`$.

Proof: Since $`R`$ and $`L`$ are homotopy equivalent, it is clear that $`\widehat{R}_{}(x)\widehat{L}_{}(x)`$ is contained in $`\mathrm{Im}(\stackrel{~}{A}_{n+1}(X)\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}))`$. Let $`f:S^n|\widehat{G}(X)|`$ be a pointed cellular map. Then there is a pointed cellular map

$$H:S^n\times I/\{\}\times I|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|$$

such that $`H(s,0)=Rf(s)`$ and $`H(s,1)=Lf(s)`$. Let

$$H^{}=𝒯H:S^n\times I/\{\}\times I|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,$$

then we have $`H^{}(s,0)=Lf(s)`$ and $`H^{}(s,1)=Rf(s)`$. The commutative square in Lem.5.11 implies $`\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H^{})=\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H)`$. Gluing the maps $`H`$ and $`H^{}`$ on the boundaries, we obtain a cellular map

$$HH^{}:S^n\times T^1/\{\}\times T^1|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,$$

where $`T^1`$ is the barycentric subdivision of $`S^1`$.

###### Lemma 5.14.

If $`n1`$, there is a surjection

$$p:S^{n+1}S^n\times S^1/\{\}\times S^1$$

such that $`p^1((S^n\{\})\times S^1)(S^n\{\})\times S^1`$ is a homeomorphism.

Proof: We describe the space $`S^{n+1}`$ as follows:

$$S^{n+1}=\left\{(z,t_1,\mathrm{},t_n)\times ^n;|z|^2+t_1^2+\mathrm{}+t_n^2=1\right\}.$$

Let $`S^{n1}=\{(0,t_1,\mathrm{},t_n)S^{n+1}\}`$. Then a homeomorphism $`S^{n+1}S^{n1}B^n\times S^1`$ is defined by

$$(z,t_1,\mathrm{},t_n)((t_1,\mathrm{},t_n),\frac{z}{\sqrt{1t_1^2\mathrm{}t_n^2}}),$$

where $`B^n=\{(t_1,\mathrm{},t_n)^n;t_1^2+\mathrm{}+t_n^2<1\}`$. Since $`S^n\times S^1/\{\}\times S^1`$ is the one-point compactification of $`B^n\times S^1`$, this homeomorphism can be extended to

$$p:S^{n+1}S^n\times S^1/\{\}\times S^1$$

which satisfies the condition as mentioned above. ∎

Let us return to the proof of Prop.5.13. Since $`T^1`$ is the barycentric subdivision of $`S^1`$, we have a pointed cellular map

$$F:S^{n+1}\stackrel{𝑝}{}S^n\times T^1/\{\}\times T^1\stackrel{HH^{}}{}|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|.$$

Then we have

$$\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(F)=\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H)+\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H^{})=2\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H).$$

In other words, $`2\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H)`$ is contained in the image of $`\pi _{n+1}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|)\stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{n+1}(X)`$. Hence $`2[(0,\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H))]=0`$ in $`\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$ by Thm.2.3. For any $`x=[(f,\omega )]`$ $`\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$, we have

$`\widehat{R}_{}(x)\widehat{L}_{}(x)`$ $`=[(Rf,0)][(Lf,0)]`$
$`=(1)^{n+1}[(0,\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}(H))],`$
therefore $`2(\widehat{R}_{}(x)\widehat{L}_{}(x))=0`$. ∎

Prop.5.12 and Prop.5.13 yield the following theorem:

###### Theorem 5.15.

Let $`x\widehat{K}_n(X)`$ and $`y\widehat{K}_m(X)`$. Then $`x\times y(1)^{nm}y\times x`$ is a $`2`$-torsion element contained in $`\mathrm{Im}(\stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{n+m+1}(X)\widehat{K}_{n+m}(X))`$. Hence the product in $`\widehat{K}_{}(X)`$ is graded commutative up to $`2`$-torsion.

### 5.7. The lack of the associativity

In this subsection we discuss the associativity of the product in $`\widehat{K}_{}(X)`$. Let $`\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)`$ be the trisimplicial set given by taking $`\widehat{G}`$ three times. Let $`m^G`$ denote the morphisms of trisimplicial sets

$$\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)\widehat{G}(X)\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)$$

and

$$\widehat{G}(X)\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)$$

given by the tensor product of hermitian vector bundles. A homotopy equivalent map

$$R:\widehat{G}(X)\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)$$

is given by $`R(E)^{++\pm }=E^\pm `$ and $`R(E)^{+\pm }=R(E)^{+\pm }=R(E)^\pm =0`$ for $`E=(E^\pm )\widehat{G}_n(X)`$. Under the above notations, the following diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\widehat{G}(X)\widehat{G}(X)\widehat{G}(X)& \stackrel{m^G1}{}& \widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)\widehat{G}(X)\\ 1m^G& & m^G& & \\ \widehat{G}(X)\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)& \stackrel{m^G}{}& \widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)\end{array}$$

is commutative up to the homotopy arising from the natural isometry $`(\overline{E}\overline{F})\overline{G}\overline{E}(\overline{F}\overline{G})`$ of hermitian vector bundles. This commutative diagram is the source of the associativity of the product in usual algebraic $`K`$-theory $`K_{}(X)`$.

For two pointed cellular maps $`f:S^n|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|`$ and $`g:S^m|\widehat{G}(X)|`$, let

$$f\times g:S^{n+m}\stackrel{fg}{}|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)||\widehat{G}(X)|\stackrel{\widehat{m}^G}{}|\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)|.$$

Let us define a pairing

$$\widehat{m}_{}^G:\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\times \widehat{\pi }_m(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_{n+m}(|\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})$$

by

$`([(f`$ $`,\omega )],[(g,\tau )])`$
$`[(f\times g,(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\tau +\omega \mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+\omega d_𝒜\tau +(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))].`$
The well-definedness of the pairing can be shown in the same way as the proof of Thm.5.7. We can also define a pairing

$$\widehat{m}_{}^G:\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\times \widehat{\pi }_m(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_{n+m}(|\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})$$

by the same expression as above. Then the associativity of the product in $`\widehat{K}_{}(X)`$ is equivalent to the commutativity of the following diagram:

However, the diagram is not commutative. Let $`[(f,\omega )]\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$, $`[(g,\tau )]\widehat{\pi }_m(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$ and $`[(h,\eta )]\widehat{\pi }_l(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$. Then in the same way as the proof of Lem.5.6, the identity

$$[((f\times g)\times h,0)]=[(f\times (g\times h),0)]$$

in $`\widehat{\pi }_{n+m+l}(|\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$ can be shown. The quadrusimplicial set $`\widehat{G}^{(4)}(X)`$ is necessary to show this identity. Hence an easy calculation leads us to the following:

###### Proposition 5.16.

We have

$$\widehat{m}_{}^G(\widehat{m}_{}^G([(f,\omega )],[(g,\tau )]),[(h,\eta )])\widehat{m}_{}^G([(f,\omega )],\widehat{m}_{}^G([(g,\tau )],[(h,\eta )]))=[(0,r(f,g,h,\omega ,\tau ,\eta ))]$$

in $`\widehat{\pi }_{n+m+l}(|\widehat{G}^{(3)}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$, where

$`r`$ $`(f,g,h,\omega ,\tau ,\eta )`$
$`=(1)^n((\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+d_𝒜\omega )\tau )(\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)+d_𝒜\eta )`$
$`(1)^n(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+d_𝒜\omega )(\tau (\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)+d_𝒜\eta ))`$
$`+(1)^{n+m}\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(f\times g)\eta +(1)^n(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))d_𝒜\eta `$
$`(1)^{n+m}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)(\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\eta )`$
$`+(\omega \mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)(1)^{n+m}d_𝒜\omega (\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h))\omega \mathrm{ch}_{m+l}^{GS}(g\times h)`$
$`+(\omega \mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))d_𝒜\eta (1)^{n+m}d_𝒜\omega (\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\eta )`$
$`+(1)^n(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)+(1)^{n+m}\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(f\times g)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)`$
$`(1)^{n+m}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)(\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h))(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_{m+l}^{GS}(g\times h).`$
For $`\omega 𝒜_n(X)`$ or $`𝒟_n(X)`$ and for an integer $`i`$ satisfying $`1in`$, we set

$$\omega ^{(i,n+i1)}=\underset{𝑝}{}\omega ^{(pi,pn+i1)},$$

where $`\omega ^{(pi,pn+i1)}`$ is the $`(pi,pn+i1)`$-component of the differential form $`\omega `$. Then for $`\omega 𝒜_n(X)`$ and $`\tau 𝒜_m(X)`$, it follows that

$$\omega \mathrm{}\tau =\frac{1}{4\pi \sqrt{1}}a_{i,j}^{n,m}\omega ^{(i,n+i1)}\tau ^{(j,m+j1)}.$$

###### Lemma 5.17.

1) We assume $`n,m,l1`$. For $`\alpha 𝒜_n(X)`$, $`\beta 𝒜_m(X)`$ and $`\gamma 𝒜_l(X)`$, we have

$`(\alpha `$ $`\beta )\gamma \alpha (\beta \gamma )`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{(1)^{n+m}}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}}(\alpha ^{(1,n)}+\overline{}\alpha ^{(n,1)})(\beta ^{(1,m)}+\overline{}\beta ^{(m,1)})\gamma `$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}}\alpha (\beta ^{(1,m)}+\overline{}\beta ^{(m,1)})(\gamma ^{(1,l)}+\overline{}\gamma ^{(l,1)}).`$
2) If $`d_𝒜\alpha =0`$ and $`d_𝒜\beta =0`$, then we have

$$(\alpha \beta )\gamma \alpha (\beta \gamma )\{\begin{array}{cc}\frac{1}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}\alpha d\beta d_𝒜\gamma ,\hfill & l2,\hfill \\ 0,\hfill & l=1\hfill \end{array}$$

modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$.

3) If $`d_𝒜\beta =0`$ and $`d_𝒜\gamma =0`$, then we have

$$(\alpha \beta )\gamma \alpha (\beta \gamma )\{\begin{array}{cc}\frac{(1)^{n+m}}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}d_𝒜\alpha d\beta \gamma ,\hfill & n2,\hfill \\ 0,\hfill & n=1\hfill \end{array}$$

modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$.

4) If $`d_𝒜\alpha =0`$ and $`d_𝒜\gamma =0`$, then we have

$$(\alpha \beta )\gamma \alpha (\beta \gamma )\{\begin{array}{cc}\frac{(1)^m}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}\alpha dd_𝒜\beta \gamma ,\hfill & m2,\hfill \\ 0,\hfill & m=1\hfill \end{array}$$

modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$.

Proof: The identity in 1) follows from an easy calculation. If $`l2`$ and $`d_𝒜\alpha =d_𝒜\beta =0`$, then we have

$`(\alpha \beta )\gamma \alpha (\beta \gamma )`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{(1)^{n+m}}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}}d\alpha d\beta \gamma {\displaystyle \frac{1}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}}\alpha d\beta (d\gamma +d_𝒜\gamma )`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{(1)^{n+m}}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}}d(\alpha d\beta \gamma ){\displaystyle \frac{1}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}}\alpha d\beta d_𝒜\gamma .`$
The form $`\frac{1}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}\alpha d\beta \gamma `$ is contained in $`𝒜^{2(p+q+r)nml1}(X,p+q+r)`$ and

$$d_𝒜\left(\frac{1}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}(\alpha d\beta \gamma )\right)=\frac{1}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}d(\alpha d\beta \gamma ).$$

Hence we have

$$(\alpha \beta )\gamma \alpha (\beta \gamma )\frac{1}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}\alpha d\beta d_𝒜\gamma $$

modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$. When $`l=1`$, we have

$$(\alpha \beta )\gamma \alpha (\beta \gamma )=d_𝒜\left(\frac{(1)^{n+m+1}}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}(\alpha d\beta \gamma )\right).$$

Hence 2) holds. The identities in 3) and 4) can be proved in the same way. ∎

We calculate $`r(f,g,h,\omega ,\tau ,\eta )`$ by using Lem.5.17. If $`n,m,l1`$, then we have

$`(1)^n`$ $`((\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+d_𝒜\omega )\tau )(\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)+d_𝒜\eta )`$
$`(1)^n(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+d_𝒜\omega )(\tau (\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)+d_𝒜\eta ))`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{(1)^{n+m+1}}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}}(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+d_𝒜\omega )dd_𝒜\tau (\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)+d_𝒜\eta )`$
and

$`(\omega `$ $`\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))d_𝒜\eta (1)^{n+m}d_𝒜\omega (\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\eta )`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{(1)^{n+m+1}}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}}d_𝒜\omega d\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)d_𝒜\eta `$
modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$. Since

$$\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(f\times g)=\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+(1)^{n+1}d_𝒜(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))$$

by Prop.4.6, we have

$`(1)^{n+m}`$ $`\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(f\times g)\eta +(1)^n(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))d_𝒜\eta `$
$`(1)^{n+m}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)(\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\eta )`$
$`=(1)^{n+m}(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))\eta (1)^{n+m}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)(\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\eta )`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{(1)^{n+m+1}}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)d\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)d_𝒜\eta `$
modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$. In the same way as above we have

$`(\omega `$ $`\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))\mathrm{ch}^{GS}_l(h)\omega \mathrm{ch}^{GS}_{m+l}(g\times h)(1)^{n+m}d_𝒜\omega (\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h))`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{(1)^{n+m+1}}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}}d_𝒜\omega d\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)`$
modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$. As for the last four terms of the identity in Prop.5.16, we have the following:

###### Proposition 5.18.

If $`n,m,l1`$, then we have

$$\begin{array}{c}(1)^n(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)(1)^{n+m}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)(\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h))\hfill \\ \hfill +(1)^{n+m}\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}^{GS}(f\times g)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_{m+l}^{GS}(g\times h)\\ \hfill (1)^{n+m+1}\frac{1}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)d\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)\end{array}$$

modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$.

We will prove this identity in §5.9. Substituting these identities into that in Prop.5.16 yields

$`r(f,g,h,\omega ,\tau ,\eta )`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{(1)^{n+m+1}}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}}(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+d_𝒜\omega )d(\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+d_𝒜\tau )(\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(h)+d_𝒜\eta )`$
modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$.

###### Theorem 5.19.

The product in higher arithmetic K-theory does not satisfy the associativity. In fact, if $`x\widehat{K}_n(X),y\widehat{K}_m(X)`$ and $`z\widehat{K}_l(X)`$ for $`n,m,l1`$, we have

$$(x\times y)\times zx\times (y\times z)=[(0,\frac{(1)^{n+m+1}}{4(2\pi \sqrt{1})^2}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(x)d\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(y)\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(z))]$$

in $`\widehat{K}_{n+m+l}(X)`$. Hence $`(x\times y)\times z=x\times (y\times z)`$ holds when $`nml=0`$ or $`yK_m(\overline{X})`$ or $`x=y=z`$.

Proof: When $`n,m,l1`$, we have already proved this identity. The identity $`(x\times y)\times z=x\times (y\times z)`$ in the case of $`nml=0`$ follows from the definition of the product and Lem.5.17. ∎

### 5.8. The product in Arakelov $`K`$-theory

For a proper Arakelov variety $`\overline{X}=(X,h_X)`$, let us define a pairing

$$K_n(\overline{X})\times K_m(\overline{X})K_{n+m}(\overline{X})$$

by $`(x,y)\sigma (x\times y)`$, where $`\sigma `$ is the harmonic projection defined in §3.3.

###### Theorem 5.20.

The above pairing makes $`K_{}(\overline{X})`$ a graded associative algebra. That is to say, it follows that

$$\sigma (\sigma (x\times y)\times z)=\sigma (x\times \sigma (y\times z))$$

for $`x,y,zK_{}(\overline{X})`$.

Proof: This identity is obvious when $`nml=0`$, so we may assume $`nml1`$. We first prove the identity

$$\sigma (\sigma (x\times y)\times z)=\sigma ((x\times y)\times z)$$

for $`xK_n(\overline{X}),yK_m(\overline{X})`$ and $`zK_l(\overline{X})`$. It follows from the definition of $`\sigma `$ that

$$\sigma (x\times y)=x\times y+[(0,\alpha )]$$

for $`\alpha 𝒜_{n+m+1}(X)`$ with $`(\alpha )=0`$. Then we have

$$\sigma (x\times y)\times z=(x\times y)\times z+[(0,\alpha \mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(z))],$$

therefore

$$\sigma (\sigma (x\times y)\times z)=(x\times y)\times z+[(0,\alpha \mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(z)+\beta )]$$

for $`\beta 𝒜_{n+m+l+1}(X)`$ with $`(\beta )=0`$. Since $`\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(z)`$ is harmonic, we have

$$\alpha \mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(z)=(1)^{n+m+1}(\alpha ^{(1,nm)}\overline{}\alpha ^{(nm,1)})\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(z).$$

Since $`\alpha ^{(1,nm)}\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(z)`$ is $``$-exact and $`\overline{}\alpha ^{(nm,1)}\mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(z)`$ is $`\overline{}`$-exact, we have $`(\alpha \mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(z))=0`$, so $`(\alpha \mathrm{ch}_l^{GS}(z)+\beta )=0`$. Therefore we have $`\sigma (\sigma (x\times y)\times z)=\sigma ((x\times y)\times z)`$.

In the same way, we can show $`\sigma (x\times \sigma (y\times z))=\sigma (x\times (y\times z))`$. Hence Thm.5.19 implies

$$\sigma (\sigma (x\times y)\times z)=\sigma (x\times \sigma (y\times z)),$$

which completes the proof. ∎

### 5.9. Proof of Prop.5.18

We will prove the following formula, which is not renormalized:

$$\begin{array}{c}(1)^n(\mathrm{ch}_n(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m(g))\mathrm{ch}_l(h)(1)^{n+m}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)(\mathrm{ch}_m(g)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l(h))\hfill \\ \hfill +(1)^{n+m}\mathrm{ch}_{n+m}(f\times g)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_{m+l}(g\times h)\\ \hfill (1)^{n+m+1}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)d\mathrm{ch}_m(g)\mathrm{ch}_l(h)\end{array}$$

modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒟`$. Let $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ denote the left hand side of the above identity and let $`\mathrm{\Phi }(f)`$ (resp. $`\mathrm{\Phi }(g)`$ and $`\mathrm{\Phi }(h)`$) be the part of $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ including derivatives of $`\mathrm{ch}_n(f)`$ (resp. $`\mathrm{ch}_m(g)`$ and $`\mathrm{ch}_l(h)`$). In other words, $`\mathrm{\Phi }=\mathrm{\Phi }(f)+\mathrm{\Phi }(g)+\mathrm{\Phi }(h)`$ such that

$`\mathrm{\Phi }(f)`$ $`=(1)^{m+1}(\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(1,n)}\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n,1)})(\mathrm{ch}_m(g)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l(h))`$
$`+(1)^m((\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(1,n)}\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n,1)})\mathrm{ch}_m(g))\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)`$
$`+(1)^m(\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}a_{i,j}^{n,m}d\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)})\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l(h),`$
$`\mathrm{\Phi }(g)`$ $`=(1)^{n+m}(\mathrm{ch}_n(f)(\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(1,m)}\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m,1)}))\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)`$
$`+(1)^{n+m+1}(\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}a_{i,j}^{n,m}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}d\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)})\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)`$
$`+(1)^{n+m+1}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)\mathrm{}((\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(1,m)}\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m,1)})\mathrm{ch}_l(h))`$
$`+(1)^{n+m+1}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)\mathrm{}(\underset{1kl}{\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle }}}a_{j,k}^{m,l}d\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)})`$
and
$`\mathrm{\Phi }(h)`$ $`=(1)^n(\mathrm{ch}_n(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m(g))(\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(1,l)}\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l,1)})`$
$`+(1)^{n+1}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)\mathrm{}(\mathrm{ch}_m(g)(\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(1,l)}\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l,1)}))`$
$`+(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n(f)\mathrm{}(\underset{1kl}{\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle }}}a_{j,k}^{m,l}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}d\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}).`$
Let us first calculate $`\mathrm{\Phi }(f)`$. It follows from $`d_𝒟(\mathrm{ch}_n(f))=0`$ that $`\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}=`$$`\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i,i1)}`$ for $`1in1`$. Then $`\mathrm{\Phi }(f)`$ is expressed as follows:

$`\mathrm{\Phi }(f)=`$ $`b_{0,j,k}^{n,m,l}\underset{1kl}{\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle }}}\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n,1)}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}`$
$`+\underset{1kl}{\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}}b_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}`$
where

$`b_{0,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=(1)^ma_{j,k}^{m,l}+(1)^{m+1}a_{j,k}^{n+m,l}+(1)^ma_{j,k}^{n+m,l}\times a_{1,j}^{n,m}`$
$`=(1)^ma_{j,k}^{m,l}+2(1)^{m+1}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mj}{n}\right)a_{j,k}^{n+m,l},`$
$`b_{n,m,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=(1)^{m+1}a_{j,k}^{m,l}+(1)^ma_{n+j,k}^{n+m,l}+(1)^ma_{n+j,k}^{n+m,l}\times a_{n,j}^{n,m}`$
$`=(1)^{m+1}a_{j,k}^{m,l}+2(1)^m\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{nj+1}{n}\right)a_{n+j,k}^{n+m,l},`$
and
$`b_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=(1)^{m+1}a_{i+j,k}^{n+m,l}\times a_{i+1,j}^{n,m}+(1)^ma_{i+j,k}^{n+m,l}\times a_{i,j}^{n,m}`$
$`=2(1)^m\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right)a_{i+j,k}^{n+m,l}`$
for $`1in1`$.

###### Lemma 5.21.

If $`1jm`$ and $`1kl`$, then

$$\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\underset{i=0}{\overset{n}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right)a_{i+j,k}^{n+m,l}=a_{j,k}^{m,l}.$$

Proof: By Lem.A.2 and Lem.A.3, we have

(LHS) $`=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{i=0}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right)`$
$`2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n+m}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{i=0}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i+j1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk+1}{n+m\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{j1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+ljk+1}{m\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+k1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=a_{j,k}^{m,l},`$
which completes the proof. ∎

Let $`c_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$ be the rational number defined as follows:

$$c_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}=(1)^ma_{j,k}^{m,l}2(1)^m\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j1}{\alpha }\right)a_{\alpha +j,k}^{n+m,l}.$$

Then we have

$`c_{1,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=b_{0,j,k}^{n,m,l},`$
$`c_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}c_{i+1,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=b_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$
for $`1in1`$ and Lem.5.21 implies
$`c_{n,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=b_{n,j,k}^{n,m,l}.`$
We define a differential form $`\mathrm{\Psi }`$ as

$$\mathrm{\Psi }=\underset{1kl}{\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{}}}c_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}.$$

###### Lemma 5.22.

We have $`c_{ni+1,mj+1,lk+1}^{n,m,l}=c_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$. Hence $`\mathrm{\Psi }`$ is contained in $`𝒟_{n+m+l+2}(X)`$.

Proof: We have

$`c_{ni+1,mj+1,lk+1}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=(1)^ma_{mj+1,lk+1}^{m,l}`$
$`2(1)^m\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{ni}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n\alpha +j1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +mj}{\alpha }\right)a_{\alpha +mj+1,lk+1}^{n+m,l}`$
$`=(1)^{m+1}a_{j,k}^{m,l}+2(1)^m\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{ni}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n\alpha +j1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +mj}{\alpha }\right)a_{n\alpha +j,k}^{n+m,l}`$
$`=(1)^{m+1}a_{j,k}^{m,l}+2(1)^m\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\beta =i}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\beta +j1}{\beta }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n\beta +mj}{n\beta }\right)a_{\beta +j,k}^{n+m,l}.`$
Hence Lem.5.21 implies

$`c_{ni+1,mj+1,lk+1}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=(1)^{m+1}a_{j,k}^{m,l}+2(1)^m\left(a_{j,k}^{m,l}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\beta =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\beta +j1}{\beta }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n\beta +mj}{n\beta }\right)a_{\beta +j,k}^{n+m,l}\right)`$
$`=(1)^ma_{j,k}^{m,l}2(1)^m\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\beta =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\beta j}{n\beta }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\beta +j1}{\beta }\right)a_{\beta +j,k}^{n+m,l}`$
$`=c_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l},`$
which completes the proof. ∎

Let us denote the parts of $`d\mathrm{\Psi }`$ including derivatives of $`\mathrm{ch}_n(f),\mathrm{ch}_m(g)`$ and $`\mathrm{ch}_l(h)`$ by $`\mathrm{\Psi }(f)`$, $`\mathrm{\Psi }(g)`$ and $`\mathrm{\Psi }(h)`$ respectively. Then $`d\mathrm{\Psi }=\mathrm{\Psi }(f)+\mathrm{\Psi }(g)+\mathrm{\Psi }(h)`$ and

$`\mathrm{\Psi }(f)`$ $`=\underset{1kl}{\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}}c_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}d\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}`$
$`=\underset{1kl}{\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle }}}c_{1,j,k}^{n,m,l}\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n,1)}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}`$
$`+\underset{1kl}{\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in1}{{\displaystyle }}}}(c_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}c_{i+1,j,k}^{n,m,l})\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}`$
$`+\underset{1kl}{\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle }}}c_{n,j,k}^{n,m,l}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(1,n)}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}`$
$`=\mathrm{\Phi }(f).`$
Let us express $`\mathrm{\Phi }(h)\mathrm{\Psi }(h)`$ as follows:

$`\mathrm{\Phi }(h)\mathrm{\Psi }(h)`$
$`=d_{i,j,0}^{n,m,l}\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l,1)}`$
$`+\underset{1kl}{\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}}d_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}.`$
###### Lemma 5.23.

It follows that $`d_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}=0`$, therefore $`\mathrm{\Phi }(h)\mathrm{\Psi }(h)=0`$.

Proof: When $`1kl1`$, we have

$`d_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=(1)^na_{i,j+k}^{n,m+l}\times (a_{j,k}^{m,l}a_{j,k+1}^{m,l})(1)^{n+m}(c_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}c_{i,j,k+1}^{n,m,l})`$
$`=(1)^{n+1}(1a_{i,j+k}^{n,m+l})(a_{j,k}^{m,l}a_{j,k+1}^{m,l})`$
$`+2(1)^n\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j1}{\alpha }\right)(a_{\alpha +j,k}^{n+m,l}a_{\alpha +j,k+1}^{n+m,l})`$
$`=4(1)^n\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{l}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+ljk}{mj}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+k1}{j1}\right){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`4(1)^n\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{l}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l\alpha jk}{n+m\alpha j}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j+k1}{\alpha +j1}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j1}{\alpha }\right).`$
Since

$`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{l}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)`$ $`=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{l}\right),`$
$`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l\alpha jk}{n+m\alpha j}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)`$ $`=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l\alpha jk}{m+ljk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+ljk}{mj}\right),`$
$`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j+k1}{\alpha +j1}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j1}{\alpha }\right)`$ $`=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j+k1}{\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+k1}{j1}\right),`$
we have

$`d_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=4(1)^n\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{l}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+ljk}{mj}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+k1}{j1}\right)`$
$`\times \left({\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k1}{\alpha }\right){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l\alpha jk}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j+k1}{\alpha }\right)\right)`$
$`=0`$
by Lem.A.3.

When $`k=0`$, we have

$`d_{i,j,0}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=(1)^{n+1}a_{i,j}^{n,m}+(1)^na_{i,j}^{n,m+l}\times (1+a_{j,1}^{m,l})(1)^{n+m}c_{i,j,1}^{n,m,l}`$
$`=(1)^{n+1}((12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right))`$
$`+2(1)^n\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lj}{l}\right)\left(12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)\right)`$
$`(1)^n\left(1+2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{l}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lj}{l}\right)\right)`$
$`+2(1)^n\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j1}{\alpha }\right)\left(1+2\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{l}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l\alpha j}{l}\right)\right).`$
Since

$$\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l\alpha j}{l}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lj}{l}\right),$$

we have

$`d_{i,j,0}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=2(1)^n\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left({\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j1}{\alpha }\right)\right)`$
$`+4(1)^{n+1}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{l}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lj}{l}\right)`$
$`\times \left({\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j1}{\alpha }\right)\right)`$
$`=0`$
by Lem.A.3. We can verify $`d_{i,j,l}^{n,m,l}=0`$ in the same way, so we omit the proof. ∎

We finally calculate $`\mathrm{\Phi }(g)\mathrm{\Psi }(g)`$. Let us express it as follows:

$`\mathrm{\Phi }(g)\mathrm{\Psi }(g)`$
$`=e_{i,0,k}^{n,m,l}\underset{1kl}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m,1)}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}`$
$`+\underset{1kl}{\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}}e_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m+j1,j)}\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}.`$
###### Lemma 5.24.

It follows that $`e_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}=0`$ if $`1jm1`$ and $`e_{i,0,k}^{n,m,l}=e_{i,m,k}^{n,m,l}=(1)^{n+m+1}`$.

Proof: When $`1jm1`$, we have

$`e_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=(1)^{n+m+1}a_{i+j,k}^{n+m,l}\times (a_{i,j}^{n,m}a_{i,j+1}^{n,m})+(1)^{n+m+1}a_{i,j+k}^{n,m+l}\times (a_{j,k}^{m,l}a_{j+1,k}^{m,l})`$
$`+(1)^n(c_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}c_{i,j+1,k}^{n,m,l})`$
$`=(1)^{n+m+1}a_{i+j,k}^{n+m,l}\times (a_{i,j}^{n,m}a_{i,j+1}^{n,m})+(1)^{n+m+1}(a_{i,j+k}^{n,m+l}1)\times (a_{j,k}^{m,l}a_{j+1,k}^{m,l})`$
$`+2(1)^{n+m+1}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j1}{\alpha }\right)a_{\alpha +j,k}^{n+m,l}`$
$`2(1)^{n+m+1}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j}{\alpha }\right)a_{\alpha +j+1,k}^{n+m,l}.`$
Hence we have

$`e_{i+1,j,k}^{n,m,l}e_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$
$`=(1)^{n+m+1}a_{i+j+1,k}^{n+m,l}\times (a_{i+1,j}^{n,m}a_{i+1,j+1}^{n,m})(1)^{n+m+1}a_{i+j,k}^{n+m,l}\times (a_{i,j}^{n,m}a_{i,j+1}^{n,m})`$
$`+(1)^{n+m+1}(a_{i+1,j+k}^{n,m+l}a_{i,j+k}^{n,m+l})(a_{j,k}^{m,l}a_{j+1,k}^{m,l})`$
$`+2(1)^{n+m+1}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right)a_{i+j,k}^{n+m,l}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij1}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{i}\right)a_{i+j+1,k}^{n+m,l}\right)`$
$`=2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij1}{ni1}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{i}\right)a_{i+j+1,k}^{n+m,l}2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i1}\right)a_{i+j,k}^{n+m,l}`$
$`+(1)^{n+m+1}(a_{i+1,j+k}^{n,m+l}a_{i,j+k}^{n,m+l})(a_{j,k}^{m,l}a_{j+1,k}^{m,l})`$
$`+2(1)^{n+m+1}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right)a_{i+j,k}^{n+m,l}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij1}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{i}\right)a_{i+j+1,k}^{n+m,l}\right)`$
$`=2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{i}\right)(a_{i+j+1,k}^{n+m,l}a_{i+j,k}^{n+m,l})`$
$`+(1)^{n+m+1}(a_{i+1,j+k}^{n,m+l}a_{i,j+k}^{n,m+l})(a_{j,k}^{m,l}a_{j+1,k}^{m,l})`$
$`=4(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{i}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n+m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk}{n+mij}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k1}{i+j}\right)`$
$`+4(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k1}{i}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+ljk}{mj}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+k1}{j}\right)`$
$`=0`$
and

$`e_{1,j,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=(1)^{n+m+1}a_{j+1,k}^{n+m,l}\times (a_{1,j}^{n,m}a_{1,j+1}^{n,m})+(1)^{n+m+1}(a_{1,j+k}^{n,m+l}1)(a_{j,k}^{m,l}a_{j+1,k}^{m,l})`$
$`+2(1)^{n+m+1}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mj}{n}\right)a_{j,k}^{n+m,l}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mj1}{n}\right)a_{j+1,k}^{n+m,l}\right)`$
$`=(1)^{n+m+1}(a_{1,j+k}^{n,m+l}1)(a_{j,k}^{m,l}a_{j+1,k}^{m,l})2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mj}{n}\right)(a_{j,k}^{n+m,l}a_{j+1,k}^{n+m,l})`$
$`=4(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+ljk}{n}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+ljk}{mj}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+k1}{j}\right)`$
$`4(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mj}{n}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n+m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+ljk}{n+mj}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+k1}{j}\right)`$
$`=0.`$
Hence $`e_{i,j,k}^{n,m,l}=0`$ if $`1jm1`$.

When $`j=0`$, we have

$`e_{i,0,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=(1)^{n+m+1}a_{i,k}^{n+m,l}\times (1+a_{i,1}^{n,m})+(1)^{n+m}a_{i,k}^{n,m+l}\times (1a_{1,k}^{m,l})(1)^{n+1}c_{i,1,k}^{n,m,l}`$
$`=2(1)^{n+m+1}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mi}{m}\right)a_{i,k}^{n+m,l}+2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lk}{m}\right)a_{i,k}^{n,m+l}`$
$`+(1)^{n+m}a_{1,k}^{m,l}2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha 1}{n\alpha }\right)a_{\alpha +1,k}^{n+m,l}.`$
Hence we have

$`e_{i+1,0,k}^{n,m,l}e_{i,0,k}^{n,m,l}`$
$`=2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mi1}{m}\right)a_{i+1,k}^{n+m,l}+2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mi}{m}\right)a_{i,k}^{n+m,l}`$
$`+2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lk}{m}\right)(a_{i+1,k}^{n,m+l}a_{i,k}^{n,m+l})2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mi1}{ni}\right)a_{i+1,k}^{n+m,l}`$
$`=2(1)^{n+m+1}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mi}{m}\right)(a_{i+1,k}^{n+m,l}a_{i,k}^{n+m,l})`$
$`+2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lk}{m}\right)(a_{i+1,k}^{n,m+l}a_{i,k}^{n,m+l})`$
$`=4(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mi}{m}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n+m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lik}{n+mi}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+k1}{i}\right)`$
$`4(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lk}{m}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lik}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+k1}{i}\right)`$
$`=0`$
and

$`e_{1,0,k}^{n,m,l}`$ $`=2(1)^{n+m+1}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m1}{m}\right)a_{1,k}^{n+m,l}+2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lk}{m}\right)a_{1,k}^{n,m+l}`$
$`+(1)^{n+m}a_{1,k}^{m,l}2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m1}{n}\right)a_{1,k}^{n+m,l}`$
$`=2(1)^{n+m+1}\left(12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n+m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lk}{n+m}\right)\right)+(1)^{n+m}\left(12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lk}{m}\right)\right)`$
$`+2(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lk}{m}\right)\left(12\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lk}{n}\right)\right)`$
$`=(1)^{n+m+1}+4(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n+m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lk}{n+m}\right)`$
$`4(1)^{n+m}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+l}{m}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+lk}{m}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lk}{n}\right)`$
$`=(1)^{n+m+1}.`$
Hence $`e_{i,0,k}^{n,m,l}=(1)^{n+m+1}`$. We can verify $`e_{i,m,k}^{n,m,l}=(1)^{n+m+1}`$ in the same way, so we omit the proof. ∎

Let us return to the proof of Prop.5.18. By the above calculations, we have

$`\mathrm{\Phi }d\mathrm{\Psi }`$
$`=(1)^{n+m+1}\underset{1kl}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)^{(n+i1,i)}(\overline{}\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(m,1)}+\mathrm{ch}_m(g)^{(1,m)})\mathrm{ch}_l(h)^{(l+k1,k)}`$
$`=(1)^{n+m+1}\mathrm{ch}_n(f)d\mathrm{ch}_m(g)\mathrm{ch}_l(h).`$
Since $`\mathrm{\Psi }𝒟_{n+m+l+2}(X)`$ and $`d_𝒟\mathrm{\Psi }=d\mathrm{\Psi }`$, we have completed the proof. ∎

## 6. Direct images

### 6.1. Higher analytic torsion forms

We start this section by recalling the higher analytic torsion forms defined by Bismut and Köhler . First we fix some notations.

Let $`\phi :MN`$ be a smooth projective morphism of compact complex algebraic manifolds. Let $`T\phi `$ be the relative tangent bundle of $`\phi `$ and we fix a metric $`h_\phi `$ on $`T\phi `$ that induces a Kähler metric on the fiber $`\phi ^1(y)`$ on each point $`yN`$. The pair $`(\phi ,h_\phi )`$ is called a Kähler fibration. A real closed $`(1,1)`$-form $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ on $`M`$ is called a Kähler form with respect to $`h_\phi `$ if the restriction of $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ to each fiber $`\phi ^1(y)`$ is a Kähler form with respect to $`h_\phi `$. Let $`K_\phi `$ be the curvature form of $`(T\phi ,h_\phi )`$ and

$$\mathrm{Td}^{GS}(\overline{T\phi })=\mathrm{Td}\left(\frac{K_\phi }{2\pi \sqrt{1}}\right),$$

where $`\mathrm{Td}`$ is the Todd polynomial.

Let $`\overline{E}`$ be a $`\phi `$-acyclic hermitian vector bundle on $`M`$, that is, $`\overline{E}`$ is a hermitian vector bundle on $`M`$ such that the higher direct image $`R^i\phi _{}\overline{E}`$ is trivial if $`i>0`$. Then the direct image $`\phi _{}\overline{E}`$ becomes a vector bundle and is equipped with the $`L_2`$-hermitian metric. Let $`^p`$ be an infinite dimensional vector bundle on $`N`$ whose fiber on $`yN`$ is the vector space of smooth sections of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }^pT^{(1,0)}\phi \overline{E}`$ over $`\phi ^1(y)`$, where $`T^{(1,0)}\phi `$ is the holomorphic part of the complexified relative cotangent bundle $`T^{}\phi `$. Then a hermitian metric on $`^p`$ can be defined by means of the Kähler metric $`h_\phi `$.

Let us fix a Kähler form $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ with respect to $`h_\phi `$. Then the Bismut superconnection $`B_u`$ and the number operator $`N_u`$ for $`u>0`$ are defined on $`=\underset{𝑝}{}^p`$. The zeta function $`\zeta (s)`$ is defined as

$$\zeta (s)=\frac{1}{2\mathrm{\Gamma }(s)}_0^{\mathrm{}}u^{s1}\mathrm{tr}_s(N_u\mathrm{exp}(B_u^2))𝑑u,$$

where $`\mathrm{tr}_s`$ is the supertrace. The higher analytic torsion form of $`\overline{E}`$ is defined as

$$T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })=\mathrm{\Theta }_1\left(\frac{d}{ds}\zeta (s)|_{s=0}\right),$$

where $`\mathrm{\Theta }_1:𝒟_1(M)𝒜_1(M)`$ is the renormalization operator defined in §1.6. When the morphism $`\phi `$ and the Kähler form $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ are specified, we sometimes abbreviate $`T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$ to $`T(\overline{E})`$.

The Grothendieck-Riemann-Roch theorem states that two closed differential forms $`_{M/N}\mathrm{ch}^{GS}(\overline{E})\mathrm{Td}^{GS}(\overline{T\phi })`$ and $`\mathrm{ch}^{GS}(\phi _{}\overline{E})`$ determine the same cohomology class. The higher analytic torsion form of $`T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$ gives a homotopy between these two forms. Namely, we have the following:

###### Theorem 6.1.

 Under the above notations, we have

$$d_𝒜T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })=\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\phi _{}\overline{E})_{M/N}\mathrm{Td}^{GS}(\overline{T\phi })\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E}).$$

### 6.2. Independence of the analytic torsion forms

In this subsection we review independence of $`T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$ modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$ of the choice of the Kähler form $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$, due also to Bismut and Köhler . Let $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ and $`\mathrm{\Omega }^{}`$ be two Kähler forms with respect to $`h_\phi `$. For $`0l1`$, let $`\mathrm{\Omega }_l=l\mathrm{\Omega }+(1l)\mathrm{\Omega }^{}`$. Then $`\mathrm{\Omega }_l`$ is also a Kähler form with respect to $`h_\phi `$. The Bismut superconnection and the number operator determined by $`\mathrm{\Omega }_l`$ are denoted by $`B_{u,l}`$ and $`N_{u,l}`$ respectively. The holomorphic and anti-holomorphic parts of $`B_{u,l}`$ are denoted by $`B_{u,l}^{}`$ and $`B_{u,l}^{\prime \prime }`$ respectively. In addition, let $`M_u`$ be the section of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }^{}T^{}N\mathrm{End}()`$ defined in \[2, Def.2.7\]. The zeta function with respect to $`\mathrm{\Omega }_l`$ is defined as

$$\zeta _l(s)=\frac{1}{2\mathrm{\Gamma }(s)}_0^{\mathrm{}}u^{s1}\mathrm{tr}_s(N_{u,l}\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2))𝑑u.$$

By Thm.2.9 in , we have

$`{\displaystyle \frac{d}{dl}}\mathrm{tr}_s(N_{u,l}\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2))`$ $`=u{\displaystyle \frac{d}{du}}(M_u\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2))`$
$`\overline{}\left({\displaystyle \frac{d}{db}}\mathrm{tr}_s([B_{u,l}^{},N_{u,l}]\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2bM_u))|_{b=0}\right)`$
$`\left({\displaystyle \frac{d}{db}}\mathrm{tr}_s([B_{u,l}^{\prime \prime },N_{u,l}]\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2bM_u))|_{b=0}\right)`$
$`\overline{}\left({\displaystyle \frac{d}{db}}\mathrm{tr}_s(N_{u,l}\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2bM_u))|_{b=0}\right).`$
We set

$`\theta _0(s)`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2\mathrm{\Gamma }(s)}}{\displaystyle _0^{\mathrm{}}}u^s{\displaystyle \frac{d}{du}}\mathrm{tr}_s(M_u\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2))𝑑u,`$
$`\theta _1(s)`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2\mathrm{\Gamma }(s)}}{\displaystyle _0^{\mathrm{}}}u^{s1}\left({\displaystyle \frac{d}{db}}\mathrm{tr}_s([B_{u,l}^{},N_{u,l}]\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2bM_u))|_{b=0}\right)𝑑u,`$
$`\theta _2(s)`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2\mathrm{\Gamma }(s)}}{\displaystyle _0^{\mathrm{}}}u^{s1}\left({\displaystyle \frac{d}{db}}\mathrm{tr}_s([B_{u,l}^{\prime \prime },N_{u,l}]\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2bM_u))|_{b=0}\right)𝑑u,`$
$`\theta _3(s)`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2\mathrm{\Gamma }(s)}}{\displaystyle _0^{\mathrm{}}}u^{s1}\left({\displaystyle \frac{d}{db}}\mathrm{tr}_s(N_{u,l}\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2bM_u))|_{b=0}\right)𝑑u.`$
These integrals converge when $`\mathrm{Re}(s)`$ is sufficiently big and are meromorphically prolongable to the whole plane. If we differentiate $`\zeta _l(s)`$ with the parameter $`l`$, then we have

$$\frac{d}{dl}\zeta _l(s)=\theta _0(s)\overline{}\theta _1(s)\theta _2(s)\overline{}\theta _3(s).$$

It follows from the definition of $`\theta _0(s)`$ that $`\theta _0^{}(0)`$ is equal to the constant term of the power series expansion of $`\mathrm{tr}_s(M_u\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2))`$ at $`u=0`$. By Thm.3.17 and Thm.3.22 in , we have

$$\theta _0^{}(0)=d\left(\frac{d}{db}\mathrm{tr}_s(uM_u\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2b\frac{dB_{u,l}}{du}))|_{b=0}\right).$$

The same argument as the proof of Thm.2.2 in  yields the following:

$$\frac{d}{db}\mathrm{tr}_s(uM_u\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2b\frac{dB_{u,l}}{du}))|_{b=0}\underset{𝑝}{}(^{p2,p1}(N)^{p1,p2}(N)),$$

$$\theta _1^{}(0)\underset{𝑝}{}^{p1,p2}(N),$$

$$\theta _2^{}(0)\underset{𝑝}{}^{p2,p1}(N),$$

$$\theta _3^{}(0)\underset{𝑝}{}^{p2,p2}(N).$$

If $`\pi :\underset{𝑝}{}(^{p2,p1}(N)^{p1,p2}(N))𝒟_2(N)`$ denotes the canonical projection and

$$\beta (l)=\pi \left(\frac{d}{db}\mathrm{tr}_s(uM_u\mathrm{exp}(B_{u,l}^2b\frac{dB_{u,l}}{du}))|_{b=0}+\theta _1^{}(0)+\theta _2^{}(0)+\frac{\overline{}}{2}\theta _3^{}(0)\right)𝒟_2(N),$$

then we have

$$d_𝒟\beta (l)=\frac{d}{dl}\zeta _l^{}(0).$$

Hence if we set

$$\mu (\overline{E},\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega }^{})=\mathrm{\Theta }_2\left(_0^1\beta (l)𝑑l\right)𝒜_2(N),$$

where $`\mathrm{\Theta }_2:𝒟_2(N)𝒜_2(N)`$ is the renormalization operator defined in §1.6, then we have

$`d_𝒜\mu (\overline{E},\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega }^{})`$ $`=\mathrm{\Theta }_1\left({\displaystyle _0^1}d_𝒟\beta (l)𝑑l\right)`$
$`=\mathrm{\Theta }_1\left({\displaystyle _0^1}{\displaystyle \frac{d}{dl}}\zeta _l^{}(0)𝑑l\right)`$
$`=\mathrm{\Theta }_1\left(\zeta _1^{}(0)\zeta _0^{}(0)\right)`$
$`=T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }^{}).`$
We next discuss compatibility of $`T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$ and $`\mu (\overline{E},\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega }^{})`$ with the pull back for closed immersions. Consider the following cartesian square:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}M^{}& \stackrel{j}{}& M\\ \phi ^{}& & \phi & & \\ N^{}& \stackrel{i}{}& N,\end{array}$$

where $`i`$ and $`j`$ are closed immersions and $`\phi `$ is a Kähler fibration with a metric $`h_\phi `$ on $`T\phi `$. Then it follows that $`T\phi ^{}j^{}T\phi `$, therefore a hermitian metric $`h_\phi ^{}`$ on $`T\phi ^{}`$ with which $`\phi ^{}`$ becomes a Kähler fibration is induced from $`h_\phi `$. If $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ is a Kähler form with respect to $`h_\phi `$, then the pull back $`j^{}\mathrm{\Omega }`$ is a Kähler form with respect to $`h_\phi ^{}`$.

Let $`\overline{E}`$ be a $`\phi `$-acyclic hermitian vector bundle on $`M`$. Then it is obvious that $`B_{u,l}`$, $`N_{u,l}`$ and $`M_u`$ for $`\overline{E}`$ as mentioned above are compatible with the pull back for the immersions $`i`$ and $`j`$. Hence the forms $`T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$ and $`\mu (\overline{E},\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega }^{})`$ admit the naturality for $`i`$ and $`j`$.

Summarizing results obtained so far, we have the following:

###### Proposition 6.2.

Let $`\phi :MN`$ and $`h_\phi `$ be as in the last subsection. Let $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ and $`\mathrm{\Omega }^{}`$ be Kähler forms with respect to $`h_\phi `$. Let $`\overline{E}`$ be a $`\phi `$-acyclic hermitian vector bundle on $`M`$. Then there is a form $`\mu (\overline{E},\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega }^{})𝒜_2(N)`$ such that

$$d_𝒜\mu (\overline{E},\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega }^{})=T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }^{}).$$

Furthermore, for the cartesian square as above, we have

$`i^{}T(\overline{E},\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$ $`=T(j^{}\overline{E},\phi ^{},j^{}\mathrm{\Omega }),`$
$`i^{}\mu (\overline{E},\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega }^{})`$ $`=\mu (j^{}\overline{E},j^{}\mathrm{\Omega },j^{}\mathrm{\Omega }^{}).`$
### 6.3. Higher analytic torsion forms for cubes

In this subsection we introduce the higher analytic torsion form of an exact metrized $`n`$-cube defined by Roessler . To do this we need another presentation of higher Bott-Chern forms.

Let $`M`$ be a compact complex algebraic manifold. For $`u_i𝒟_1(M)`$, we set

$$C_n(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)=\frac{1}{2^n}\underset{\sigma 𝔖_n}{}(1)^{\mathrm{sgn}\sigma }u_{\sigma (1)}\left(u_{\sigma (2)}\left(\mathrm{}u_{\sigma (k)}\mathrm{}\right)\right).$$

Similarly, for $`u_i𝒜_1(M)`$, we set

$$C_n^{GS}(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)=\underset{\sigma 𝔖_n}{}(1)^{\mathrm{sgn}\sigma }u_{\sigma (1)}\left(u_{\sigma (2)}\left(\mathrm{}u_{\sigma (k)}\mathrm{}\right)\right),$$

where $``$ is the multiplication on $`𝒜_{}(M)`$ defined in §4.3.

###### Proposition 6.3.

It follows that

$$C_n(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)=\frac{(1)^n}{2}\underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}(1)^iS_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n).$$

Hence for an exact metrized $`n`$-cube $``$, we have

$$\mathrm{ch}_n()=\frac{1}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^nn!}_{(^1)^n}\mathrm{ch}_0(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda )C_n(\mathrm{log}|z_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|z_n|^2)$$

and

$`\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{(1)^n}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^{n1}n!}}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda ){\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^iS_n^i`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{n!}}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda )C_n^{GS}(\mathrm{log}|z_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|z_n|^2).`$
Let $`\phi :MN`$ be a smooth projective morphism of compact complex algebraic manifolds and $`h_\phi `$ a hermitian metric on $`T\phi `$ such that $`(\phi ,h_\phi )`$ is a Kähler fibration. We assume that any exact metrized $`n`$-cube on $`M`$ we deal with is made of $`\phi `$-acyclic hermitian vector bundles. Then $`\lambda `$ for such a cube $``$ is also made of $`\phi `$-acyclic vector bundles and there is a canonical isomorphism

$$\phi _{}(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda )\lambda \mathrm{tr}_n\phi _{}.$$

When we put the $`L_2`$-metrics on the both sides, however, this isomorphism does not preserve the metrics. In \[14, §3.1\], Roessler has constructed a hermitian vector bundle $`\overline{h()}`$ connecting these metrics. Namely, $`\overline{h()}`$ is a hermitian vector bundle on $`N\times (^1)^{n+1}`$ satisfying the following conditions:

$$\overline{h()}|_{X\times \{0\}\times (^1)^n}=\phi _{}(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda ),\overline{h()}|_{X\times \{\mathrm{}\}\times (^1)^n}=\lambda \mathrm{tr}_n\phi _{}$$

and

$$\overline{h()}|_{X\times (^1)^i\times \{0\}\times (^1)^{ni}}=\overline{h(_i^0)},\overline{h()}|_{X\times (^1)^i\times \{\mathrm{}\}\times (^1)^{ni}}=\overline{h(_i^1)}\overline{h(_i^1)}$$

for $`1in`$. For the precise definition of $`\overline{h()}`$, see . Let us define a differential form $`T_1(,\phi )𝒜_{n+1}(N)`$ as

$$T_1(,\phi )=\frac{(1)^n}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^n(n+1)!}_{(^1)^{n+1}}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{h()})\underset{i=1}{\overset{n+1}{}}(1)^iS_{n+1}^i.$$

Moreover we take a Kähler form $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ with respect to $`h_\phi `$ and define $`T_2(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })𝒜_{n+1}(N)`$ as

$$T_2(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })=\frac{(1)^{n+1}}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^n(n+1)!}_{(^1)^n}\underset{i=1}{\overset{n+1}{}}(1)^iS_{n+1}^i()$$

where

$$S_{n+1}^i()=S_{n+1}^i(T(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda ,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }),\mathrm{log}|z_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|z_n|^2).$$

###### Theorem 6.4.

\[14, Thm.3.6\] For an exact metrized $`n`$-cube $``$ on $`M`$, we have

$$d_𝒜T_1(,\phi )+T_1(,\phi )=\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(\phi _{})\frac{(1)^n}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^{n1}n!}_{(^1)^n}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\phi _{}\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda )\underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}(1)^iS_n^i$$

and

$`d_𝒜T_2(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })+T_2(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{(1)^n}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^{n1}n!}}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\phi _{}\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda ){\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^iS_n^i`$
$`{\displaystyle _{M/N}}\mathrm{Td}^{GS}(\overline{T\phi })\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}().`$
Hence if we set $`T(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })=T_1(,\phi )+T_2(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$, then we have

$$d_𝒜T(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })+T(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })=\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(\phi _{})_{M/N}\mathrm{Td}^{GS}(\overline{T\phi })\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}().$$

Let us discuss dependence of $`T(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$ on the Kähler form $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$. We begin with the following lemma.

###### Lemma 6.5.

For $`u_1𝒜_2(M)`$ and $`u_i𝒜_1(M)`$ with $`2in`$, let

$$C_n^{GS}(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)=\underset{j=1}{\overset{n}{}}(1)^{j+1}\underset{\sigma (j)=1}{\underset{\sigma 𝔖_n}{}}(1)^{\mathrm{sgn}\sigma }u_{\sigma (1)}(u_{\sigma (2)}(\mathrm{}u_{\sigma (j)}\mathrm{})).$$

Then we have

$`d_𝒜`$ $`C_n^{GS}(u_1,u_2,\mathrm{},u_n)`$
$`=C_n^{GS}(d_𝒜u_1,u_2,\mathrm{},u_n)+n{\displaystyle \underset{k=2}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^k(d_𝒜u_k)C_{n1}^{GS}(u_1,u_2,\mathrm{},\widehat{u_k},\mathrm{},u_n).`$
Proof: Since $`d_𝒜(uv)=d_𝒜uv+(1)^{\mathrm{deg}u}ud_𝒜v`$, we have

$`d`$ $`{}_{𝒜}{}^{}C_{n}^{GS}(u_1,u_2,\mathrm{},u_n)`$
$`={\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\underset{\sigma (j)=1}{\underset{\sigma 𝔖_n}{{\displaystyle }}}(1)^{\mathrm{sgn}\sigma }\underset{i<j}{{\displaystyle }}(1)^{i+j}d_𝒜u_{\sigma (i)}(u_{\sigma (1)}(\mathrm{}\widehat{u_{\sigma (i)}}\mathrm{}u_{\sigma (j)}\mathrm{}))`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\underset{\sigma (j)=1}{\underset{\sigma 𝔖_n}{{\displaystyle }}}(1)^{\mathrm{sgn}\sigma }u_{\sigma (1)}(\mathrm{}d_𝒜u_{\sigma (j)}\mathrm{})`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\underset{\sigma (j)=1}{\underset{\sigma 𝔖_n}{{\displaystyle }}}(1)^{\mathrm{sgn}\sigma }\underset{j<i}{{\displaystyle }}(1)^{i+j+1}d_𝒜u_{\sigma (i)}(u_{\sigma (1)}(\mathrm{}u_{\sigma (j)}\mathrm{}\widehat{u_{\sigma (i)}}\mathrm{}))`$
$`={\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\underset{\sigma (j)=1}{\underset{\sigma 𝔖_n}{{\displaystyle }}}(1)^{\mathrm{sgn}\sigma }u_{\sigma (1)}(\mathrm{}d_𝒜u_{\sigma (j)}\mathrm{})`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{k=2}{\overset{n}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{i<j}{}}\underset{\sigma (i)=k}{\underset{\sigma (j)=1}{\underset{\sigma 𝔖_n}{{\displaystyle }}}}(1)^{\mathrm{sgn}\sigma }(1)^{i+j}d_𝒜u_k(u_{\sigma (1)}(\mathrm{}\widehat{u_{\sigma (i)}}\mathrm{}u_{\sigma (j)}\mathrm{}))`$
$`+{\displaystyle \underset{k=2}{\overset{n}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{j<i}{}}\underset{\sigma (i)=k}{\underset{\sigma (j)=1}{\underset{\sigma 𝔖_n}{{\displaystyle }}}}(1)^{\mathrm{sgn}\sigma }(1)^{i+j+1}d_𝒜u_k(u_{\sigma (1)}(\mathrm{}u_{\sigma (j)}\mathrm{}\widehat{u_{\sigma (i)}}\mathrm{}))`$
$`=C_{n1}(d_𝒜u_1,u_2,\mathrm{},u_n)+n{\displaystyle \underset{k=2}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^k(d_𝒜u_k)C_{n1}(u_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{u_k},\mathrm{},u_n),`$
which completes the proof. ∎

###### Proposition 6.6.

For an exact metrized $`n`$-cube $``$ on $`M`$, let $`\mu ()=\mu (\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda ,\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega }^{})`$. Then we have

$$T(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })T(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }^{})\frac{1}{n!}_{(^1)^{n1}}C_n^{GS}(\mu (),\mathrm{log}|z_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|z_{n1}|^2))$$

modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$.

Proof: Prop.6.3 implies

$$T_2(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })=\frac{1}{(n+1)!}_{(^1)^n}C_{n+1}^{GS}(T(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda ,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }),\mathrm{log}|z_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|z_n|^2).$$

Since $`T_1(,\phi )`$ does not depend on $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$, by Lem.6.5 and Prop.6.2 we have

$`T(,`$ $`\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })T(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }^{})=T_2(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })T_2(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }^{})`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{(n+1)!}}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}C_{n+1}^{GS}(T(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda ,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })T(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda ,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }^{}),\mathrm{log}|z_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|z_n|^2)`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{(n+1)!}}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}C_{n+1}^{GS}(d_𝒜\mu (),\mathrm{log}|z_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|z_n|^2)`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{(n+1)!}}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}d_𝒜C_{n+1}^{GS}(\mu (),\mathrm{log}|z_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|z_n|^2)`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{n!}}{\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{n}{}}}(1)^{k1}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}d_𝒜\mathrm{log}|z_k|^2C_n^{GS}(\mu (),\mathrm{},\widehat{\mathrm{log}|z_k|^2},\mathrm{})`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{(n+1)!}}d_𝒜\left({\displaystyle _{(^1)^n}}C_{n+1}^{GS}(\mu (),\mathrm{log}|z_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|z_n|^2)\right)`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{n!}}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^{n1}}}C_n^{GS}(\mu (),\mathrm{log}|z_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|z_{n1}|^2),`$
which completes the proof. ∎

### 6.4. Definition of direct images

In this subsection, we apply the results obtained so far in this section to the arithmetic situation and define a direct image morphism in higher arithmetic $`K`$-theory. Let $`\phi :XY`$ be a smooth projective morphism of proper arithmetic varieties. We fix an $`F_{\mathrm{}}`$-invariant metric $`h_\phi `$ on $`T\phi ()`$ and take an anti-$`F_{\mathrm{}}`$-invariant Kähler form $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ on $`X()`$ with respect to $`h_\phi `$. Let $`\widehat{S}(\phi \text{-ac})`$ denote the S-construction of the category of $`\phi `$-acyclic hermitian vector bundles on $`X`$. Then the direct image of a $`\phi `$-acyclic hermitian vector bundle with the $`L_2`$-metric gives a morphism of simplicial sets

$$\phi _{}:\widehat{S}(\phi \text{-ac})\widehat{S}(Y).$$

Since the natural inclusion $`\widehat{S}(\phi \text{-ac})\widehat{S}(X)`$ is homotopy equivalent, we have

$$\widehat{\pi }_{}(|\widehat{S}(\phi \text{-ac})|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_{}(|\widehat{S}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}).$$

###### Proposition 6.7.

If $`E`$ is a degenerate element of $`\widehat{S}_{n+1}(\phi \text{-ac})`$, then we have $`T(\mathrm{Cub}(E),\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })=0`$.

The proof is similar to that of Thm.3.4, so we omit it. By Prop.6.7, taking the higher analytic torsion forms yields the homomorphism

$$T(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }):C_{}(|\widehat{S}(\phi \text{-ac})|)𝒜_{}(Y).$$

In particular, the higher analytic torsion form of a pointed cellular map $`f:S^{n+1}|\widehat{S}(\phi \text{-ac})|`$ is defined by $`T(f,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })=T(f_{}([S^{n+1}]),\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$. To simplify notation, we write $`T(f)`$ for $`T(f,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$ if the morphism $`\phi `$ and the Kähler form $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ are specified.

Let us define a homomorphism of complexes $`\phi _!:𝒜_{}(X)𝒜_{}(Y)`$ by

$$\phi _!\omega =_{X()/Y()}\mathrm{Td}^{GS}(\overline{T\phi })\omega .$$

Prop.6.4 tells that the diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}C_{}(|\widehat{S}(\phi \text{-ac})|)& \stackrel{\phi _{}}{}& C_{}(|\widehat{S}(Y)|)\\ \mathrm{ch}^{GS}& & \mathrm{ch}^{GS}& & \\ 𝒜_{}(X)[1]& \stackrel{\phi _!}{}& 𝒜_{}(Y)[1]\end{array}$$

is commutative up to the homotopy $`T(,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })`$. Hence Prop.2.7 yields the following:

###### Proposition 6.8.

We can define a homomorphism

$$\widehat{\phi }(\mathrm{\Omega })_{}:\widehat{\pi }_{n+1}(|\widehat{S}(\phi \text{-ac})|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_{n+1}(|\widehat{S}(Y)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})$$

by $`[(f,\omega )][(\phi _{}f,\phi _!\omega +T(f,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }))]`$.

If $`\mathrm{\Omega }^{}`$ is another anti-$`F_{\mathrm{}}`$-invariant Kähler form with respect to $`h_\phi `$, then it follows from Prop.6.6 that $`T(f,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })T(f,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }^{})`$ modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$ for any pointed cellular map $`f:S^{n+1}|\widehat{S}(\phi \text{-ac})|`$. Hence the homomorphism $`\widehat{\phi }(\mathrm{\Omega })_{}`$ depends only on the hermitian metric $`h_\phi `$ and does not concern the Kähler form $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$.

The following is the main theorem of this section.

###### Theorem 6.9.

Let $`\phi :XY`$ be a smooth projective morphism of proper arithmetic varieties. We fix an $`F_{\mathrm{}}`$-invariant metric $`h_\phi `$ on $`T\phi `$ such that the restriction of $`h_\phi `$ to any fiber $`\phi ^1(y)`$ on $`yY()`$ is a Kähler metric. Then we can define a direct image morphism

$$\widehat{\phi }(h_\phi )_{}:\widehat{K}_n(X)\widehat{K}_n(Y)$$

by

$$\widehat{\pi }_{n+1}(|\widehat{S}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_{n+1}(|\widehat{S}(\phi \text{-ac})|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\stackrel{\widehat{\phi }(\mathrm{\Omega })_{}}{}\widehat{\pi }_{n+1}(|\widehat{S}(Y)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS}),$$

where $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ is an anti-$`F_{\mathrm{}}`$-invariant Kähler from on $`X()`$ with respect to $`h_\phi `$.

When $`n=0`$, the direct image morphism we have defined above agrees with the morphism $`\phi _!`$ in . In fact, we have the commutative diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\widehat{𝒦}_0(X)& \stackrel{\widehat{\alpha }}{}& \widehat{K}_0(X)\\ \phi _!& & \widehat{\phi }\left(h_\phi \right)_{}& & \\ \widehat{𝒦}_0(Y)& \stackrel{\widehat{\alpha }}{}& \widehat{K}_0(Y),\end{array}$$

where $`\phi _!`$ is defined as

$$\phi _!(\overline{E},\omega )=(\phi _{}\overline{E},\phi _!(\omega )T(\overline{E}))$$

for a $`\phi `$-acyclic hermitian vector bundle $`\overline{E}`$ on $`X`$ and $`\omega \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_1(X)`$.

Prop.2.8 implies that the Chern form map $`\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}`$ is compatible with the direct image morphism, that is, the diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\widehat{K}_n(X)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(X)\\ \widehat{\phi }\left(h_\phi \right)_{}& & \phi _!& & \\ \widehat{K}_n(Y)& \stackrel{\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}}{}& 𝒜_{}(Y)\end{array}$$

is commutative. In particular, we can define a direct image morphism in $`KM`$-groups

$$\widehat{\phi }(h_\phi )_{}:KM_n(X)KM_n(Y).$$

Finally, we give a description of the direct image morphism by means of the $`G`$-construction. Given a pointed cellular map $`f:S^n|\widehat{G}(X)|`$ for $`n1`$, we set

$$T(f,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega })=T(\chi _{}f_{}([S^n]),\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }),$$

where $`\chi `$ is the morphism of simplicial sets defined in §5.3. Then a homomorphism

$$\widehat{\phi }(\mathrm{\Omega })_{}:\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(\phi \text{-ac})|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(Y)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})$$

is defined by $`\widehat{\phi }(\mathrm{\Omega })_{}([(f,\omega )])=[(\phi _{}f,\phi _!\omega T(f,\phi ,\mathrm{\Omega }))]`$. The homomorphism

$$\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(X)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(\phi \text{-ac})|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})\stackrel{\widehat{\phi }(\mathrm{\Omega })_{}}{}\widehat{\pi }_n(|\widehat{G}(Y)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})$$

is identified with the direct image morphism defined in Thm.6.9 by the isomorphism $`\widehat{\chi }_{}`$ in Prop.5.3.

### 6.5. The projection formula

In this subsection we prove the projection formula in higher arithmetic $`K`$-theory. We first consider the case of $`\widehat{𝒦}_0`$-groups. Let $`\phi :XY`$, $`h_\phi `$ and $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ be as in the last subsection. Let $`\overline{E}`$ be a hermitian vector bundle on $`Y`$ and $`\overline{F}`$ a $`\phi `$-acyclic hermitian vector bundle on $`X`$. Then the canonical isomorphism $`\phi _{}(\phi ^{}\overline{E}\overline{F})\overline{E}\phi _{}\overline{F}`$ preserves the metrics.

For $`\omega \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_1(Y)`$ and $`\tau \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_1(X)`$, we have

$`\phi _!`$ $`(\widehat{\phi }^{}(\overline{E},\omega )\times (\overline{F},\tau ))`$
$`=\phi _!((\phi ^{}\overline{E},\phi ^{}\omega )\times (\overline{F},\tau ))`$
$`=\phi _!((\phi ^{}\overline{E})\overline{F},\phi ^{}\omega \mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{F})+\phi ^{}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})\tau +\phi ^{}d_𝒜\omega \tau )`$
$`=(\phi _{}(\phi ^{}\overline{E}\overline{F}),\eta ),`$
where

$`\eta `$ $`={\displaystyle _{X()/Y()}}\mathrm{Td}^{GS}(\overline{T\phi })\left(\phi ^{}\omega \mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{F})+\phi ^{}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})\tau +\phi ^{}d_𝒜\omega \tau \right)`$
$`T(\phi ^{}\overline{E}\overline{F})`$
$`=(\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})+d_𝒜\omega ){\displaystyle _{X()/Y()}}\mathrm{Td}^{GS}(\overline{T\phi })\tau `$
$`+\omega (\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\phi _{}\overline{F})d_𝒜T(\overline{F}))T(\phi ^{}\overline{E}\overline{F}).`$
On the other hand, we have

$`(\overline{E},\omega )\times \phi _!(\overline{F},\tau )`$ $`=(\overline{E},\omega )(\phi _{}\overline{F},\phi _!\tau T(\overline{F}))`$
$`=(\overline{E}\phi _{}\overline{F},\eta ^{}),`$
where

$`\eta ^{}`$ $`=(\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})+d_𝒜\omega ){\displaystyle _{X()/Y()}}\mathrm{Td}^{GS}(\overline{T\phi })\tau +\omega \mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\phi _{}\overline{F})`$
$`(\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})+d_𝒜\omega )T(\overline{F}).`$
Comparing these identities, we have

$$\eta \eta ^{}=T(\phi ^{}\overline{E}\overline{F})+\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})T(\overline{F})+d_𝒜(\omega T(\overline{F})).$$

Hence the projection formula in $`\widehat{𝒦}_0`$-groups can be reduced to the following proposition:

###### Proposition 6.10.

Under the above notations, we have

$$T(\phi ^{}\overline{E}\overline{F})=\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})T(\overline{F}).$$

Proof: Let $``$ be an infinite dimensional vector bundle on $`N`$ consisting of smooth sections of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }^{}T^{(1,0)}\phi \overline{F}`$. Let $`B_u`$ and $`N_u`$ denote the Bismut superconnection and the number operator on $``$ respectively. Let $`^{}`$ be an infinite dimensional vector bundle consisting of smooth sections of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }^{}T^{(1,0)}\phi (\phi ^{}\overline{E}\overline{F})`$ and the Bismut superconnection and the number operator on $`^{}`$ are denoted by $`B_u^{}`$ and $`N_u^{}`$ respectively. Then we have a canonical isometry $`^{}\overline{E}`$ and under this identification, we have $`B_u^{}=1B_u+_{\overline{E}}1`$ and $`N_u^{}=1N_u`$. Hence we have $`\mathrm{exp}(B_{u}^{}{}_{}{}^{2})=\mathrm{exp}(K_{\overline{E}})\mathrm{exp}(B_u^2)`$, therefore

$$\mathrm{tr}_s(N_u^{}\mathrm{exp}(B_{u}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}))=\mathrm{ch}_0(\overline{E})\mathrm{tr}_s(N_u\mathrm{exp}(B_u^2)).$$

Substituting this identity into the definition of $`T(\phi ^{}\overline{E}\overline{F})`$ yields the desired identity. ∎

Let us move on to the higher case. We assume $`n,m1`$. Consider the following diagram:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\widehat{G}(Y)\widehat{G}(\phi \text{-ac})& \stackrel{m^G(\phi ^{}1)}{}& \widehat{G}^{(2)}(\phi \text{-ac})\\ 1\phi _{}& & \phi _{}& & \\ \widehat{G}(Y)\widehat{G}(Y)& \stackrel{m^G}{}& \widehat{G}^{(2)}(Y).\end{array}$$

This diagram is commutative up to homotopy. Let $`f:S^n|\widehat{G}(Y)|`$ and $`g:S^m|\widehat{G}(\phi \text{-ac})|`$ be pointed cellular maps. For $`\omega \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{n+1}(Y)`$ and $`\tau \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{m+1}(X)`$, we have

$`\phi (\mathrm{\Omega })_{}(\phi ^{}(f,\omega )\times (g,\tau ))`$ $`=\phi (\mathrm{\Omega })_{}(\phi ^{}f\times g,(1)^n\phi ^{}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\tau +\phi ^{}\omega \mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)`$
$`+(1)^nd_𝒜\phi ^{}\omega \tau +(1)^n\phi ^{}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g))`$
$`=(\phi _{}(\phi ^{}f\times g),\eta ),`$
where

$`\eta `$ $`=(1)^n(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+d_𝒜\omega ){\displaystyle _{X()/Y()}}\mathrm{Td}^{GS}(\overline{T\phi })\tau +\omega (\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(\phi _{}g)d_𝒜T(g))`$
$`+(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}(\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(\phi _{}g)d_𝒜T(g))T(\phi ^{}f\times g).`$
On the other hand, we have

$`(f,\omega )\times \phi (h_\phi )_{}(g,\tau )`$ $`=(f,\omega )\times (\phi _{}g,\phi _!\tau T(g))`$
$`=(f\times \phi _{}g,\eta ^{}),`$
where

$`\eta ^{}`$ $`=(1)^n(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+d_𝒜\omega ){\displaystyle _{X()/Y()}}\mathrm{Td}^{GS}(\overline{T\phi })\tau (1)^n(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)+d_𝒜\omega )T(g)`$
$`+\omega \mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(\phi _{}g)+(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(\phi _{}g).`$
A homotopy from $`\phi _{}(\phi ^{}f\times g)`$ to $`f\times \phi _{}g`$ is given by the canonical isometry $`\phi _{}(\phi ^{}\overline{E}\overline{F})\overline{E}\times \phi _{}\overline{F}`$ of hermitian vector bundles. Hence we can show the identity

$$[(\phi _{}(\phi ^{}f\times g),0)]=[(f\times \phi _{}g,0)]$$

in $`\widehat{\pi }_{n+m}(|\widehat{G}^{(2)}(Y)|,\mathrm{ch}^{GS})`$ in the same way as Lem.5.6. Furthermore, we have

$$\eta \eta ^{}(1)^{n+1}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)\mathrm{}d_𝒜T(g)T(\phi ^{}f\times g)+(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}(f)T(g)$$

modulo $`\mathrm{Im}d_𝒜`$. Hence the projection formula in higher arithmetic $`K`$-theory can be reduced to the following proposition:

###### Proposition 6.11.

For an exact metrized $`n`$-cube $``$ on $`Y`$ and an exact metrized $`m`$-cube $`𝒢`$ made of $`\phi `$-acyclic hermitian vector bundles on $`X`$, we have

$`d_𝒜(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()\mathrm{}T(𝒢))=`$ $`T(\phi ^{}𝒢)+(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()T(𝒢)`$
$`+\mathrm{ch}_{n+1}^{GS}()\mathrm{}T(𝒢)+(1)^{n1}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()\mathrm{}d_𝒜T(𝒢).`$
Proof: We will prove the following identities:

$`d_𝒜(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()\mathrm{}T_1(𝒢))=`$ $`T_1(\phi ^{}\times 𝒢)+(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()T_1(𝒢)`$
$`+\mathrm{ch}_{n1}^{GS}()\mathrm{}T_1(𝒢)+(1)^{n+1}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()\mathrm{}d_𝒜T_1(𝒢),`$
$`d_𝒜(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()\mathrm{}T_2(𝒢))=`$ $`T_2(\phi ^{}\times 𝒢)+(1)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()T_2(𝒢)`$
$`+\mathrm{ch}_{n1}^{GS}()\mathrm{}T_2(𝒢)+(1)^{n+1}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}()\mathrm{}d_𝒜T_2(𝒢).`$
These two identities can be proved in the same way, so we will prove only the latter one.

The following lemma is the renormalized version of Prop.4.5.

###### Lemma 6.12.

For $`u_1,\mathrm{},u_n,v_1,\mathrm{},v_m𝒜_1(M)`$, we have

$`d_𝒜`$ $`\left({\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^iS_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)\mathrm{}{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{m}{}}}\left(1\right)^jS_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)\right)`$
$`=\frac{\left(1\right)^{n+1}}{2\pi \sqrt{1}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{n+m}{}}}\left(1\right)^kS_{n+m}^k(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n,v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`\frac{n}{4\pi \sqrt{1}}\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in1}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n1,m}{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(1\right)^\alpha \overline{}u_\alpha S_{n1}^i(u_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{u_\alpha },\mathrm{},u_n)S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`+\frac{\left(1\right)^nm}{4\pi \sqrt{1}}\underset{1jm1}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n,m1}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n){\displaystyle \underset{\beta =1}{\overset{m}{}}}\left(1\right)^\beta \overline{}v_\beta S_{m1}^j(v_1,\mathrm{},\widehat{v_\beta },\mathrm{},v_m)`$
$`+\left(1\right)^n\underset{1jm}{{\displaystyle \underset{1in}{}}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}S_n^i(u_1,\mathrm{},u_n)S_m^j(v_1,\mathrm{},v_m).`$
Let us start proving the latter identity. For $`t<s`$, let $`\pi _1:(^1)^s(^1)^t`$ denote the projection defined by $`\pi _1(x_1,\mathrm{},x_s)=(x_1,\mathrm{},x_t)`$ and $`\pi _2:(^1)^s(^1)^t`$ denote the projection defined by $`\pi _2(x_1,\mathrm{},x_s)=(x_{st+1},\mathrm{},x_s)`$. Then Lem.6.12 implies

$`d_𝒜\left(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}\left(\right)\mathrm{}T_2\left(𝒢\right)\right)`$
$`=\frac{\left(1\right)^{n+m+1}}{\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m1}n!\left(m+1\right)!}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m}}}\pi _1^{}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}\left(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda \right)d_𝒜\left(\underset{1jm+1}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}\pi _1^{}S_n^i\mathrm{}\pi _2^{}S_{m+1}^j\left(𝒢\right)\right)`$
$`=\frac{\left(1\right)^{n+m}}{\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m}\left(n+m+1\right)!}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m}}}\pi _1^{}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}\left(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda \right){\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{n+m+1}{}}}\left(1\right)^kS_{n+m+1}^k(T\left(\mathrm{tr}_m\lambda 𝒢\right),\mathrm{log}\left|t_1\right|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}\left|t_{n+m}\right|^2)`$
$`+\frac{\left(1\right)^{n+m}}{2\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m1}\left(n1\right)!\left(m+1\right)!}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m1}}}\pi _1^{}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}\left(\mathrm{tr}_{n1}\lambda \right)\underset{1jm+1}{\underset{1in1}{{\displaystyle }}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n1,m+1}\pi _1^{}S_{n1}^i\pi _2^{}S_{m+1}^j\left(𝒢\right)`$
$`+\frac{\left(1\right)^{m+1}}{2\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m1}n!m!}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m}}}\pi _1^{}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}\left(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda \right)\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n,m}\pi _1^{}S_n^i\pi _2^{}\left(d_𝒜T\left(\mathrm{tr}_m\lambda 𝒢\right)S_m^j\right)`$
$`+\frac{\left(1\right)^m}{2\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m1}n!m!}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m1}}}\pi _1^{}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}\left(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda \right)\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n,m}\pi _1^{}S_n^i\pi _2^{}S_m^j\left(𝒢\right)`$
$`+\frac{\left(1\right)^{m+1}}{\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m1}n!\left(m+1\right)!}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m}}}\pi _1^{}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}\left(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda \right)\underset{1jm+1}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}\pi _1^{}S_n^i\pi _2^{}S_{m+1}^j\left(𝒢\right).`$
By Prop.6.10, we have

$`\pi _1^{}`$ $`\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda )S_{n+m+1}^k(T(\mathrm{tr}_m\lambda 𝒢),\mathrm{log}|t_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|t_{n+m}|^2)`$
$`=S_{n+m+1}^k(\pi _1^{}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda )\pi _2^{}T(\mathrm{tr}_m\lambda 𝒢),\mathrm{log}|t_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|t_{n+m}|^2)`$
$`=S_{n+m+1}^k(T(\mathrm{tr}_{n+m}\lambda (\phi ^{}𝒢),\mathrm{log}|t_1|^2,\mathrm{},\mathrm{log}|t_{n+m}|^2)`$
$`=S_{n+m+1}^k(\phi ^{}𝒢).`$
Moreover, we have

$`d_𝒜T_2(𝒢)`$ $`=\frac{(1)^m}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^m(m+1)!}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^m}}{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{m+1}{}}}(1)^jdS_{m+1}^j(𝒢)`$
$`=\frac{(1)^m}{(2\pi \sqrt{1})^{m1}m!}{\displaystyle _{(^1)^m}}{\displaystyle \underset{j=1}{\overset{m}{}}}(1)^j\left(d_𝒜T(\mathrm{tr}_m\lambda 𝒢)S_m^jS_m^j(𝒢)\right).`$
Hence we have

$`d_𝒜\left(\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}\left(\right)\mathrm{}T_2\left(𝒢\right)\right)`$
$`=\frac{\left(1\right)^{n+m}}{\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m}\left(n+m+1\right)!}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m}}}{\displaystyle \underset{k=1}{\overset{n+m+1}{}}}\left(1\right)^kS_{n+m+1}^k\left(\phi ^{}𝒢\right)`$
$`+\frac{\left(1\right)^{n+m}}{2\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m1}\left(n1\right)!\left(m+1\right)!}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m1}}}\underset{1jm+1}{\underset{1in1}{{\displaystyle }}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n1,m+1}\pi _1^{}\left(\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}\left(\mathrm{tr}_{n1}\lambda \right)S_{n1}^i\right)\pi _2^{}S_{m+1}^j\left(𝒢\right)`$
$`+\frac{\left(1\right)^{m+1}}{2\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m1}n!m!}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m}}}\underset{1jm}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}a_{i,j}^{n,m}\pi _1^{}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}\left(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda \right)\pi _1^{}S_n^i\pi _2^{}\left(d_𝒜T\left(\mathrm{tr}_m\lambda 𝒢\right)S_m^jS_m^j\left(𝒢\right)\right)`$
$`+\frac{\left(1\right)^{m+1}}{\left(2\pi \sqrt{1}\right)^{n+m1}n!\left(m+1\right)!}{\displaystyle _{\left(^1\right)^{n+m}}}\underset{1jm+1}{\underset{1in}{{\displaystyle }}}\left(1\right)^{i+j}\pi _1^{}\left(\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}\left(\mathrm{tr}_n\lambda \right)S_n^i\right)\pi _2^{}S_{m+1}^j\left(𝒢\right)`$
$`=T_2\left(\phi ^{}𝒢\right)+\mathrm{ch}_{n1}^{GS}\left(\right)\mathrm{}T_2\left(𝒢\right)`$
$`+\left(1\right)^{n+1}\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}\left(\right)\mathrm{}d_𝒜T_2\left(𝒢\right)+\left(1\right)^n\mathrm{ch}_n^{GS}\left(\right)T_2\left(𝒢\right),`$
which completes the proof. ∎

Let us consider the case of $`n=0`$ and $`m>0`$. Let $`(\overline{E},\omega )`$ be a pair of a hermitian vector bundle on $`Y`$ and $`\omega \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_1(Y)`$ and let $`(g,\tau )`$ be a pair of a pointed cellular map $`g:S^m|\widehat{G}(X)|`$ and $`\tau \stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{m+1}(X)`$. Then we have

$`\widehat{\phi }(\mathrm{\Omega })_{}`$ $`(\widehat{\phi }^{}(\overline{E},\omega )\times (g,\tau ))`$
$`=(\phi _{}(\phi ^{}\overline{E}g),\phi _!(\phi ^{}\omega (\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+d_𝒜\tau ))+\phi _!(\phi ^{}\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})\tau )T(\phi ^{}\overline{E}g)`$
$`=(\phi _{}(\phi ^{}\overline{E}g),\omega \phi _!(\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)+d_𝒜\tau ))+\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})(\phi _!\tau T(g)).`$
On the other hand, we have

$`(\overline{E},\omega )`$ $`\times \widehat{\phi }(\mathrm{\Omega })_{}(g,\tau )`$
$`=(\overline{E}\phi _{}g,\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})(\phi _!\tau T(g))+\omega \mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(\phi _{}g)+\omega (\phi _!\tau T(g))`$
$`=(\overline{E}\phi _{}g,\mathrm{ch}_0^{GS}(\overline{E})(\phi _!\tau T(g))+\omega d_𝒜\phi _!\tau +\omega \phi _!\mathrm{ch}_m^{GS}(g)).`$
Hence we have

$$\widehat{\phi }(\mathrm{\Omega })_{}(\widehat{\phi }^{}(\overline{E},\omega )\times (g,\tau ))=(\overline{E},\omega )\times \widehat{\phi }(\mathrm{\Omega })_{}(g,\tau ).$$

In the case of $`n>0`$ and $`m=0`$, we can also prove the projection formula for the pairing $`\widehat{K}_n\times \widehat{𝒦}_0\widehat{K}_n`$ in the same way. Hence we have the following theorem:

###### Theorem 6.13.

Let $`\phi :XY`$ be a projective smooth morphism of proper arithmetic varieties. Let $`h_\phi `$ be an $`F_{\mathrm{}}`$-invariant hermitian metric on the relative tangent bundle $`T\phi ()`$ that induces a Kähler metric on any fiber of $`\phi ()`$. Then for $`y\widehat{K}_n(Y)`$ and $`x\widehat{K}_m(X)`$, we have

$$\widehat{\phi }(h_\phi )_{}(\widehat{\phi }^{}y\times x)=y\times \widehat{\phi }(h_\phi )_{}(x).$$

## Appendix A Some identities satisfied by binomial coefficients

###### Lemma A.1.

(1) For $`0ki`$, we have

$`(ni)`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{k1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+i{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{k}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=(n+m){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{k1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n1\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+(ik)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k}\right).`$
In particular, we have

$$(ni)\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+i\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right)=(n+m)\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n1\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right).$$

(2) For $`0ki`$, we have

$`(mj)`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =k}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+j{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =k}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=(n+m){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =k}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)(ik)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k1}\right).`$
In particular, we have

$$(mj)\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+j\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right)=(n+m)\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right).$$

Proof: We will prove them by induction on $`k`$. When $`k=0`$, the claim (1) is trivial. If the claim (1) holds for $`k1`$, then we have

$`(ni){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{k1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+i{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{k}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=(n+m){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{k2}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n1\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+(ik+1)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk+1}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k1}\right)`$
$`+(ni)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{nk+1}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k1}\right)+i\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{k}\right)`$
$`=(n+m){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{k2}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n1\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+(nk+1)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk+1}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k1}\right)`$
$`+n\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k1}\right)+i\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k}\right)`$
$`=(n+m){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{k1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n1\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)(i+jk)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k1}\right)`$
$`+i\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k}\right)`$
$`=(n+m){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{k1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n1\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+(ik)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k}\right).`$
Hence the claim (1) holds for $`k`$.

The claim (2) for $`k=i`$ is trivial. If (2) holds for $`k+1`$, then we have

$`(mj){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =k}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+j{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =k}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=(n+m){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =k+1}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)(ik1)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk1}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k}\right)`$
$`+(mj)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k}\right)+j\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{k}\right)`$
$`=(n+m){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =k+1}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+(mji+k+1)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk1}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k}\right)`$
$`+m\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k}\right)+j\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k1}\right)`$
$`=(n+m){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =k+1}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+(n+mk)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k}\right)`$
$`+j\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k1}\right)`$
$`=(n+m){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =k}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)(ik)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{nk}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{k1}\right),`$
hence the claim (2) holds for $`k`$. ∎

###### Lemma A.2.

We have

$$\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1\underset{i=0}{\overset{n}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right)\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i+j1}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk+1}{n+m\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k1}{\alpha }\right)=\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{j1}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+ljk+1}{m\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+k1}{\alpha }\right).$$

Proof: Let $`F_n`$ denote the left hand side of the above. Then we have

$`F_n`$ $`=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}((1{\displaystyle \frac{i1}{n}})\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{ni+1}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j2}{i1}\right){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i+j2}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk+2}{n+m\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k2}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`+{\displaystyle \frac{i}{n}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i+j1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk+1}{n+m\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k1}{\alpha }\right))`$
$`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{n}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j2}{i1}\right)((n+mij+1){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i+j2}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk+2}{n+m\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k2}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`+(i+j1){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i+j1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk+1}{n+m\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k1}{\alpha }\right)).`$
By Lem.A.1, we have

$`F_n`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{n+m+l}{n}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l}{n}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j2}{i1}\right){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i+j2}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk+1}{n+m1\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k1}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+l1}{n1}\right)^1{\displaystyle \underset{i=0}{\overset{n1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij1}{ni1}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right){\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i+j1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m+lijk}{n+m1\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j+k}{\alpha }\right)`$
$`=F_{n1}`$
Hence $`F_n=F_0`$, that is,

$$F_n=\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{j1}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{m+ljk+1}{m\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j+k1}{\alpha }\right),$$

which completes the proof. ∎

###### Lemma A.3.

If $`0in`$ and $`1jm`$,

$$\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j1}{\alpha }\right)=\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right).$$

In particular, we have

$$\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{n}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j1}{\alpha }\right)=\underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{n}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{mj}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+j}{\alpha }\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m}{n}\right).$$

Proof: We prove the lemma by induction on $`i`$. When $`i=0`$, the statement of the lemma is clear. If the identity holds for $`i1`$, then we have

$`{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+m\alpha j}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\alpha +j1}{\alpha }\right)`$ $`={\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij+1}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right)`$
$`={\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i1}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n1\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{ni}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{i}\right)`$
$`={\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha }\right)+{\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =1}{\overset{i}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j1}{\alpha 1}\right)`$
$`={\displaystyle \underset{\alpha =0}{\overset{i}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n+mij}{n\alpha }\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+j}{\alpha }\right),`$
which completes the proof. ∎