Twisted cyclic theory and an index theory for the gauge invariant KMS state on Cuntz algebras

Abstract

This paper presents, by example, an index theory appropriate to algebras without trace. Whilst we work exclusively with the Cuntz algebras the exposition is designed to indicate how to develop a general theory. Our main result is an index theorem (formulated in terms of spectral flow) using a twisted cyclic cocycle where the twisting comes from the modular automorphism group for the canonical gauge action on the Cuntz algebra. We introduce a modified $K_1$-group of the Cuntz algebra so as to pair with this twisted cocycle. As a corollary we obtain a noncommutative geometry interpretation for Araki's notion of relative entropy in this example. We also note the connection of this example to the theory of noncommutative manifolds.