The L-Homology Fundamental Class for IP-Spaces and the Stratified Novikov Conjecture

Abstract

An IP-space is a pseudomanifold whose defining local properties imply that its middle perversity global intersection homology groups satisfy Poincar\'e duality integrally. We show that the symmetric signature induces a map of Quinn spectra from IP bordism to the symmetric $L$-spectrum of $\Z$, which is, up to weak equivalence, an $E_\infty$ ring map. Using this map, we construct a fundamental $L$-homology class for IP-spaces, and as a consequence we prove the stratified Novikov conjecture for IP-spaces.