Relative Zeta Functions, Determinants, Torsion, Index Theorems and Invariants for Open Manifolds

Abstract

The set of Clifford bundles of bounded geometry over open manifolds can be endowed with a metrizable uniform structure. For one fixed bundle $E$ we define the generalized component $\gencomp (E)$ as the set of Clifford bundles $E'$ which have finite distance to $E$. If $D$, $D'$ are the associated generalized Dirac operators, we prove for the pair $(D,D')$ relative index theorems, define relative $\zeta$-- and $\eta$--functions, relative determinants and in the case of $D=\Delta$ relative analytic torsion. To define relative $\zeta$-- and $\eta$--functions, we assume additionally that the essential spectrum of $D^2$ has a gap above zero.