Asymptotic homomorphisms into the Calkin algebra

Abstract

Let $A$ be a separable $C^{\ast }$-algebra and let $B$ be a stable $C^{\ast }$-algebra with a strictly positive element. We consider the (semi)group $\Ext^{as}(A,B)$ (resp. $\Ext(A,B)$) of homotopy classes of asymptotic (resp. of genuine) homomorphisms from $A$ to the corona algebra $M(B)/B$ and the natural map $i:\Ext(A,B)\ar\Ext^{as}(A,B)$. We show that if $A$ is a suspension then $\Ext^{as}(A,B)$ coincides with $E$-theory of Connes and Higson and the map $i$ is surjective. In particular any asymptotic homomorphism from $SA$ to $M(B)/B$ is homotopic to some genuine homomorphism.

12 pages, LaTeX