Publisher's Synopsis
The book is devoted to the theory of topological higher Franz-Reidemeister torsion in $K$-theory. The author defines the higher Franz-Reidemeister torsion based on Volodin's $K$-theory and Borel's regulator map. He describes its properties and generalizations and studies the relation between the higher Franz-Reidemeister torsion and other torsions used in $K$-theory: Whitehead torsion and Ray-Singer torsion. He also presents methods of computing higher Franz-Reidemeister torsion, illustrates them with numerous examples, and describes various applications of higher Franz-Reidemeister torsion, particularly for the study of homology of mapping class groups. Packed with up-to-date information, the book provides a unique research and reference tool for specialists working in algebraic topology and $K$-theory.
