An extended variational formula for the Bismut-Cheeger eta form and its applications

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to extend our previous work on the variational formula for the Bismut-Cheeger eta form without the kernel bundle assumption by allowing the spin$^c$ Dirac operators to be twisted by isomorphic vector bundles, and to establish the $\mathbb{Z}_2$-graded additivity of the Bismut-Cheeger eta form. Using these results, we give alternative proofs of the fact that the analytic index in differential $K$-theory is a well defined group homomorphism, and the Riemann-Roch-Grothendieck theorem in $\mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z}$ $K$-theory.