Let $M$ be any smooth manifold (could be unorientable - I think). Let $E,F \to M$ be two complex vector bundles. Let $S$ be any compact space, and let $D\_s:E\to F,s\in S$ be a continuous family elliptical pseudo-differential operator. Since $D\_s$ is a Fredholm operator (choosing the right Sobolev spaces to represent sections) for each $s$ we must be able to associated an index bundle over $S$.


The Atiyah-Singer index theorem basically states that the dimension of this bundle at a point $s\in S$ can be computed using the formula explained [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atiyah%E2%80%93Singer_index_theorem).


**Question:** How do you describe and prove what the entire map $S\to \mathbb{Z}\times BU$ which classifies the index bundle is?


Notes:


1) I tried googling different things, but whenever I tried a link it was always something different than the answer to this question, but maybe I missed an obvious link. It seems like this should be explained somewhere.


2) In [this](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/23409/intuitive-explanation-for-the-atiyah-singer-index-theorem) question Paul Siegel gives a K-theoretic description of the index formula. This leads me to believe that the answer might be something a long the line of: The symbol of $D\_s$ defines an element of $K((S\times M)^{TM})$ (Thom space of pull back bundle to the product). We can use the Thom isomorphism to identify this with a $K$ class of the spectrum $(S\times M)^{-TM}$ (we subtract the complex vector bundle $\mathbb{C}\otimes TM = TM\oplus TM$ from the Thom construction). We then use that $M^{-TM}$ has a unit map from the sphere spectrum $\mathbb{S} \to M^{-TM}$ to compose:


$$S\_+\wedge \mathbb{S} \to S\_+\wedge M^{-TM} \cong (S\times M)^{-TM}$$


and then pullback the class. If this is correct I would like to known, and also get a reference to where this is proved.



Parametrized Atiyah-Singer index theorem
Since Thomas is satisfied with my comment, I will post it as an answer to close: this result is in the 4th Atiyah-Singer paper: jstor.org/stable/1970756


