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I am trying to understand the proof of the implication $(i)\implies (ii)$ in Takesaki's book "Theory of operator algebras II", chapter VII, which says the following:

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The relevant setting and notations are described in the following picture:

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And finally, here is Takesaki's proof:

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There are several things about this proof that I don't understand, and I strongly suspect that it contains some typos/mistakes.

For example, I cannot understand the proof of the equality $(F-A_+)^\circ = F^{\hat{}}$. Rather, I think that we have $$F^{\hat{}}= (F-A_+)^\circ \cap A_+^*.$$

I can see that by the Hahn-Banach separation theorem and the hypothesis, we have $$F= (F-A_+)^{\circ\circ }\cap A^+.$$

I think I can finish if I can show that $$((F-A_+)^\circ\cap A_+^*)^\circ \cap A_+ = (F-A_+)^{\circ\circ}\cap A_+.$$ The inclusion $\supseteq$ is obvious, however I struggle to prove the other inclusion. Under the extra assumption that every functional in $A^*$ is a difference of two positive ones, i.e. $A^*= A_+^* - A_+^*$, I think I can also prove the other inclusion. But I think this assumption need not hold in general. Any help in the matter is highly appreciated!

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1 Answer 1

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$\newcommand{\con}{\operatorname{conv}}$[Edit: This has turned out to be more involved than I thought, and my argument is now somewhat different from the book.] Firstly, some facts about $A_+$. Let $a,b\in A_+$ so $a,b\geq0$ and so $a\geq 0 \implies a+b\geq b \implies a+b\geq 0$. Also $t\in\mathbb R$ with $t\geq 0$ implies that $tA_+ \subseteq A_+$. It follows that $A_+$ is convex, and so also $-A_+$ is convex.

We are proving (i)$\implies$(ii) so by assumption $F$ is a hereditary convex closed set. Set $F_0 = \{ tf : 0\leq t<1, f\in F \}$. As $F$ is hereditary, if $F$ is non-empty there is $f\in F$ so $0\leq0\leq f\implies 0\in F$. Thus $F_0\subseteq F$, and notice that given any $f\in F_0$ there is $0<t_0<1$ and $f_0\in F_0$ with $f = t_0f_0$. $F_0$ is convex.

By definition, $F-A_+ = \{ f-a : f\in F, a\in A_+\}$. As $F_0$ and $A_+$ are convex, \begin{align*} \con(F_0\cup(-A_+)) &= \{ tf + s(-a) : f\in F_0,a\in A_+, s,t\geq0, s+t=1\} \\ &= \{ tf - a : f\in F_0, a\in A_+, 0\leq t<1 \} \cup F_0, \end{align*} as $A_+$ is invariant under scaling by a positive number. We union with $F_0$ to correspond to the case $t=1$, but as $0\in A_+$, we can write $F_0\ni f = f + 0$. Given $f-a\in F_0-A_+$, pick $t_0,f_0$ with $f = t_0 f_0$ so $f-a = t_0f_0 + (1-t_0)(-(1-t_0)^{-1}a)$. Hence $$ \con(F_0\cup(-A_+)) = F_0 - A_+. $$

For any subsets $X,Y$ we have $(X\cup Y)^\circ = X^\circ \cap Y^\circ$, just from the definition. So $$ (F_0 - A_+)^\circ = (F_0\cup(-A_+))^\circ = F_0^\circ \cap (-A_+)^\circ. $$ We first show that $(-A_+)^\circ = A_+^*$. If $\omega\in (-A_+)^\circ$ then $\omega(-ta) \leq 1$ for all $t\geq0,a\in A_+$ so $\omega(a)\geq -1/t$ for all $t>0$ so $\omega(a)\geq 0$. Conversely, if $\omega(A_+)\subseteq[0,\infty)$ then $\omega(-a)\leq 0\leq 1$ for all $a\in A_+$. Now consider \begin{align*} F_0^\circ &= \{ \omega : t\omega(f)\leq 1 \ (0\leq t<1, f\in F) \} \\ &= \{ \omega : \omega(f)\leq 1 \ (f\in F) \} = F^\circ. \end{align*} So $(F_0 - A_+)^\circ = F^\circ \cap A_+^* = F^\wedge$.


We now continue; we finally get to use condition (i)! Hahn-Banach shows that $X^{\circ\circ}$ is the closed convex hull of $X$, for any $X$ which contains $0$. So $$ (F_0 - A_+)^{\bar{}} = (F_0 - A_+)^{\circ\circ} = (F^\wedge)^\circ. $$ As $F_0 \subseteq F$ and is dense, we have $(F - A_+)^{\bar{}} \subseteq (F_0 - A_+)^{\bar{}} \subseteq (F - A_+)^{\bar{}}$ and so we have equality. Thus $(F - A_+)^{\bar{}} = (F^\wedge)^\circ$. Now use that (i) holds, so $F = (F-A_+)^{\bar{}} \cap A_+$ so $F = (F^\wedge)^\circ \cap A_+ = F^{\wedge\wedge}$, that is, (ii).

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    $\begingroup$ You are right. I hope I have now fixed these problems. This technique of using $(0,1)F$ instead of $F$ occurs elsewhere, when you want to get rid of "boundary" problems. $\endgroup$ Commented May 14, 2022 at 11:02
  • $\begingroup$ I think the calculation of the convex hull can be left out. Indeed, the inclusion $\operatorname{conv}(F_0\cup(-A_+))\subseteq F_0-A_+$ is obvious (the right hand side is convex and contains $F_0$ and $-A_+$), the other one is clear by the reasoning in your answer (which does not use these set equalities). $\endgroup$
    – Andromeda
    Commented May 17, 2022 at 13:46

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