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Given a countable group $G$ with the AP, and an normal, amenable subgroup $N$ of $G$, does $G/N$ have the AP?

In particular, does there exist a group $G$ with the AP and a surjective group homomorphism $\varphi\colon G\to\mathrm{SL}(3,\mathbb{Z})$ such that the kernel of $\varphi$ is amenable?

Background:

Let $G$ be a locally compact group. We use $A(G)$ to denote the Fourier algebra of $G$, and we let $M_0A(G)$ denote the space of completely bounded multipliers on $A(G)$, equipped with completely bounded norm. Then $M_0A(G)$ has a natural weak*-topology and we say that $G$ has the Approximation Property (or AP, for short), if there is a net in $A(G)$ that converges to the constant function $1$ in the weak*-toplogy of $M_0A(G)$. This is Definition 1.1 in the following paper by Haagerup and Kraus:

Trans. AMS: Approximation properties for group C*-algebras and group von Neumann algebras.

Motivation:

An open problem in abstract harmonic analysis asks whether given a locally compact group $G$ and $p\in[1,\infty)$, the algebra $PM_p(G)$ of $p$-pseudomeasures on $G$ coincides with the algebra $CV_p(G)$ of $p$-convolvers on $G$. The answer is "yes" for $p=2$, in which case $CV_2(G)=PM_2(G)$ is the group von Neumann algebra of $G$. A positive answer to this problem for $p\neq 2$ is known for groups with the AP, as shown in the following article of Daws and Spronk:

arXiv: The approximation property implies that convolvers are pseudo-measures.

(For definitions of $PM_p(G)$ and $CV_p(G)$ we refer to the above paper.)

Now, given a locally compact group $G$ and a closed, amenable subgroup $N$ of $G$, we have by the above result that $PM_p(G)=CV_p(G)$. In general, it is known that $PM_p(G)\subset CV_p(G)$. The goal would be to show that the quotient map $Q\colon G\to G/N$ induces a surjective map $CV_p(G)\to CV_p(G/N)$. One could then try to deduce that $PM_p(G/N)=CV_p(G/N)$, thus extending the result of Daws and Spronk to groups that are quotients of groups with the AP by amenable subgroups. However, this is only interesting if this class of groups is actually larger than the groups with AP.

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  • $\begingroup$ I suggest adding the oa.operator-algebras tag in case certain experts have that specific tag on their "watchlist" $\endgroup$
    – Yemon Choi
    Mar 5, 2015 at 11:34
  • $\begingroup$ @YCor I think Hannes means the AP of Haagerup and Kraus, which is distinct from the Haagerup property (since some symplectic groups have Property T but also have AP, if I recall correctly) $\endgroup$
    – Yemon Choi
    Mar 5, 2015 at 14:17
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    $\begingroup$ I mean the AP as in Definition 1.1 of Haagerup, Kraus (1994) # Approximation properties for group C-algebras and group von Neumann algebras [Trans. AMS 344] $\endgroup$
    – Hannes Thiel
    Mar 5, 2015 at 15:24
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    $\begingroup$ Here's a link to the paper, in case some ignorants such as me would like to understand the question ams.org/journals/tran/1994-344-02/S0002-9947-1994-1220905-3 $\endgroup$
    – YCor
    Mar 5, 2015 at 16:40
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    $\begingroup$ When $N$ is amenable, the quotient map $G \to G/N$ extends to a $*$-homomorphism $Q\colon \mathrm{C}^*_\mathrm{r}G \to \mathrm{C}^*_\mathrm{r}N$ on the reduced group $\mathrm{C}^*$-algebra. Since $G$ has AP, $\mathrm{C}^*_\mathrm{r}G$ is exact (locally reflexive) and so $Q$ locally semi-splits (ie splits by a ucp map). If it globally semi-splits, we are done. AFAIK, there is no known example of a surjective $*$-homomorphism between separable $\mathrm{C}^*$-algebras which locally semi-splits, but not globally. So, I'd conjecture that the answer is yes. $\endgroup$
    – Narutaka OZAWA
    Mar 12, 2015 at 1:04

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