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Let $B$ be a $C^{*}$-subalgebra of a $C^{*}$-algebra $A$ with a faithful conditional expectation $P: A\rightarrow B$. Kumjian suggests on page 15 that since $P$ is faithful we have

$\left\Vert a\right\Vert =\text{sup}\left\{ \left\Vert P\left(c^{*}a^{*}ac\right)\right\Vert ^{1/2}\mid c\in A\text{, }P\left(c^{*}c\right)\leq1\right\} $.

I assume the easiest way to see this is to check that the right side actually gives a $C^{*}$-norm on $A$ and then make use of it's uniqueness. The faithfulness obviously gives the definiteness. What I don't see is why the right expression satisfies the triangular equation and the $*$-condition. How can I check this?

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I think this can be answered with GNS representation theory. Note that all is needed is that $P$ is a faithful positive map between C*-algebras.

Let $S(B)$ be the state space of $B$. Consider the representation $$ \pi = \bigoplus\big\{ \pi_{\phi\circ P} \mid \phi\in S(B) \big\} $$ of $A$ on some (huge) Hilbert space, where each $\pi_{\phi\circ P}$ is the GNS representation associated to the state $\phi\circ P$ on $A$. As $P$ is faithful, it follows that so is $\pi$. Thus $\pi$ is isometric. Given $a\in A$ and $\delta>0$, we may therefore find some $\phi\in S(B)$ with $$ \|a\|^2 \leq \delta+\|\pi_{\phi\circ P}(a)\|^2 = \delta+\sup\big\{ \|\pi_{\phi\circ P}(a)\xi\|^2 \mid \xi\in H_{\phi\circ P},\ \|\xi\|\leq 1 \big\}. $$ But now each $\xi$ is approximated by an element of the form $\pi_{\phi\circ P}(c)\xi_{\phi\circ P}$, where $\xi_{\phi\circ P}$ is the cyclic vector, and this element having norm at most one means $(\phi\circ P)(c^*c)\leq 1$. Applying this to the above supremum yields $$ \begin{array}{ccl} \|a\|^2 &\leq& \delta+\sup\big\{ (\phi\circ P)(c^*a^*ac) \mid c\in A,\ (\phi\circ P)(c^*c)\leq 1 \big\} \\ &\leq& \delta+\sup\big\{ P(c^*a^*ac) \mid c\in A,\ P(c^*c)\leq 1 \big\}. \end{array} $$ As $\delta>0$ was an arbitrary parameter, this shows the $\leq$-part in your equation. The inequality in the other direction is trivial as $P$ is positive.

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    $\begingroup$ Another way to package all those GNS representations appearing in this very nice answer is using Hilbert $C^*$-modules. Let $X$ denote the (right) Hilbert $B$-module obtained by completing $A$ in the norm induced by the $B$-valued inner product $\langle a,b\rangle = P(a^*b)$. Then the norm in question is the operator norm on the $C^*$-algebra of adjointable operators on $X$ (evaluated on the operator of left-multiplication by $a$). $\endgroup$
    – user85913
    Commented Jul 16, 2017 at 10:04
  • $\begingroup$ This is indeed the more elegant way to see it if one knows Hilbert modules. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 16, 2017 at 12:12
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks guys, great answers! I'm not familiar with Hilbert-C*-modules yet. The GNS proof works for me. I appreciate your help! $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 16, 2017 at 19:05

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