Questions tagged [c-star-algebras]
A C*-algebra is a complex Banach algebra together with an isometric antilinear involution satisfying (a b)* = b* a* and the C*-identity ‖a* a‖ = ‖a‖². Related tags: [banach-algebras], [von-neumann-algebras], [operator-algebras], [spectral-theory].
101 questions
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What is the current status of the Kaplansky zero-divisor conjecture for group rings?
Let $K$ be a field and $G$ a group. The so called zero-divisor conjecture for group rings asserts that the group ring $K[G]$ is a domain if and only if $G$ is a torsion-free group.
A couple of good ...
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Which $\ast$-algebras are $C^\ast$-algebras?
It's well-known that the norm on a $C^\ast$-algebra is uniquely determined by the underlying $\ast$-algebra by the spectral radius formula. Therefore there should be a way to axiomatize $C^\ast$-...
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Universal $C^*$-algebra with generators and relations
We say that the $C^*$-algebra $A$ generated by $a_1,...,a_n$ is universal subject to relations $R_1,...,R_m$ if for every $C^*$-algebra $B$ with elements $b_1,...,b_n$ satisfying relations $R_1,...,...
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Does left-invertible imply invertible in full group C*-algebras (discrete case)?
The following question/problem has been bugging me on and off for some time now: so I thought it might be worth broaching here on MO, as a case of "ask the experts".
Let $G$ be a discrete group. ...
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What are known examples of positive but not completely positive maps?
The only example I know of a positive map which is not completely positive is the transpose map on $M_n(\mathbb{C})$. Of course, one can come up with minor perturbations of this (compose it with, or ...
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C*-algebras with bizzarre structure of projections
This is probably well-known to the experts but I could not find any answer neither in my head nor in the literature: Is there a (unital) C*-algebra such that its projections do not form a lattice (...
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Quasinilpotent elements of group C-star algebras
If $G$ is a discrete torsion-free group, can its (reduced or full) group C-star algebra contain non-zero quasinilpotent elements? I've seen various examples in the group von Neumann algebra setting (...
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Which W*-algebras are the duals of C*-coalgebras?
A Banach algebra (assumed associative and unital) is precisely a monoid object in the monoidal category of Banach spaces, short linear maps, and the projective tensor product. A Banach coalgebra is ...
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The monotone closure of a $C^*$-algebra
Related to Jon's question, I have two questions. Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a concrete $C^*$-algebra on a Hilbert space $\mathcal{H}$. For any selfadjoint subset $S$ of $\mathbb{B}(\mathcal{H})$, let $S^m$ ...
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Is there an operator algebraic reformulation of the invariant subspace problem?
Let $H$ be an infinite dimensional separable Hilbert space and $B(H)$ the algebra of bounded operators.
Invariant subspace problem: Let $T \in B(H)$. Is there a non-trivial closed $T$-invariant ...
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unitization-process of unital- and non-unital $C^*$-algebras
I have a small question about unitization of (unital) $C^*$-algebras. I first asked on math.stackexchange because it is basic theory, but I still have no suitable answer, the link https://math....
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commutative diagram with $K_{i+1}(A)\to K_i(A\rtimes_{\rho} \mathbb{R})$ (for $C^*$-algebras)
I have a question about a proof in Rosenberg and Schochet's paper "the Künneth theorem and the Universal Coefficient Theorem for Kasparov's generalized K-functor", proposition 2.6. First of all, the ...
user62639
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A question on an argument in Woronowicz’s paper on the compact quantum group $ {\text{SU}_{q}}(2) $
Let $ q \in [0,1) $. The compact quantum group $ {\text{SU}_{q}}(2) $ is defined to be the universal unital $ C^{*} $-algebra that is generated by two elements $ \alpha $ and $ \beta $ satisfying the ...
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Quantization of $S^2$ as $C^*$-algebra?
The general context for the question - is belief that quantization of compact symplectic manifolds can be endowed with the structure of $C^*$-algebra (see MO230695).
The particular question is about ...
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Peter-Weyl theorem (compact quantum groups)
I'm reading the paper Notes on compact quantum groups. In this paper, the following theorem is proven:
Question: Why is the marked equality true?
user167952
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Unital $C^{*}$ algebras whose all elements have path connected spectrum
A unital $C^{*}$ algebra is called a "Path connected algebra" if the spectrum of all its elements is a path connected subset of $\mathbb{C}$.
What is an example of a non commutative ...
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Can nuclearity be determined by tensoring with a single C*-algebra?
A C*-algebra is nuclear if the algebraic tensor product $A\odot B$ ($B$ is any other C*-algebra) admits a unique C*-norm. This definition requires testing the condition for nuclearity with `all' C*-...
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C$^*$-algebras isomorphic after tensoring with $M_n(\mathbb C)$
In 1977, Joan Plastiras gave a striking example of two non $*$-isomorphic C$^*$-algebras $\mathcal A$ and $\mathcal B$ such that $$\mathcal A \otimes M_2(\mathbb C) \simeq \mathcal B\otimes M_2(\...
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The Gelfand duality for pro-$C^*$-algebras
The Gelfand duality says that
$$X\to C(X)$$
is a contravariant equivalence between the category of compact Hausdorff spaces and continuous maps and the category of commutative unital $C^*$-algebras ...
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The letters of the word "ART"
Edit: According to the Gelfand duality between topological spaces and commutative $C^{*}$algebras, I add some new tags. So the question is that what is the structure of $ Ext (A,A)$ where $A$ is $...
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Von Neumann algebra associated to the infinite Cuntz algebra
The Cuntz algebra $\mathcal{O}_{\infty}$ is the universal $C^*$-algebra generated by countably infinitely many isometries $s_i$ satisfying the relations $s_i^*s_j = \delta_{ij}$ (there is no condition ...
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Is the group von Neumann algebra construction functorial?
Let $G$ be a group and $CG$ the complex group algebra over the field $C$ of complex number. The group von Neumann algebra $NG$ is the completion of $CG$ wrt weak operator norm in $B(l^2(G))$, the set ...
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Non-commutative duality I: Which C*-algebras are (isomorphic to a) convolution algebra?
Many interesting C*-algebras can be realized as convolution algebras over a groupoid, an idea introduced in 1980 by Jean Renault (this entry in nLab provides plenty of context to the general approach ...
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Range of completely positive projection
Let $A$ be a C*-algebra. Suppose that $P:A \rightarrow A$ is a contractive completely positive projection. Does the range $P(A)$ is completely order isomorphic to a $C^*$-algebra?
In the case where ...
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Inner and extendible automorphisms of C*-algebras
If an automorphism $\alpha$ of a C*-algebra $A$ is inner then whenever $A$ is a subalgebra of another C*-algebra $B$, $\alpha$ obviously extends to $B$.
Is the converse true: if an automorphism $\...
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Factor states on C*-algebras
Which C$^*$-algebras admit factor states for which the von Neumann algebra it generates in the corresponding GNS representation is a type III$_1$ factor? For example, do all purely infinite algebras ...
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Hopf algebras vs. Kac algebras
I recently came across Kac algebra. They are roughly Hopf algebras and $C^*$-algebras with compatible structures. It follows from Artin–Wedderburn theorem that every semisimple complex Hopf algebra ...
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Properties of orthogonality-preserving c.p. maps between $C^*$-algebras
Suppose that $A,C$ are $C^*$-algebras and $\phi:A \to C$ is a completely positive, orthogonality-preserving linear map.
(Orthogonality preserving means: if $a,b \in A$ satisfy $ab=0$ then $\phi(a)\phi(...
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Is there a proof that the $C^{*}$-algebras don't see the invariant subspace problem?
This post is an appendix of this one.
Let $H$ be an infinite dimensional separable Hilbert space and $B(H)$ the algebra of bounded operators.
Invariant subspace problem: Let $T \in B(H)$. Is ...
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Trace Class Functions on locally compact groups
Let $G$ be a locally compact subgroup, $\mu$ a Haar-measure.
For $f \in L^1(G)$, and for $\pi$ a unitary, topology irreducible, representation of $G$ on
an Hilbert space $H_\pi$, it is customary to ...
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Is there a non-Kac complex finite dimensional semisimple Hopf algebra?
A complex (finite-dimensional) Hopf algebra is said to be a
Kac algebra if it is a ${\rm C^{\star}}$-algebra in such a way that the comultiplication $\Delta$ is a $\star$-homomorphism. Obviously, a (...
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Topological amenability vs amenability of an action
Let $G$ be a discrete group and let $X$ be a compact, Hausdorff space.
Assume that $G$ acts on $X$ by homeomorphisms.
Consider the following two definitions:
[$C^*$-algebras and finite dimensional ...
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applications of C$^*$-algebras in the field of PDEs
I know only a little bit about C$^*$-algebras and I want a to know if you know a nice apllication or the influence of them in the field of partial differential equations (it is better that it is ...
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Almost idempotent approximate units in C*-algebras
As in Blackadar's "Operator Algebras" Definition II.4.1.1., call an approximate unit $(a_\lambda)$ in the positive unit ball of a C*-algebra almost idempotent if $a_\lambda a_\gamma=a_\lambda$ ...
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Do direct limits (filtered colimits) commute with pullbacks, in C*-algebras?
I asked this question already on math.stackexchange, but maybe it is also useful to ask this here, since it was not answered there.
Suppose we have three directed sequences of $C^*$-algebras, say $(...
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Is $\mathcal{B}(\mathcal{H})$ a groupoid $C^*$-algebra?
Let $\mathcal{H}$ be a complex Hilbert space, and $\mathcal{B}(\mathcal{H})$ be the $C^{\ast}$-algebra of bounded operators on $\mathcal{H}$. Is there an étale groupoid $\mathcal{G}$ such that its $C^{...
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When are certain group C*-algebras exact?
This is somewhere between a "reference request" and "ask an expert", but I hope it is not too trivial or off-topic.
Anyway. There has been a lot of attention given to showing that for certain ...
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Who first identified the universal $C^*$-algebra generated by an idempotent of norm at most $C$?
So much is known about hermitian and non-hermitian idempotents in a $C^*$-algebra, that someone must have written down the following.
Theorem The universal $C^*$-algebra generated by one element $x$...
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Why is the Berkovich spectrum of a C*-Algebra the same as the Gelfand spectrum?
Let $A = \mathcal{C}(X)$ be a commutative (unital) C*-Algebra. Let $Spec(A)$ denote its Gelfand spectrum
$$ Spec(A) = \{A \rightarrow \mathbb{C} : \text{non-zero *-homomorphism} \} \simeq X. $$
Now ...
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Commuting nets for commuting projections
I think this should not be too difficult, but I am not an expert. I did not get an answer on stackexchange.
Let $A$ be a $C$*-algebra and let $p,q\in A^{**}$ be two commuting projections. Then there ...
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Existence/characterization/properties of $C^*$-algebras which "are" quantization of compact symplectic manifolds?
Understanding of "quantization" achieved much progress recent years, especially after Kontsevich breakthrough on deformation quantization, where he proved one-to-one correspondence between Poisson ...
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Proving a certain $ C^{*} $-algebraic inequality
Let $ A $ be a non-unital $ C^{*} $-algebra. Is there an ‘elementary’ way to prove, for all $ (a,\lambda) \in A \times \mathbb{C} $, the inequality
$$
|\lambda| \leq \sup_{b \in A, ~ \| b \| \leq 1} \|...
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Order bounded version of monotone complete $C^*$-algebras
Let $A$ be a $C^*$-algebra with self-adjoint part $A_{\operatorname{sa}}$. Then $A$ is called monotone complete if every increasing norm bounded net in $A_{\operatorname{sa}}$ has a supremum (with ...
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maximal tensor product commutes with inductive limits
Let $(A_n, \phi_n)$ be an inductive system of $C^*$ algebras and let $B$ be an arbitary $C^*$ algebra.
I want to prove $(\varinjlim A_n)\otimes_{max} B \cong \varinjlim (A_n \otimes_{max} B)$. This ...
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Open projections and Murray-von Neumann equivalence
Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a $C^*$-algebra and $p\in\mathcal{A}^{**}$ be an open projection, that is, $p=p^*=p^2$ and $p\in\overline{(p\mathcal{A}^{**}p\cap\hat{\mathcal{A}})}^{\operatorname{w}^*}$, where $\...
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$*$-algebras, completions, and $K$-theory
What is an example of a $*$-algebra $\cal{A}$, which admits two non-equivalent norms $\| \cdot \|_1$ and $\| \cdot \|_2$, with respect to which we can complete $\cal{A}$ to give two $C^*$-algebras $...
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What is $\hat{A}=\{[\pi]:\pi$ is a irreducible representation of $A$} ( $A$ is a $C^*$-algebra)?
Let $A=\{f:[0,1]\to M_2(\mathbb{C}): $f continuous and $ f(0)=\begin{pmatrix} f_{11}(0) & 0 \\ 0 & f_{22}(0) \end{pmatrix}\}$ be a $C^*$-algebra with pointwise multiplication, involutions and ...
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A Question About Pure States, Support Projections and Central Covers
I am trying to study the paper Consistency of a Counterexample to Naimark’s Problem by Charles Akemann and Nik Weaver, and there is a claim in Lemma 1 of the paper that I am stuck at, which is as ...
user36116
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Pairwise orthogonality for partitions of unity in a *-algebra
Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a $*$-algebra with unit $1_{\mathcal{A}}$. As in the $\mathrm{C}^*$-setting, a projection is an element $p\in\mathcal{A}$ such that $p=p^2=p^*$. A partition of unity is a finite ...
- 1,037
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Characterizing fullness of a von Neumann algebra by the topology of its bimodules
Let $\mathcal{M}$ be a $\mathrm{II}_1$ factor. Among other characterizations, it is said to be full iff the adjoint map:
$$
\mathrm{Ad}: U(\mathcal{M})/\mathbb{T} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Aut}(\...
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