All Questions
778 questions
81
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Norms of commutators
If an $n$ by $n$ complex matrix $A$ has trace zero, then it is a commutator, which means that there are $n$ by $n$ matrices $B$ and $C$ so that $A= BC-CB$. What is the order of the best constant $\...
- 31.5k
37
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Moving one family of commuting self-adjoint operators to another without losing commutativity on the way
This is actually not a question of mine, so I'll be short on motivation and say nothing beyond that if this were true, a few fancy harmonic analysis techniques that a colleague of mine used in proving ...
- 61.9k
35
votes
2
answers
9k
views
tr(ab) = tr(ba)?
It is well known that given two Hilbert-Schmidt operators $a$ and $b$ on a Hilbert space $H$, their product is trace class and $tr(ab)=tr(ba)$. A similar result holds for $a$ bounded and $b$ trace ...
- 43.2k
34
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Can we recover a von Neumann algebra from its predual?
By definition, a von Neumann algebra is a C*‑algebra A
that admits a predual, i.e., a Banach space Z such that
Z* is isomorphic to the underlying Banach space of A.
(We require that isomorphisms in ...
- 37.8k
33
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Reference request for translating from Top to C*-alg
Some recent questions on MO (for example, Do subalgebras of C(X) admit a description in terms of the compact Hausdorff space X?) have been about Gelfand duality — namely, that the categories of ...
- 18.7k
33
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Subalgebras of von Neumann algebras
In the late 70s, Cuntz and Behncke had a paper
H. Behncke and J. Cuntz, Local Completeness of Operator Algebras, Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society, Vol. 62, No. 1 (Jan., 1977), pp. 95-...
- 25.5k
31
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Szőkefalvi-Nagy's unitarizability theorem in the Calkin algebra?
Here's a research problem, which I think interesting.
Suppose that $t$ is an invertible element in the Calkin algebra $\mathcal{Q} = \mathcal{B}(\ell_2)/\mathcal{K}(\ell_2)$ which satisfies $\sup_{n \...
- 10.1k
31
votes
0
answers
1k
views
When are two C*-algebras isomorphic as Banach spaces?
We may consider each $C^*$-algebra as a Banach space (by forgetting the multiplication and adjoint). I wonder how drastic this step is, i.e., which properties of the $C^*$-algebra are reflected by its ...
- 3,497
28
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Any real contribution of functional analysis to quantum theory as a branch of physics?
In the last paragraph of this last paper of Klaas Landsman, you can read:
Finally, let me note that this was a winner's (or "whig") history, full of hero-worship: following in the footsteps of ...
27
votes
0
answers
1k
views
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 ...
- 356
26
votes
3
answers
2k
views
About the category of von neumann algebras
I am looking for one (or more) reference about properties of the category of von Neumann algebra.
More precisely, in an answer of a previous question, Dmitri Pavlov mentions
that the $W^*$ category ...
- 357
25
votes
2
answers
1k
views
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*-...
- 505
23
votes
2
answers
3k
views
States in C*-algebras and their origin in physics?
in $C^*-$algebras with unit element, there is the definition of a state, as a functional $\omega$ with $\omega(e)=||\omega||=1.$
Now, of course there is also in classical physics and quantum ...
- 243
23
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Are almost commuting hermitian matrices close to commuting matrices (in the 2-norm)?
I consider on $M_n(\mathbb C)$ the normalized $2$-norm, i.e. the norm given by $\|A\|_2 = \sqrt{\mathrm{Tr}(A^* A)/n}$.
My question is whether a $k$-uple of hermitian matrices that are almost ...
- 9,486
22
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Rigorous justification for this formal solution to $f(x+1)+f(x)=g(x)$
Let $g\in C(\Bbb R)$ be given, we want to find a solution $f\in C(\Bbb R)$ of the equation
$$
f(x+1) + f(x) = g(x).
$$
We may rewrite the equation using the right-shift operator $(Tf)(x) = f(x+1)$...
- 1,245
22
votes
1
answer
745
views
The Mackey Topology on a Von Neumann Algebra
Every von Neumann algebra $\mathcal M$ is the dual of a unique Banach space $\mathcal M_* $. The Mackey topology on $\mathcal M$ is the topology of uniform convergence on weakly compact subsets of $\...
- 1,199
21
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Separating pure states on the $2\times 2$ matrix algebra
I have an idea for a possible counterexample to the noncommutative Stone-Weierstrass problem. A good answer to the following question would really help.
Let $\mathcal{A}$ be the C*-algebra of $2\...
- 42.8k
21
votes
1
answer
835
views
On complemented von Neumann algebras
Edit: according to Narutaka Ozawa, question 3) is still open in the type $\mathrm{II}_1$ case. In other terms, it is not known whether every topologically complemented type $\mathrm{II}_1$ factor in $...
- 660
21
votes
1
answer
1k
views
"Minimal" group C*-algebra?
Let $\Gamma$ be a discrete group (though this could be asked for general locally compact groups) and consider the Banach $*$-algebra $\ell^1(\Gamma)$. We have two natural $C^*$-algebra completions: ...
- 18.7k
21
votes
0
answers
869
views
Noncommutative arithmetic mean geometric mean inequality and symmetric polynomials
While analyzing convergence speed of stochastic-gradient methods for convex optimization problems, Recht et al (2011) posed a tantalizing conjecture. It seems quite tricky, so after having struggled a ...
- 28.6k
20
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Realizing universal $C^*$-algebras as concrete $C^*$-algebras
How do I in general realize a universal C*-algebra generated by some generators and relation as concrete C*-algebras? For example, I know that universal C*-algebra generated by a single unitary is $C(\...
- 493
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
P-adic C* algebras
I understand that there is a definition of p-adic Banach algebras and that a significant amount of functional analysis can be developed in the non-archimedean setting. Is there a p-adic version of C*-...
- 373
20
votes
2
answers
870
views
C$^*$-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 $$\mathcal A \otimes M_2(\mathbb C) \simeq \mathcal B\otimes M_2(\...
- 3,984
19
votes
1
answer
773
views
Are algebraically isomorphic $C^*$-algebras $*$-isomorphic?
If A and B are C^*-algebras that are algebraically isomorphic to each other, does
this imply that they are *-isomorphic to each other?
- 213
19
votes
3
answers
711
views
Almost isometric linear maps
Say that a linear map $\varphi : B(\mathcal H) \rightarrow B(\mathcal H)$ is $\epsilon$-almost isometric if
$$ 1 - \epsilon \leq \lVert\varphi(a)\rVert \leq 1+\epsilon, \quad \forall a\in B(\mathcal H)...
- 3,984
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Commuting unitaries
Is the following true:
For every unit vectors $x_1,..., x_n$, $y_1,..., y_n$ in $\mathbb{C}^k$
there exist a Hilbert space $H$, unitary operators $U_1,...,U_n$ and $V_1,...,V_n$ in $B(H)$ and unit ...
- 4,705
17
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Which sigma-ideals in a sigma-algebra are ideals of null sets?
My question is motivated, to be somewhat vague, by an attempt to see how much a measure space is defined by the set of null sets. In other words, assume we are not given a concrete measure on a space ...
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Realisation of the noncommutative torus as a universal $ C^{*} $-algebra
One of the most basic examples in noncommutative geometry is the so-called noncommutative torus, denoted here by $ \mathbb{T}_{\theta} $. As far as I know, there are several equivalent constructions ...
- 9,330
17
votes
3
answers
905
views
Existence of translation-invariant basis on $C_c(\mathbb R)$
Consider the space $C_c(\mathbb R)$ of complex-valued continuous functions of compact support. This is a vector space over $\mathbb C$, and I am not considering any topology, so the question is ...
- 2,071
17
votes
4
answers
4k
views
How much does the absolute value of an operator behave like an absolute value?
Recall that the absolute value of a bounded operator $T$ on a Hilbert space $H$ is the unique positive operator $|T|$ such that $$\||T|x\|=\|Tx\|$$ for all $x\in H$. It can be defined using the ...
- 3,115
17
votes
1
answer
807
views
Operator Valued Kadison--Singer Problem
The Paving Conjecture, which is equivalent to the famous Kadison--Singer Problem, was spectacularly settled in the affirmative by Marcus--Spielman--Srivastava (arxiv:1306.3969). Let $E$ denote the ...
- 10.1k
16
votes
1
answer
526
views
Equivariant Fredholm operators classify equivariant K-theory
Let $\mathcal{F}$ be the space of Fredholm operators on a separable Hilbert space $H$ with the topology induced by the operator norm.
If $X$ is compact,
Atiyah-Jänich proved that
$$[X,\mathcal{F}]\...
- 673
16
votes
0
answers
542
views
$C^*$-algebra generated by those operators that are bounded on every $\ell_p$
Suppose $T: c_{00} \to c_{00}$ is a linear map such that, when regarded as an infinite matrix, there is a uniform bound on the $\ell_1$-norms of its columns, and a uniform bound on the $\ell_1$-norms ...
- 25.8k
15
votes
4
answers
3k
views
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,...,...
- 9,330
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
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 ...
- 1,222
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is a C*-algebra with an isomorphic predual a von Neumann algebra?
It is well-known that a C*-algebra $A$ is a von Neumann algebra if and only if it has an isometric predual, that is, if and only if there exists a Banach space $X$ such that $A$ is isometrically ...
- 3,497
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Matrices with entries in a $C^*$-algebra
Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a $C^\ast$-algebra. Consider vector space of matrices of size $n\times n$ whose entries in $\mathcal{A}$. Denote this vector space $M_{n,n}(\mathcal{A})$. We can define involution ...
- 1,697
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Convolution algebras for double groupoids?
There is a lot of work of course on convolution algebras of measured groupoids, and this gives "Noncommutative geometry". However there is a lot of interest in algebraically structured groupoids, for ...
- 12.3k
14
votes
4
answers
550
views
About the existence of characters on $B(X)$
Let $X$ be a Banach space. Let $B(X)$ be the space of all bounded linear operators on $X$. Does $B(X)$ have an empty character space for any $X$?
I know the proof of the fact that $M_n(\mathbb{C})$ ...
- 355
14
votes
3
answers
3k
views
The difference between $l^1(G)$ and the reduced group $C^*$ algebra $C_r^*(G)$
Let $G$ be a group and $l^2(G)$ the Hilbert space on $G$. The complex group algebra $CG$ can be imbedded in $B(l^2(G))$, the set of all bounded linear operators, by left translation. The reduced group ...
- 1,373
14
votes
2
answers
723
views
Why do the projections in the Calkin algebra not form a lattice?
Let $H$ be an infinite dimensional separable complex Hilbert space. Denote by $\mathcal{B}(H)$ the C*-algebra of bounded operators on $H$, $\mathcal{K}(H)$ the ideal of compact operators on $H$, and $\...
- 3,115
14
votes
1
answer
694
views
Criterion for a Banach algebra to be finite dimensional
Let $A$ be a Banach algebra (say, complex and unital) and suppose that every (closed) commutative subalgebra of $A$ is finite dimensional.
Question. Does it follow that $A$ is finite dimensional?
...
- 12.6k
14
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Infinite tensor product of states
Tensor products of finite number of different objects are always well described in the literature. However, the situation of infinite tensor products seems to be much tougher.
Even in the simplest ...
- 143
14
votes
2
answers
926
views
"Explicit" embedding of $\ell^1$ as a closed subalgebra of a direct sum of matrix algebras
For sake of brevity let $A$ denote the Banach algebra formed by equipping $\ell^1({\mathbb N})$ with pointwise multiplication. This algebra is clearly not isomorphic as a Banach algebra to any uniform ...
- 25.8k
14
votes
2
answers
873
views
Which finite dimensional Banach spaces can be represented isometrically as spaces of bounded operators on a finite dimensional Hilbert space?
Background:
It is known that every Banach space $X$ can be embedded isometrically as a subspace in the space $C(K)$ of continuous functions on a compact Hausdorff space $K$. Indeed, one can take $K$ ...
- 550
14
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Schwartz kernel theorem for A-linear operators
Let $X,Y \subset \mathbb{R}^n$ be open subsets. Denote by $C^\infty(X)$ the smooth functions on $X$, let $\mathcal{E}'(Y)$ be its dual space considered as a space of distributions. Let $L(C^\infty(X), ...
- 7,637
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Calkin Algebra and the embedding
Let $H$ be a separable, infinite dimensional Hilbert Space and $Calk(H):=B(H)/K(H)$ denotes
the Calkin algebra. There is obvious surjection $\pi: B(H) \to Calk(H)$ but I'm interested
in somehow ...
- 9,330
13
votes
2
answers
897
views
Can non-central projections still commute with all other projections?
Let $A$ be a C*-algebra and let $\mathcal{P}(A)$ denote the set of projections in $A$. If $p\in\mathcal{P}(A)$ commutes with everything in $\mathcal{P}(A)$ does it necessarily commute with everything ...
- 1,307
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
A matrix norm inequality
Suppose that $A, B$ are Hermitian positive definite matrices of the same order and $0\le p\le 1$. Using a standard approach in matrix analysis, one can show that
$\|A^{1-p}B^p\|\ge \|A\sharp_p B\|$, ...
- 1,748
13
votes
1
answer
807
views
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 $\...
- 1,786