All Questions
186 questions
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
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
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?
...
- 12.5k
12
votes
1
answer
901
views
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 ...
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Decomposition of positive definite matrices.
It is known that a $n^2 \times n^2$ positive semidefinite matrix $A$ cannot always be written as a finite sum
$$
A=\sum_{j} B_j \otimes C_j
$$
with $B_j$ and $C_j$ positive semidefinite matrices (of ...
11
votes
2
answers
545
views
Is $\mathcal{B}^{\mathbb{Z}}(l^\infty(\mathbb{Z}))$ a commutative algebra?
Consider $l^\infty(\mathbb{Z})$ the Banach space of bounded complex valued functions on the abelian group $\mathbb{Z}$ with the supremum norm. It has a natural action by $\mathbb{Z}$ given by $(zf)(g):...
- 1,550
11
votes
0
answers
388
views
Von Neumann Inequality in Banach spaces
It is known that the only Banach space that satisfies the von-Neumann inequality is the Hilbert space:
Theorem (see e.g. Pisier, "Similarity Problems and Completely Bounded Maps", p 27) For a Banach ...
- 5,529
10
votes
2
answers
926
views
Continuity of the product map
Let $A$ be a $C^*$-algebra.
Is it possible to characterize $A$ for which the product map defined by
$$\sum\limits_{i=1}^n a_i\otimes b_i \mapsto \sum\limits_{i=1}^n a_i b_i$$
is continuous with ...
- 4,705
10
votes
3
answers
859
views
Takesaki theorem 2.6
I originally posted this question on MSE and didn't get a satisfactory answer, even after putting a bounty on it. Hence, I thought I should ask here:
Consider the following theorem in Takesaki's book &...
- 175
9
votes
2
answers
298
views
Two inequalities in $C^*$ algebras
Under what conditions on a $C^*$ algebra $A$ we have the following inequality:
$$x^*a^*ax+a^*x^*xa\leq x^*x+a^*x^*ax+x^*a^*xa\;\;\; \forall x,a\in A$$
The second identity which I am looking for is ...
- 356
9
votes
1
answer
956
views
A problem in functional calculus
This is embarrassing, I think it must work, but I can't see how to prove it works. If anyone knows enough functional calculus of operators on a Hilbert space to tell me how to do it, I would be very ...
- 1,143
9
votes
1
answer
667
views
Reference for "Every compact quasinilpotent operator is the limit of nilpotent ones"
It was mentioned on Page 916 Problem 7 of Halmos's "Ten Problems in Hilbert space" that there is a proof for "Every compact quasinilpotent operator is the limit of nilpotent ones" ...
- 191
9
votes
0
answers
163
views
Moore-Penrose partial isometries and hermitian elements
Let $A$ be a unital Banach algebra. An element $a \in A$ is hermitian if $\|\mathrm{exp}(ita)\|=1$ for every $t \in \mathbb{R}$. An element $a \in A$ is Moore-Penrose invertible if there exists $b \in ...
- 3,497
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Conceptually, what does unitization do?
Let $(\mathcal A,||\cdot||)$ be a normed algebra (with or without a unit). The unitization of $\mathcal A$ is the space $\mathcal A_+:=\mathcal A\oplus \Bbb C$ where the multiplication operation $\...
- 1,245
8
votes
2
answers
758
views
If the diagonal of a positive operator is compact, is the operator itself compact?
Let $H$ be a separable Hilbert space with a fixed orthonormal basis $\{e_n\}_n$. For a bounded operator $T$ on $H$, the diagonal of $T$ is the unique operator $D_T$ on $H$ which is diagonal with ...
- 2,263
8
votes
3
answers
689
views
Commutant of the conjugations by unitary matrices
Let $\mathcal{L}(\mathbb{C}^{n \times n})$ denote the algebra of all linear mappings from $\mathbb{C}^{n \times n}$ to $\mathbb{C}^{n \times n}$ and let $\mathcal{C} \subseteq \mathcal{L}(\mathbb{C}^{...
- 12.5k
8
votes
1
answer
302
views
Does every integer map generate a von Neumann algebra of type I?
Consider a map $m: \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N}$ (we call it an integer map). Let $E_r$ be the set $m^{-1}(\{r\})$.
Let $H$ be the Hilbert space $\ell^2(\mathbb{N})$ and consider the densely defined ...
8
votes
0
answers
952
views
About generator and isomorphism problems for free groups operator algebras
Let $H$ be an infinite dimensional separable Hilbert space.
The $C^{*}$-algebras and von Neumann here unital and subalgebras of $B(H)$.
Definition : Let $\mathcal{A}$ be $C^{*}$-algebra (resp. a von ...
7
votes
1
answer
329
views
Is this a characterization of commutative $C^{*}$ algebras?
Assume that $A$ is a $C^{*}$ algebra with self adjoint elements $A_{sa}$. Assume that for all $a,b\in A$ we have $$ab\in A_{sa} \iff ba \in A_{sa}$$
Is $A$ necessarily a commutative ...
- 356
7
votes
2
answers
573
views
Existence of spectral gap
I would like to start by saying that any comment or idea is highly appreciated.
Let us observe that for Hilbert-Schmidt operators $H_1,H_2$ on an infinite-dimensional separable complex Hilbert space $...
- 95
7
votes
1
answer
339
views
Why is the definition of von Neumann trace independent of the choice of the Hilbert space?
A Hilbert module defined in "L^2-invariants: theory and applications to geometry and K-theory", Springer-Verlag, 2002, by W. Lück:
A Hilbert $\mathcal N(G)$-module $V$ is a Hilbert space $V$ ...
- 2,118
7
votes
1
answer
272
views
Simple $C^*$ algebras with invariant subspace property
Edit: According to the valuable comment of Yemon Choi I revise the question by replacing "faithful" with "irreducible".
We say that a $C^*$ algebra $A$ satisfies the invariant subspace ...
- 356
7
votes
0
answers
192
views
Reduced group C*-algebra $C^*_r(\mathbb{Z}/2*\mathbb{Z}/2)$: norm of specific elements
Consider the free product of $\mathbb{Z}/2$ with itself with generators
$$
\mathbb{Z}/2*\mathbb{Z}/2=\langle u,v\mid u^2=1=v^2\rangle
$$
and regard its group $C^*$-algebra
$$
C^*(\mathbb{Z}/2*\mathbb{...
- 598
7
votes
0
answers
237
views
Understanding the odd-dimensional index
Given a Dirac operator $D$ on a closed odd-dimensional manifold $M$, I've sometimes heard it said that the Fredholm index of $D$ vanishes because it is an ungraded self-adjoint operator, so that $\dim\...
- 1,903
7
votes
0
answers
85
views
Analogue of Friedrichs extension for Hilbert $C^*$-modules
Suppose one has a densely defined symmetric operator $T:\mathcal{M}\rightarrow\mathcal{M}$, where $\mathcal{M}$ is a Hilbert $A$-module for a $C^*$-algebra $A$. Suppose that $T$ is non-negative, so ...
- 1,903
6
votes
3
answers
992
views
Invertible operator with countable spectrum
Let $H$ be a separable Hilbert space and $A$ is an invertible bounded operator on $H$. Can we approximate $A$ with an invertible operator $B$ such that $sp(B)$ is a countable set?
Motivation:
...
- 356
6
votes
1
answer
353
views
Equivalence of $\sigma$-weak topology to another topology
Let $\mathcal H$ be a Hilbert space. Define a topology $\tau_1$ on $B(\mathcal H)$ by the family of seminorms $x\mapsto |Tr(xa)|,$ $a\in L^1(B(\mathcal H)).$ Here $B(\mathcal H)$ denotes the set of ...
- 1,879
6
votes
1
answer
200
views
Coarse index of Dirac operator on $\mathbb{R}$
Let $D=i\frac{d}{dx}$ be the Dirac operator on $\mathbb{R}$, acting on the spinor bundle $\mathbb{R}\times\mathbb{C}$. The bounded operator $F=\frac{D}{\sqrt{D^2+1}}$ has a coarse index
$$\text{Ind}(...
- 1,903
6
votes
1
answer
643
views
Is there an irreducible, noncompact commuting, nonnormal operator, with spectrum strictly continuous?
Let $H$ be an infinite dimensional separable Hilbert space.
Definition: The commutant $\mathcal{S}'$ of a subset $\mathcal{S} \subset B(H)$ is $ \{A \in B(H) : AB=BA \ , \ \forall B \in \mathcal{S} \}...
6
votes
1
answer
255
views
Example/Existence of Positive Linear Functional which is NOT Hermitian
We know that if $\mathcal{A}$ is a unital $C^*$-algebra and if $f:\mathcal{A}\to\mathbb{C}$ is a positive linear functional then it is Hermitian. It simply follows from the fact that in $\mathcal{A}$ ...
- 173
6
votes
1
answer
765
views
An equivalence relation on the space of polynomials in one complex variable
Let $P(z)$ be a polynomial with complex variable $z$. We consider the following distribution for the roots of $P(z)=0$: the distribution is a triple $(n_{1},n_{2},n_{3})$
where these integers are ...
- 356
6
votes
2
answers
269
views
Minimal injective extension is rigid
Let $V$ be an operator system.
Definition 1: A pair $(W, \kappa)$ is called extension of $V$ if $W$ is an operator system and $\kappa: V \to W$ is a unital complete isometry.
Definition 2: An ...
- 175
6
votes
1
answer
680
views
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 ...
6
votes
0
answers
253
views
Are bounded groups of thin operators on Hilbert space similar to groups of unitaries?
QUESTION. Let $G$ be a group of bounded operators on $\ell^2$, satisfying $\sup_{x\in G} \lVert x\rVert <\infty$, whose elements are all of the form "identity+compact" (sometimes called &...
- 25.8k
6
votes
0
answers
313
views
Question on operator topologies convergence
Let $H$ be a complex Hilbert space, and let $\mathcal{B}(H)$ denote the algebra of bounded operators on $H$. It is known that the strong operator topology and the norm topology on $\mathcal{B}(H)$ ...
- 355
6
votes
0
answers
181
views
Blocksum induces a unital H-space structure on the space of Fredholm operators
Fix a complex separable infinite-dimensional Hilbert space $H$. It is well known that the space of (bounded) Fredholm operators $Fred(H)$ with the norm topology is a classifying space for the ...
- 386
6
votes
0
answers
210
views
Generalized singular numbers and the Haagerup $L^p$ spaces
Let $M$ be a semi-finite von Neumann algebra with a trace $\tau$.Let $S(M)$ be the algebra of all affiliated operators measurable with respect to $M$.
The $L^p$ norm on $M$ is given by
\begin{...
- 361
5
votes
3
answers
631
views
What is the group of automorphisms of $l^{\infty}$?
What is the group of automorphisms of $l^{\infty}$?
I think it would be the permutations of the integers. Is this right?
- 367
5
votes
2
answers
409
views
Help in understanding result from publication on operator theory
in my research on dilations of contractions on Hilbert spaces and manifolds I have come across this nice publication concerning the classic Sz-Nagy theorem on the Arxiv by Levy and Shalit which states ...
- 620
5
votes
2
answers
332
views
Can the boundedness of $A^2$ imply the boundedness of $A$?
Given an operator $A \in \mathcal L(B)$, $B$ being a Banach space, I came across the following question: assume $\mathrm{dom}(A)=\mathrm{range}(A)$, $\mathrm{dom}(A)$ dense in $B$.
Under which ...
- 742
5
votes
1
answer
334
views
Iterated limits equal?
Consider the Banach algebra $B_2(H)$ of Hilbert Schmidt operators on a Hilbert space $H$ with Hilbert Schmidt norm. We know that $B_2(H)$ is a Hilbert space as well with $\left<A,B\right>=tr(B^*...
- 243
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
definition of operator valued integral with spectral measure
I am trying to make sense of some operators that come up on Buchholz and Summers' work on warped convolutions (two works on arxiv: 2008 and 2011).
There, they work on a Hilbert space $H$ and on the ...
- 342
5
votes
1
answer
183
views
Question about modular group (Modular theory in operator algebras, section 2.14)
Consider the following fragment from Stratila's book "Modular theory in operator algebras", section 2.14, p20:
I'm trying to understand the claim $(3)$ (see the red box). The main strategy ...
- 175
5
votes
1
answer
199
views
Is the unit ball of $B(H)$ a Baire space (with the SOT)?
Let $H$ be a Hilbert space, and let $B(H)$ be the set of bounded linear operators $t \colon H \to H$. Recall that we say $t_i \to t$ in the strong operator topology if $t_i \xi \to t \xi$ for every $\...
- 733
5
votes
1
answer
301
views
Unbounded Component of the Fredholm Domain
Let $X$ be a Banach space and $T \in \mathcal L(X)$.
The authors Engel and Nagel introduce in their book "One-Parameter Semigroups for Linear Evolution Equations" on p. 248 the concept of the ...
- 301
5
votes
1
answer
245
views
Convergence of functionals on compact projections on a separable Hilbert space
Let $H$ be a separable Hilbert space over $\mathbb{C}$, say $\ell_2$ for simplicity. Let $\mathcal{K}(H)$ denote the space of all compact operators on $H$ and $\mathcal{P}(H)$ the set of all finite ...
- 1,151
5
votes
1
answer
254
views
A nilpotency question on $C^{*}$ algebras
What is an example of a $C^{*}$ algebra $A$ with the property that: for every nilpotent(Quasi nilpotent) $a$ and for every $n\in \mathbb{N}$, there is a $b$ with $b^{n}=a$.
To what extent ...
- 356
5
votes
0
answers
154
views
When is an inner derivation a Fredholm operator?
Let $\mathcal{B}(H)$ denote the algebra of bounded operators on a Hilbert space $H$. I'm interested in inner derivations acting on the Schatten ideals $L^p\subseteq\mathcal{B}(H)$ (defined by ...
- 767
5
votes
0
answers
157
views
Containment of an element to an operator system
This question will probably appeal to people in operator systems theory as it is very much related. However, I'm interested in down-to-earth concrete systems with finite dimensional Hilbert space ...
- 315
4
votes
1
answer
476
views
Bicommutant theorem for commutative operator algebras
Let $\mathcal{B}(H)$ denote the space of bounded linear operators on a complex Hilbert space $H$. The von Neumann bicommutant theorem says:
Theorem. Suppose that $\mathcal{A}$ is a $C^*$-subalgebra ...
- 12.5k