All Questions
15 questions
22
votes
4
answers
6k
views
What's a noncommutative set?
This issue is for logicians and operator algebraists (but also for anyone who is interested).
Let's start by short reminders on von Neumann algebra (for more details, see [J], [T], [W]):
Let $H$ ...
16
votes
3
answers
2k
views
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 ...
16
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Non-commutative geometry from von Neumann algebras?
The Gelfand transform gives an equivalence of categories from the category of unital, commutative $C^*$-algebras with unital $*$-homomorphisms to the category of compact Hausdorff spaces with ...
12
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Mysterious quotes (at least for me)
I heard two quotes, one from Alain Connes and an other one from Orlov.
Alain Connes was talking about noncommutative geometry and he said the following:
" a noncommutative algebra creates its own ...
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Making sense of "every non-commutative algebra has its own internal time evolution (aka a one-parameter group)"?
I've listened to many interviews and lectures of Alain Connes, in which he says something which goes roughly as follows
"Every non-commutative algebra has its own time (evolution of), by which I ...
9
votes
1
answer
509
views
Maximal localizations of von Neumann algebras
Suppose M is a von Neumann algebra.
Denote by L its maximal noncommutative localization,
i.e., the Ore localization with respect to the set of all left and right regular elements,
i.e., elements whose ...
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Definition of a von Neumann algebra
Is there a way to equip every C*-algebra A with a functorial topology such that
the canonical map A→A** is an isomorphism if and only if A is a von Neumann algebra?
Here A** denotes the dual of A* in ...
8
votes
0
answers
339
views
Canonical Time Evolution for Type $II_{1}$-Factors?
This question was spurred by the answer of Steve Huntsman to the MO question here. The Tomita-Takesaki modular automorphism group gives rise to a canonical time evolution on a type $III$ factor (...
6
votes
1
answer
166
views
Every element of a $W^*$-algebra is a linear combination of exponential unitaries?
I am trying to understand a proof in this paper (specifically theorem 5.4). In it, a fact is used that every element of the $W^*$-algebra $A$ is a linear combination of exponential unitaries.
I've ...
6
votes
1
answer
397
views
Real rank 0 implies stable rank 1 on $C^\ast$-algebras?
A $C^\ast$ algebra has defined stable rank (https://www.univie.ac.at/nuhag-php/bibtex/open_files/2079_Rieffel-StableRank.pdf) and real rank (https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/82123484.pdf), which are ...
6
votes
2
answers
901
views
Universal characterization and explicit description of elements of the group von Neumann algebra and the crossed product
Group von Neumann algebras and crossed products for a locally compact group G
can be constructed in many different ways.
For example, one can take the von Neumann algebra generated
by certain ...
5
votes
1
answer
333
views
One-parameter semigroups of bimodules
Suppose M is a von Neumann algebra.
Consider a monoidal category of bimodules over M.
Here a bimodule is a Hilbert space with two normal representations of M.
The monoidal structure is given by Connes'...
4
votes
1
answer
217
views
Noncommutative version of Littlewood's First Principle
There are definitely noncommutative analogues for Lusin's theorem and Egoroff's theorem (found in Blackadar for example). I'm curious if there is a version of the first principle:
Every Lebesgue
...
3
votes
0
answers
178
views
What's the purpose of the operator $(\Delta^{-1}+\lambda)^{-1}$ in Tomita-Takesaki modular theory?
I was reading Tomita-Takesaki modular theory (from all the books, and articles), the goal is to relate a von Neumann algebra $\mathcal{A}$ with its commutant $\mathcal{A}'$ on a Hilbert space $\...
2
votes
1
answer
272
views
A question on quantum tori
Let $\mathbb T_\theta^2$ be quantum tori generated by two unitary operators $u,v$. can $u,v$ be finite dimensional?