All Questions
Tagged with operator-algebras or oa.operator-algebras
716 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
33
votes
0
answers
1k
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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-...
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31
votes
0
answers
1k
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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
0
answers
2k
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Finite-dimensional subalgebras of $C^\star$-algebras
Let $A$ be a unital $C^\star$-algebra and let $a_1,\dots,a_n$ be a finite list of normal elements in $A$ which (together with their adjoints) generate a norm-dense $\star$-subalgebra $B \subset A$. ...
- 25.5k
27
votes
0
answers
1k
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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 ...
- 356
21
votes
0
answers
868
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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
0
answers
827
views
Can we define spectral triples using the language of rigged Hilbert spaces?
The traditional mathematical approach to quantum mechanics,
as developed by von Neumann, is based on Hilbert spaces and unbounded self-adjoint operators.
Another approach, which more closely resembles ...
- 37.8k
19
votes
0
answers
472
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On C*-rigidity problem for torsion-free groups
I'd like to address the $\mathrm{C}^\ast$-rigidity problem for
torsion-free groups (see
this paper),
which asks for non-isomorphic torsion-free groups with isomorphic
(reduced) group $\mathrm{C}^\ast$-...
- 10.1k
18
votes
0
answers
579
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What is the geometric intuition behind Wilf-Zeilberger theory?
This problem is somehow inspired by a bunch of impressive posts of combinatorial identities by T. Amdeberhan. Earlier this month I learnt from computer scientists that they have a generic algorithmic ...
- 8,071
18
votes
0
answers
756
views
An "exercise" on von Neumann algebra tensor product
The following problem appears to be an easy exercise on von Neumann algebra tensor products, but since I've been failing to find a rigorous proof, I'd like to make sure it's not that trivial. Suppose $...
- 10.1k
18
votes
0
answers
881
views
What is operator tmf?
One of the many wonderful things about K-theory, relative to other generalized cohomology theories, is that it can be defined for not-necessarily-commutative C*-algebras. The resulting construction, ...
- 118k
18
votes
0
answers
557
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Do quotients of amenable groups C*-algebras satisfy the UCT?
Let G be a discrete amenable group.
General Question: Let $J$ be an ideal of $C^*(G)$, the group C*-algebra of $G.$ Does $C^*(G)/J$ satisfy the universal
coefficient theorem (UCT)?
I am mainly ...
- 2,689
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
0
answers
283
views
Stable isomorphism of group C$^*$-algebras
For a discrete group $G$, let $C^*_r(G)$ be its reduced group C$^*$-algebra.
Question: Do there exist discrete, torsion-free non-isomorphic groups $G,H$ such that $C^*_r(G)$ and $C^*_r(H)$ are stably ...
- 2,689
15
votes
0
answers
790
views
Must we close weakly to apply the spectral theorem?
Let $H$ be an infinite dimensional separable complex Hilbert space. All C*-subalgebras of $B(H)$ are assumed to be non-degenerate.
The spectral projections of a self-adjoint element $T$ of $B(H)$ lie ...
- 7,329
14
votes
0
answers
220
views
Unitary group of a von Neumann algebra: is it a retract of $U(H)$?
Let $M\subset B(H)$ be a properly infinite von Neumann algebra (the case I care about is $M=$ hyperfinite $\mathrm{III}_1$).
Consider the unitary groups $U(M)$ and $U(H)$ in their strong operator ...
- 43.2k
14
votes
0
answers
647
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Countably decomposable von Neumann algebras
A von Neumann algebra is countably decomposable if every family of mutually orthogonal nonzero projections is countable. Even a singly-generated von Neumann algebra need not be countably decomposable; ...
- 42.8k
14
votes
0
answers
2k
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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
0
answers
331
views
Lie theory for quantum groups?
$\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}$I know about quantum groups from two perspectives:
Compact quantum groups in the sense of Woronowicz.
Deformation of the universal enveloping algebra of a Lie algebra in ...
- 357
13
votes
0
answers
573
views
Classical (i.e. commutative) spaces with quantum symmetry but no classical symmetry
In a recent preprint (arXiv:2311.04889), my coauthors and I constructed a sequence of graphs with no classical symmetry which nevertheless have quantum symmetry.
For graphs this had been an open ...
- 2,339
13
votes
0
answers
174
views
Existence of more than two C*-norms on algebraic tensor product of C*-algebras
Let $A$ and $B$ be two C*-algebras. Then $(A,B)$ is called is a nuclear pair if there is a unique $C^*$-norm on the algebraic tensor product $A\odot B$.
If $A$ or $B$ is nuclear, then all pairs $(A,B)$...
- 536
13
votes
0
answers
474
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Does anybody know if the Fourier algebra of SL(3,Z) has an approximate identity?
(Note to those who like to tidy LaTeX, or ${\rm \LaTeX}$: I kindly request that you don't put any LaTeX in the title of this question, nor change the bolds below to blackboard bold.)$\newcommand{\FA}{{...
- 25.8k
13
votes
0
answers
564
views
Symmetric (extended) Haagerup tensor product
Given a von Neumann algebra M, then the weak$^*$ (or extended) Haagerup tensor product of M with itself is the collection of $\tau\in M\overline\otimes M$ with $$\tau=\sum_i x_i\otimes y_i$$ the sum ...
- 18.7k
12
votes
0
answers
814
views
Why do some tricks in homological algebra work over the category of C*-algebras?
The category of $C^*$-algebras is not abelian (a "proof" that it is pre-abelian can be found here, but it does not seem correct; I can't find any authoritative sources). However, it's ...
- 1,084
12
votes
0
answers
373
views
Does Thompson's group $V$ have property AP?
Property AP: A discrete group $\Gamma$ has property AP (Approximation Property) if there exists a net $(\phi_i)_{i \in I}$ of finitely supported functions on $\Gamma$ such that $\phi_i \to 1 $ weak$^*$...
12
votes
0
answers
386
views
Does every commutative $*$-algebra of operators on a prehilbert space have a character?
My question can be equivalently stated as follows:
Let $A$ be a complex commutative algebra with involution, and assume there exists a non-zero homomorphism $\pi:A\to L(V)$ to the algebra of linear ...
- 541
12
votes
0
answers
310
views
Subfactors of $L(F_{\infty})$
It is a well known result that any subfactor of the hyperfinite $II_{1}$ factor is hyperfinite. I wonder if there is any finite index version of this for free group factors. In particular is it true ...
- 629
11
votes
0
answers
375
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Why are projectionless $C^*$-algebras important (Kadison's conjecture)
It was considered an important result for a long time to show that the reduced $C^*$-algebra of the free group $C^*_r(F_2)$ has no nontrivial projections. I believe this is also known as Kadison's ...
- 211
11
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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
11
votes
0
answers
401
views
The term "absolute geometry"
My question concerns the so-called absolute geometry over the "field with one element" F_1 or over the spectrum $\mathrm{Spec}(F_1)$, cf. https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/Borger%27s+absolute+geometry. I ...
- 1,338
11
votes
0
answers
410
views
Sums of squares via semidefinite programming for the complex free group algebra
In the algebra of real noncommutative polynomials (the “free monoid algebra” over the real field) it is possible to reduce the question of whether an element is a sum of hermitian squares and ...
- 7,047
11
votes
0
answers
259
views
Status of the analog of the Haar measure on quantum groups
In (Masuda, Nakagami, Woronowicz)'s paper, in the introduction, the authors mentioned the deficiency common to both their and (Kusterman, Vaes)'s approach regarding the Haar state (or Haar measure ...
- 561
11
votes
0
answers
494
views
Groups with reduced C*-algebras of stable rank 1
Let $G$ be a countable discrete group, $C_r^*(G)$ its reduced $C^*$-algebra. We say that $G$ has stable rank 1 if $C_r^*(G)$ has stable rank one, that is, the set of invertible elements is dense in $...
- 2,648
10
votes
0
answers
397
views
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^{...
- 1,485
10
votes
0
answers
426
views
Twisted crossed product von Neumann Algebras
I asked a question over on Math.stackexchange a few days ago, but it didn't get much activity. Hopefully this question isn't considered too elementary by the standards of Mathoverflow. Here is what I ...
- 281
10
votes
0
answers
232
views
Examples of pure state spaces of C*-algebras
The pure state space of $C(X)$ for compact Hausdorff $X$ is just $X$. The pure state space of $M_n(\mathbb{C})$ is given by the $n$-dimensional row vectors $v$ (normalised and up to a multiple) by $\...
- 1,143
10
votes
0
answers
300
views
Subobject classifiers with a quantale structure
Quantales were kind of popular a few decades ago, as some sort of "quantum" version of the much more widespread concept of locale (Mulvey introduced them to study $C^*$ algebras). I was ...
- 7,853
10
votes
0
answers
120
views
Morita equivalence for graded von Neumann algebras
I am interested in understanding Morita equivalence of $Z_2$-graded von Neumann algebras. In the ungraded case, Rieffel showed that all Type I factors are Morita-equivalent, while for Type III factors ...
- 1,579
10
votes
0
answers
250
views
What are these matrices called?
A paper I'm writing heavily uses block diagonal matrices with the property that each block is upper triangular and constant along its diagonal. Like this:
$$\begin{bmatrix}
A_1 \\
& \ddots \\
&...
- 42.8k
10
votes
0
answers
201
views
Masas in SAW*-algebras
I asked this question three years ago at MSe but it has no response; let me try here.
Pedersen distilled the following class of C*-algebras which he termed SAW*-algebras (Journal of Operator Theory, ...
- 11.3k
10
votes
0
answers
325
views
Are ideals in separable C*-algebras complemented subspaces?
Let $A$ be a separable C*-algebra and $J\subseteq A$ a closed two-sided ideal. Does this make $J$ into a complemented subspace of $A$? In other words, does the quotient map $A\to A/J$ have a ...
- 6,406
10
votes
0
answers
300
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Mackey's Program on Algebraic Ergodic Theory
I knew about Mackey's Program from Arnold's book Random Dynamical Systems and it referred to K. Schmidt's book Algebraic Ideas in Ergodic Theory, which was published in 1990. However, that is the ...
- 241
10
votes
0
answers
255
views
Commutative spectral triples not coming from manifolds
There is a very deep and remarkable theorem by Connes (the so called reconstruction theorem) which states that from a commutative spectral triple obeying certain axioms one can reconstruct a smooth ...
- 9,330
10
votes
0
answers
508
views
Tensorial decomposition of $B(H)$
Let $H$ be an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space and let $\mathcal{B}(H)$ be the (C*/W*-)algebra of bounded operators on it. Actually, you may forget about the involution in $\mathcal{B}(H)$ because I ...
- 101
10
votes
0
answers
320
views
Can we find arbitrarily many elements of SU(2) generating a good copy of MAX($\ell_1^n$) inside VN(SU(2))?
In trying to prove that the answer to the title is "no", I was led to the following problem (which I think is equivalent to the question asked in the title, but can be stated independently). If ...
- 25.8k
10
votes
0
answers
509
views
Lacunary hyperbolic groups and weak amenability
In the paper called Lacunary Hyperbolic group, Y. Ol'shanskii, D. Osin and M. Sapir define and characterize the lacunary hyperbolic groups, which contains the hyperbolic groups but also Tarski's ...
- 195
10
votes
0
answers
991
views
Centralizers of group actions
Let a locally compact group $G$ act on a probability space $(X,\mu)$. Define the centralizer by $C(G)=\{\Delta\in Aut(X,\mu)\mid \Delta(gx)=g\Delta(x)\text{ almost everywhere}\}$. $Aut(X,\mu)$ denotes ...
- 871
10
votes
0
answers
325
views
H-space structure on the Calkin algebra
By the Atiyah-Jänich theorem the K-group $K^0(X)$ for a compact space $X$ may be represented as $[X, U(Q)]$, where $Q = B(H)/K(H)$ is the Calkin algebra and $H$ is a separable infinite dimensional ...
- 7,637
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
9
votes
0
answers
240
views
What is known about when $vN(G)$ is a factor, for a locally compact group $G$?
When $G$ is a discrete group, it is an elementary result in the theory of von Neumann algebras that the group von Neumann algebra $vN(G)$ is a factor if and only if $G$ is an ICC group.
What is known ...
- 146
9
votes
0
answers
122
views
Real Rank of $M_n(A)$
The real rank for C*-algebras was defined by Brown-Pedersen in [1] as a noncommutative analog of covering dimension. Given a unital C*-algebra $A$, its real rank $\mathrm{rr}(A)$ is the smallest ...
- 3,497