Questions tagged [von-neumann-algebras]
Subtag of the [oa.operator-algebras] tag for questions about von Neumann algebras, that is, weak operator topology closed, unital, *-subalgebras of bounded operators on a Hilbert space.
82 questions
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Reference for the Gelfand duality theorem for commutative von Neumann algebras
The Gelfand duality theorem for commutative von Neumann algebras states that the following three categories are equivalent:
(1) The opposite category of the category of commutative von Neumann ...
17
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1
answer
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The cyclic subfactors theory: a quantum arithmetic?
Context: First recall some results:
Actions of finite groups on the hyperfinite type $II_{1}$ factor $R$ (Jones 1980).
A Galois correspondence for depth 2 irreducible subfactors (Izumi-Longo-Popa ...
7
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3
answers
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Jordan-Hölder theorem for subfactors?
All the subfactors $(N\subset M)$ are irreducible and finite index inclusions of II$_1$ factors.
First recall that in this paper, D. Bisch characterizes the Jones projections $e_K$ of the ...
6
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2
answers
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Type III factor representation
Does there exist any theorem which permits, under suitable hypotheses, to represent a particular complete orthomodular lattice as the projection lattice of a Type III von Neumann factor?
21
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Which complete Boolean algebras arise as the algebras of projections of commutative von Neumann algebras?
Projections in an arbitrary commutative von Neumann algebra form a complete Boolean algebra.
Moreover, a morphism of commutative von Neumann algebras induces
a continuous morphism of the corresponding ...
8
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answer
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A non-hyperfinite type III factor from an action of the free group on the circle
We define below a von Neumann algebra $\mathcal{M}$ from an action of the free group on the circle, and we prove that $\mathcal{M}$ is a non-hyperfinite type ${\rm III}$ factor.
Question : Is $\...
5
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Are the integer index finite depth irreducible subfactors Kac-coideal?
Is every integer index finite depth irreducible subfactors planar algebra, the intermediate of an irreducible finite index depth $2$ subfactors planar algebra?
In other words, of the following form (...
4
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1
answer
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Abelian subfactors, a relevant concept?
Through the questions below, this post asks whether the concept of abelian subfactor is relevant.
Remark : here abelian qualifies an inclusion of II$_1$ factors $(N \subset M)$, $N$ is not an abelian ...
1
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Intersection of finitely many type-I von-Neumann algebra factors
If $\mathcal M,\mathcal N$ are type-I von-Neumann algebra factors (over the same Hilbert space $\mathcal H$), is $\mathcal M\cap\mathcal N$ a type-I von-Neumann algebra factor?
Notes:
An elementary ...
26
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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 ...
23
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4
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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 ...
22
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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 $H$ ...
17
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reference request : constructive measure theory
As the title said, I would like to know if constructive measure theory has been developed somewhere ?
I am more precisely interested in the (constructive) theory of completely continuous valuation on ...
14
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4
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What is the right definition of "real von Neumann algebra"?
Recall that a real C*-algebra is a Banach $\ast$-algebra $A$ over $\mathbb{R}$ which satisfies the standard C* identity and which also has the property that $1 + a^{\ast}a$ is invertible in the ...
10
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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 ...
9
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What are the intermediate subfactors of the tensor product of two maximal subfactors?
Let $(N_1 \subset M_1)$ and $(N_2 \subset M_2)$ be two maximal subfactors.
Their tensor product, the subfactor $(N_1 \otimes N_2 \subset M_1 \otimes M_2)$, admits four obvious intermediate ...
8
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Which complete orthomodular lattices arise from von Neumann algebras?
Let $A$ be a von Neumann algebra. Then a classic observation is that the set of projections $\Pi(A)$ is naturally a complete orthomodular lattice.
Question 1: Is the construction $A \mapsto \Pi(A)$ a ...
8
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Are there only finitely many maximal irreducible amenable subfactors at fixed finite index?
A subfactor $N \subset M $ is maximal if it admits no non-trivial intermediate subfactors $N \subset P \subset M $.
Question: Are there only finitely many maximal irreducible amenable subfactors at ...
8
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2
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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 $S^m$ ...
7
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Abstract characterization of group von Neumann algebra (II1 factor)
The group von Neumann algebra $L\Gamma$ is a factor if and only if the group $\Gamma$ is ICC (i.e. infinite conjugacy class property). Moreover if $\Gamma$ is nontrivial then $L\Gamma$ is a $\mathrm{...
6
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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 ...
5
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Examples of non-proper conditional expectations onto von Neumann subalgebras of $II_{1}$ factors
Denote by $M$ be a type $II_{1}$ factor with trace $\tau$, and $1\in N\subseteq M$ a von Neumann subalgebra. What are some examples of such inclusions for which the normal conditional expectation $\...
4
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0
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Is there a maximal finite depth infinite index irreducible subfactor?
A subfactor $N \subset M $ is irreducible if $N' \cap M = \mathbb{C} $.
It's maximal if it admits no non-trivial intermediate subfactors $N \subset P \subset M $.
It's cyclic if its lattice of ...
4
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2
answers
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Collection of projection operators in finite dimension and algebraic techinques
Consider a set of linearly independent vectors $\{x_1,\dots,x_n\}$ in some finite-dimensional Hilbert space $H$. For any subset $S \subset [n]$, let $P_S$ be the (orthogonal) projection (operator) ...
4
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0
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An embedding theorem for a fusion ring planar algebra?
We first recall the embedding theorem for finite depth subfactor planar algebras:
The planar algebra generated by a (finite depth) subfactor, is embeddable into the planar algebra generated by its ...
3
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0
answers
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What are the first non-maximal non-group-subgroup simple irreducible subfactors?
Definition: For an irreducible (finite index) subfactor $(\mathcal{N} \subset \mathcal{M})$, an intermediate $(\mathcal{N} \subset \mathcal{P} \subset \mathcal{M})$
is normal if the biprojections $e_{\...
2
votes
1
answer
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${\rm II}_1$-factors with finite commutant: $\mathcal{A} \cap \mathcal{B} = \mathbb{C} \Rightarrow \mathcal{A}' \cap \mathcal{B}'$ hyperfinite?
Let $\mathcal{A} , \mathcal{B} \subset B(H)$ be ${\rm II}_1$-factors such that $\mathcal{A}', \mathcal{B}' $ are also a ${\rm II}_1$-factors.
Question: $\mathcal{A} \cap \mathcal{B} = \mathbb{...
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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 ...
21
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Is Dependent Choice all we really need?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiom_of_dependent_choice
Is DC sufficient for the understanding of objects that are countable in some suitable sense?
For example, is DC sufficient for the full ...
18
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Monoidal structures on von Neumann algebras
My question is based on the following vague belief, shared by many people: It should be possible to use von Neumann algebras in order to define the cohomology theory TMF (topological modular forms) in ...
18
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0
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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 $...
16
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5
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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 ...
16
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3
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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 ...
16
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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 ...
15
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2
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Categorifying the Reals via von Neumann Algebras?
So one way to categorify the natural numbers is to replace them with vector spaces. Then the dimension of the vector space reproduces the natural number. More generally you can categorify integers to ...
13
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Separable von Neumann algebra
What is the simplest argument which shows that each infinite dimensional von Neumann algebra is not separable (in the norm topology)? It seems that this is a kind of folklore: at least I never saw the ...
13
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1
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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 ...
12
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1
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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 ...
12
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1
answer
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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 ...
12
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2
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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 ...
11
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4
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What kind of completion is this?
Let $X$ be a compact Hausdorff space, and $C(X)$ the unital commutative C*-algebra of continuous functions on it. The double Banach dual $C(X)^{**}$ is a commutative von Neumann algebra and hence has ...
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1
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Can we characterize the spatial tensor product of von Neumann algebras categorically?
The tensor product of commutative algebras is exactly their coproduct
in the category of commutative algebras.
In other words, if A and B are two commutative algebras,
then the covariant functor that ...
8
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0
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Is there a finite-index finite-depth II$_1$ subfactor which is more than $7$-super-transitive?
Background: See Noah and Emily's posts on subfactors and planar algebras on the Secret Blogging Seminar.
There are plenty of examples of $3$-super-transitive (3-ST) subfactors; Haagerup, $S_4 < ...
8
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1
answer
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Is $L(\mathbb{Z}*\mathbb{Z}_{2})$ a free group factor?
This is a reference request for something that is likely to be well-known to operator algebraists. I will not, therefore, include the technical definition of free product of finite von Neumann ...
8
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0
answers
269
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Shift on trivalent directed tree, operator and von Neumann algebra
Let $\mathcal{T}$ be the trivalent directed tree, with two parents and one child for each vertex (see below). Let $\mathcal{V}$ be the set of vertices of $\mathcal{T}$ and $H$ be the Hilbert space $\...
7
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1
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To what extent can a von Neumann algebra be determined by its projection lattice structure?
Let $ M, N $ be von Neumann algebras, $ P $ (resp. $Q$) the projection lattice of $M$ (resp. $N$). Any isomorphism $ \varphi : M \to N $ on the level of involutive algebras induces an isomorphism $ \...
7
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1
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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 $\...
7
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topologies on U(H)
There are many topologies on the algebra $B(H)$ of bounded operators on Hilbert space:
the weak, strong, ultraweak (also called σ-weak), ultrastrong (also called σ-strong), and some more......
7
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1
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Subfactor theory and Hilbert von Neumann Algebras
There seem to be intimate connections between the different definitions of von Neumann module. The two that I'm aware of are Hilbert von Neumann modules and correspondences (in the sense of Connes). I ...
7
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1
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Is the fundamental group of $II_{1}$ factors invariant under a relation?
In order to define the equivalence relation, let's first recall the Tomita-Takesaki modular theory and conditional expectation for von Neumann algebras.
Let $H$ be a separable Hilbert space and $B(H)$...