We define the notion of L^2 homology and L^2 Betti numbers for a tracial von Neumann algebra, or, more generally, for any involutive algebra with a trace. The definition of these invariants is obtained from the definition of L^2 homology for groups, using the ideas from the theory of correspondences. For the group algebra of a discrete group, our Betti numbers coincide with the L^2 Betti numbers of the group. We find a link between the first L^2 Betti number and free entropy dimension, which points to the non-vanishing of L^2 homology for the von Neumann algebra of a free group.
We study a relationship between the ultraproduct of a crossed product von Neumann algebra and the crossed product of an ultraproduct von Neumann algebra. As an application, the continuous core of an ultraproduct von Neumann algebra is described.
We introduce "embedding dimensions" of a family of generators of a finite von Neumann algebra when the von Neumann algebra can be faithfully embedded into the ultrapower of the hyperfinite II$_1$ factor. These embedding dimensions are von Neumann algebra invariants, i.e., do not depend on the choices of the generators. We also find values of these invariants for some specific von Neumann algebras.
In this paper, we study uniform perturbations of von Neumann subalgebras of a von Neumann algebra. Let N and M be von Neumann subalgebras of a von Neumann algebra with finite probabilistic index in the sense of Pimsner-Popa. If N and M are sufficiently close, then N and M are unitarily equivalent. The implementing unitary can be chosen as being close to the identity.
We prove that the relative commutant of a diffuse von Neumann subalgebra in a hyperbolic group von Neumann algebra is always injective. It follows that any non-injective subfactor in a hyperbolic group von Neumann algebra is non-Gamma and prime. The proof is based on C*-algebra theory.
The paper is devoted to the description of $2$-local derivations on von Neumann algebras. Earlier it was proved that every $2$-local derivation on a semi-finite von Neumann algebra is a derivation. In this paper, using the analogue of Gleason Theorem for signed measures, we extend this result to type $III$ von Neumann algebras. This implies that on arbitrary von Neumann algebra each $2$-local derivation is a derivation.
In this paper we describe the amalgamated free product of finite and semifinite hyperfinite von Neumann algebras over atomic type I subalgebras. To do this we extend the notions of free dimension and standard embeddings used in the related results for finite von Neumann algebras to ones which work better for the semifinite case. We also define classes R3 (of finite von Neumann algebras) and R4 (of semifinite von Neumann algebras) which are closed under such amalgamated free products.
Apart from presenting some new insights and results, one of our main purposes is to put some records in the development of von Neumann modules straight. The von Neumann or $W^*$-objects among the Hilbert ($C^*$-)modules are around since the first papers by Paschke (1973) and Rieffel (1974) that lift Kaplansky's setting (1953) to modules over noncommutative $C^*$-algebras. While the formal definition of $W^*$-modules} is due to Baillet, Denizeau, and Havet (1988), the one of von Neumann modules as strongly closed operator spaces started with Skeide (2000). It has been paired with the definition…
The Stone spectrum of a von Neumann algebra is a generalization of the Gelfand spectrum, as was shown by de Groote. In this article we clarify the structure of the Stone spectra of von Neumann algebras of type $I_{n}$.
In this paper, we prove a non-commutative version of the Weyl-von Neumann theorem for representations of unital, separable AH algebras into countably decomposable, semifinite, properly infinite, von Neumann factors, where an AH algebra means an approximately homogeneous ${\rm C}^{\ast}$-algebra. We also prove a result for approximate summands of representations of unital, separable AH algebras into finite von Neumann factors.
In the current paper, we generalize the "compact operator" part of the Voiculescu's non-commutative Weyl-von Neumann theorem on approximate equivalence of unital $*$-homomorphisms of an commutative C$^*$ algebra $\mathcal{A}$ into a semifinite von Neumann algebra. A result of D. Hadwin for approximate summands of representations into a finite von Neumann factor $\mathcal{R}$ is also extended.
In this paper we describe the amalgamated free product of two hyperfinite von Neumann algebras over a finite dimensional subalgebra. In general the free product is a finite direct sum of interpolated free group factors and a hyperfinite von Neumann algebra. We then show that the class of von Neumann algebras of this form is closed under taking amalgamated free products over finite dimensional subalgebras.
We consider cones in a Hilbert space associated to two von Neumann algebras and determine when one algebra is included in the other. If a cone is assocated to a von Neumann algebra, the Jordan structure is naturally recovered from it and we can characterize projections of the given von Neumann algebra with the structure in some special situations.
In this paper, we discuss some equivalent definitions of Property $Γ$ for a type II$_1$ von Neumann algebra. Using these equivalent definitions, we prove that the Pisier's similarity degree of a type II$_1$ von Neumann algebra with Property $Γ$ is equal to $3$.
We apply the ideas of Muhly, Skeide and Solel [MSS03] of considering von Neumann B-modules as intertwiner spaces for representations of B' to obtain a new, simple and self-contained proof for self-duality of von Neumann modules. This simplifies also the approach of [MSS03].
Using Speicher central limit Theorem we provide Hiai's q-Araki-Woods von Neumann algebras with nice asymptotic matricial models. Then, we use this model and an elaborated ultraproduct procedure, to show that all q-Araki-Woods von Neumann algebras are QWEP.
We show that two cocycle-conjugate endomorphisms of an arbitrary von Neumann algebra that satisfy certain stability conditions are conjugate endomorphisms, when restricted to some specific von Neumann subalgebras. As a consequence of this result, we obtain a new criterion for conjugacy of Powers shift endomorphisms acting on factors of type $\rm{I}\sb{\infty}.$
It is shown that if a bipartite behavior admits a field representation in which Alice (or Bob's) observable algebra generates a purely atomic von Neumann algebra then it is non-relativistic.
A theory of Galois co-objects for von Neumann bialgebras is introduced. This concept is closely related to the notion of comonoidal W*-Morita equivalence between von Neumann bialgebras, which is a Morita equivalence taking the comultiplication structure into account. We show that the property of `being a von Neumann algebraic quantum group' (i.e. `having invariant weights') is preserved under this equivalence relation. We also introduce the notion of a projective corepresentation for a von Neumann bialgebra, and show how it leads to a construction method for Galois co-objects and comonoidal W*…
We prove that every surjective isometry between the unit spheres of two von Neumann algebras admits a unique extension to a surjective real linear isometry between these two algebras.
We define $Γ_q(B,S \otimes H)$, the generalized $q$-gaussian von Neumann algebras associated to a sequence of symmetric independent copies $(π_j,B,A,D)$ and to a subset $1 \in S = S^* \subset A$ and, under certain assumptions, prove their strong solidity relative to $B$. We provide many examples of strongly solid generalized $q$-gaussian von Neumann algebras. We also obtain non-isomorphism and non-embedability results about some of these von Neumann algebras.
We attempt presenting a notion of the Haagerup approximation property for an arbitrary von Neumann algebra by using its standard form. We also prove the expected heredity results for this property.
We show that the second cohomology group $H^2(M\overline\otimes N, M\overline\otimes N)$ is always zero for arbitrary type II$_1$ von Neumann algebras $M$ and $N$.
Based on the notion of free orbit-dimension introduced by D. Hadwin and J. Shen [4], we introduce a new invariant on finite von Neumann algebras that do not necessarily act on separable Hilbert space. We show that this invariant is independent on the generating set, and we extend some results in [4] to von Neumann algebras that are not finitely generated.
We study certain $q$-deformed analogues of the maximal abelian subalgebras of the group von Neumann algebras of free groups. The radial subalgebra is defined for Hecke deformed von Neumann algebras of the Coxeter group $(\mathbb{Z}/{2\mathbb{Z}})^{\star k}$ and shown to be a maximal abelian subalgebra which is singular and with Pukánszky invariant $\{\infty\}$. Further all non-equal generator masas in the $q$-deformed Gaussian von Neumann algebras are shown to be mutually non-unitarily conjugate.
It is shown that the *-algebra of all (closed densely defined linear) operators affiliated with a finite type I von Neumann algebra admits a unique center-valued trace, which turns out to be, in a sense, normal. It is also demonstrated that for no other von Neumann algebras similar constructions can be performed.
The generating abelian subalgebras arsing from vectors in the ergodic component of Hiai's construction of the q-deformed Araki-Woods von Neumann algebras are quasi-split.
We show that any free product of finite-dimensional von Neumann algebras equipped with non-tracial states is isomorphic to a free Araki-Woods factor with its free quasi-free state possibly direct sum a finite-dimensional von Neumann algebra. This gives a complete answer to questions posed by Dykema and Shlyakhtenko, which had been partially answered by work of Houdayer and work of Ueda. We also extend this to suitable infinite-dimensional von Neumann algebras with almost periodic states.
Traces $Φ$ on von Neumann algebras with values in complex order complete vector lattices are considered. The full description of these traces is given for the case when $Φ$ is the Maharam trace. The version of Radon-Nikodym-type theorem for Maharam traces is established.
Let M be a von Neumann algebra of type II_1 which is also a complemented subspace of B(H). We establish an algebraic criterion, which ensures that M is an injective von Neumann algebra. As a corollary we show that if M is a complemented factor of type II_1 on a Hilbert space H, then M is injective if its fundamental group is non-trivial.
We consider the general linear group as an invariant of von Neumann factors. We prove that up to complement, a set consisting of all idempotents generating the same right ideal admits a characterisation in terms of properties of the general linear group of a von Neumann factor. We prove that for two Neumann factors, any bijection of their general linear groups induces a bijection of their idempotents with the following additional property: If two idempotents or their two complements generate the same right ideal, then so does their image. This generalises work on regular rings, such include vo…
Several techniques together with some partial answers are given to the questions of factoriality, type classification and fullness for amalgamated free product von Neumann algebras.
In this paper, Property $Γ$ for a type II$_{1}$ von Neumann algebra is introduced as a generalization of Murray and von Neumann's Property $Γ$ for a type II$_{1}$ factor. The main result of this paper is that if a type II$_{1}$ von Neumann algebra $\mathcal{M}$ with separable predual has Property $Γ$, then the continuous Hochschild cohomology group $H^{k}(\mathcal{M}, \mathcal{M})$ vanishes for every $k \geq 2$. This gives a generalization of an earlier result due to E. Christensen, F. Pop, A.M. Sinclair and R.R. Smith.
The decompositions of an element of a finite von Neumann algebra into the sum of a normal operator plus an s.o.t.-quasinilpotent operator, obtained using the Haagerup--Schultz hyperinvariant projections, behave well with respect to holomorphic functional calculus.
Given a von Neumann algebra $M$ we consider the central extension $E(M)$ of $M.$ We describe class of von Neumann algebras $M$ for which the algebra $E(M)$ coincides with the algebra $S(M)$ -- the algebra of all measurable operators with respect to $M,$ and with $S(M, τ)$ -- the algebra of all $τ$-measurable operators with respect to $M.$
We prove that if M is a von Neumann algebra whose abelian summand is discrete, then every local derivation on the algebra of all measurable operators affilated with M is a derivation. This answers a question of Richard Kadison.
We study some relations between self-similar group actions and operator algebras. We consider KMS states on the Cuntz--Pimsner algebras constructed by Nekrashevych from self-similar actions and the GNS representations of the KMS states. The KMS states are given by the Bernoulli measure. We also consider the von Neumann algebras on the GNS spaces and show that the von Neumann algebras are type III factors.
We introduce the relative Haagerup approximation property for a unital, expected inclusion of arbitrary von Neumann algebras and show that if the smaller algebra is finite then the notion only depends on the inclusion itself, and not on the choice of the conditional expectation. Several variations of the definition are shown to be equivalent in this case, and in particular the approximating maps can be chosen to be unital and preserving the reference state. The concept is then applied to amalgamated free products of von Neumann algebras and used to deduce that the standard Haagerup property fo…
We give a complete description of order isomorphisms between operator intervals in general von Neumann algebras. For the description, we use Jordan $^*$-isomorphisms and locally measurable operators. Our results generalize several works by L. Molnár and P. Šemrl on type I factors.
We will show a centrally free action of an amenable rigid C$^*$-tensor category on a properly infinite von Neumann algebra has the Rohlin property. This enables us to prove the fullness of the crossed product of a full factor by minimal action of a compact group. As another application of the Rohlin property, we will show the uniqueness of centrally free cocycle actions of an amenable rigid C$^*$-tensor category on properly infinite von Neumann algebras.
In this work we apply Noncommutative Potential Theory to prove (relative) amenability and the (relative) Haagerup Property $(H)$ of von Neumann algebras in terms of the spectral growth of Dirichlet forms. Examples deal with (inclusions of) countable discrete groups and free orthogonal compact quantum groups.
We investigate surjective isometries between projection lattices of two von Neumann algebras. We show that such a mapping is characterized by means of Jordan $^*$-isomorphisms. In particular, we prove that two von Neumann algebras without type I$_1$ direct summands are Jordan $^*$-isomorphic if and only if their projection lattices are isometric. Our theorem extends the recent result for type I factors by G.P. Gehér and P. Šemrl, which is a generalization of Wigner's theorem.
Suppose F is a finite set of selfadjoint elements in a tracial von Neumann algebra M. For $α>0$, F is $α$-bounded if the free packing $α$-entropy of F is bounded from above. We say that M is strongly 1-bounded if M has a 1-bounded finite set of selfadjoint generators F such that there exists an x in F with finite free entropy. It is shown that if M is strongly 1-bounded, then any finite set of selfadjoint generators G for M is 1-bounded and the microstates free entropy dimension of G is less than or equal to 1; consequently, a strongly 1-bounded von Neumann algebra is not isomorphic to an inte…
The theory of exact C*-algebras was introduced by Kirchberg and has been influential in recent development of C*-algebras. A fundamental result on exact C*-algebras is a local characterization of exactness. The notion of weakly exact von Neumann algebras was also introduced by Kirchberg. In this paper, we give a local characterization of weak exactness. As a corollary, we prove that a discrete group is exact if and only if its group von Neumann algebra is weakly exact. The proof naturally involves the operator space duality.
In this paper we introduce the concept of the upper free orbit-dimension of a finite von Neumann algebra, and we derive some of its basic properties. Using this concept, we are able to improve most of the applications of free entropy to finite von Neumann algebras, including those with Cartan subalgebras or simple masas, nonprime factors, those with property $T,$ those with property $Γ$, and thin factors. We provide more examples of II$_{1} $ von Neumann algebras whose Voiculesu's free entropy dimension is at most $1 $. Our approach gives a strikingly easy way to get to the main results on fre…
In this note, we will point out, as a corollary of Popa's rigidity theory, that the crossed product von Neumann algebras for Bernoulli shifts cannot have relative property T. This is an operator algebra analogue of the theorem shown by Neuhauser and Cherix-Martin-Valette for discrete groups. Our proof is different from that for groups.
We show that the generalized $q$-gaussian von Neumann algebras with coefficients $Γ_q(B,S \otimes H)$ with $B$ a finite dimensional factor, dim$(D_k(S))$ sub-exponential and the dimension of $H$ finite and larger than a constant depending on $q$, have no non-trivial central sequences.
We obtain new Bass-Serre type rigidity results for ${\rm II_1}$ equivalence relations and their von Neumann algebras, coming from free ergodic actions of free products of groups on the standard probability space. As an application, we show that any non-amenable factor arising as an amalgamated free product of von Neumann algebras $\mathcal{M}_1 \ast_B \mathcal{M}_2$ over an abelian von Neumann algebra $B$, is prime, i.e. cannot be written as a tensor product of diffuse factors. This gives, both in the type ${\rm II_1}$ and in the type ${\rm III}$ case, new examples of prime factors.
We prove that if a non-selfadjoint dual operator algebra admitting a normal virtual diagonal and an injective von Neumann algebra are close enough for the Kadison-Kastler's metric, then they are similar. The bound explicitly depends on the norm of the normal virtual diagonal. This is inspired from E. Christensen's work on perturbation of operator algebras.
The category of von Neumann correspondences from B to C (or von Neumann B-C-modules) is dual to the category of von Neumann correspondences from C' to B' via a functor that generalizes naturally the functor that sends a von Neumann algebra to its commutant and back. We show that under this duality, called commutant, Rieffel's Eilenberg-Watts theorem (on functors between the categories of representations of two von Neumann algebras) switches into Blecher's Eilenberg-Watts theorem (on functors between the categories of von Neumann modules over two von Neumann algebras) and back.
We explore a duality between von-Neumann's mean ergodic theorem in von-Neumann algebra and Birkhoff's mean ergodic theorem in the pre-dual Banach space of von-Neumann algebras. Besides improving known mean ergodic theorems on von-Neumann algebras, we prove Birkhoff's mean ergodic theorem for any locally compact second countable amenable group action on the pre-dual Banach space.
