Say that a separable, unital C*-algebra D is strongly self-absorbing if there exists an isomorphism $ϕ: D \to D \otimes D$ such that $ϕ$ and $id_D \otimes 1_D$ are approximately unitarily equivalent $*$-homomorphisms. We study this class of algebras, which includes the Cuntz algebras $\mathcal{O}_2$, $\mathcal{O}_{\infty}$, the UHF algebras of infinite type, the Jiang--Su algebra Z and tensor products of $\Oh_{\infty}$ with UHF algebras of infinite type. Given a strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra D we characterise when a separable C*-algebra absorbs D tensorially (i.e., is D-stable), and prove closure properties for the class of separable D-stable C*-algebras. Finally, we compute the possible K-groups and prove a number of classification results which suggest that the examples listed above are the only strongly self-absorbing C*-algebras.
It is shown that a strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra is of real rank zero and absorbs the Jiang-Su algebra if it contains a nontrivial projection. We also consider cases where the UCT is automatic for strongly self-absorbing C*-algebras, and K-theoretical ways of characterizing when Kirchberg algebras are strongly self-absorbing.
Let $P \subset A$ be a inclusion of unital C*-algebras and $E\colon A \to P$ be a conditional expectation of index finite type. We introduce a Rokhlin property for $E$ and discuss about $\mathcal{D}$-absorbing proeprty, where $\mathcal{D}$ is a separable, unital, strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra. In this paper we consider permanent properties for strongly self-absorbing property under inclusions of unital C*-algebras with a finite Watatani index.
We give a shorter proof of the fact that the Jiang-Su algebra is strongly self-absorbing. This is achieved by introducing and studying so-called unitarily suspended endomorphisms of generalized dimension drop algebras. Along the way we prove uniqueness and existence results for maps between dimension drop algebras and UHF-algebras.
We prove the title. This characterizes the Jiang-Su algebra Z as the uniquely determined initial object in the category of strongly self-absorbing C*-algebras.
Let $\Dh$ and $A$ be unital and separable $C^{*}$-algebras; let $\Dh$ be strongly self-absorbing. It is known that any two unital $^*$-homomorphisms from $\Dh$ to $A \otimes \Dh$ are approximately unitarily equivalent. We show that, if $\Dh$ is also $K_{1}$-injective, they are even asymptotically unitarily equivalent. This in particular implies that any unital endomorphism of $\Dh$ is asymptotically inner. Moreover, the space of automorphisms of $\Dh$ is compactly-contractible (in the point-norm topology) in the sense that for any compact Hausdorff space $X$, the set of homotopy classes $[X,\A…
We show that the Fraïssé limit of a category of unital separable $C^*$-algebras which is sufficiently closed under tensor products of its objects and morphisms is strongly self-absorbing, given that it has approximate inner half-flip. We use this connection between Fraïssé limits and strongly self-absorbing $C^*$-algebras to give a self-contained and rather elementary proof for the well known fact that the Jiang-Su algebra is strongly self-absorbing.
We introduce and study strongly self-absorbing actions of locally compact groups on C*-algebras. This is an equivariant generalization of a strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra to the setting of C*-dynamical systems. The main result is the following equivariant McDuff-type absorption theorem: A cocycle action $(α,u): G\curvearrowright A$ on a separable C*-algebra is cocycle conjugate to its tensorial stabilization with a strongly self-absorbing action $γ: G\curvearrowright\mathcal{D}$, if and only if there exists an equivariant and unital $*$-homomorphism from $\mathcal{D}$ into the central sequ…
Suppose $A$ is a separable unital $C(X)$-algebra each fibre of which is isomorphic to the same strongly self-absorbing and $K_{1}$-injective $C^{*}$-algebra $D$. We show that $A$ and $C(X) \otimes D$ are isomorphic as $C(X)$-algebras provided the compact Hausdorff space $X$ is finite-dimensional. This statement is known not to extend to the infinite-dimensional case.
This is a continuation of the study of strongly self-absorbing actions of locally compact groups on C*-algebras. Given a strongly self-absorbing action $γ: G\curvearrowright\mathcal{D}$, we establish permanence properties for the class of separable C*-dynamical systems absorbing $γ$ tensorially up to cocycle conjugacy. Generalizing results of both Toms-Winter and Dadarlat-Winter, it is proved that the desirable equivariant analogues of the classical permanence properties hold in this context. For the permanence with regard to equivariant extensions, we need to require a mild extra condition on…
This note provides some technical support to the proof of a result of W. Winter which shows that two unital separable simple amenable ${\cal Z}$-absorbing C*-algebras with locally finite decomposition property satisfying the UCT whose projections separate the traces are isomorphic if their $K$-theory is finitely generated and their Elliott invariants are the same.
In this paper we define a Rokhlin property for automorphisms of non-unital C*-algebras and for endomorphisms. We show that the crossed product of a C*-algebra by a Rokhlin automorphism preserves absorption of a strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra, and use this result to deduce that the same result holds for crossed products by endomorphisms in the sense of Stacey. This generalizes earlier results of the second named author and W. Winter.
We study actions of countable discrete amenable groups on unital separable simple nuclear Z-absorbing C*-algebras. Under a certain assumption on tracial states, which is automatically satisfied in the case of a unique tracial state, the crossed product is shown to absorb the Jiang-Su algebra Z tensorially.
We define a notion of tracial $\mathcal{Z}$-absorption for simple not necessarily unital C*-algebras, study it systematically, and prove its permanence properties. This extends the notion defined by Hirshberg and Orovitz for unital C*-algebras. The Razak-Jacelon algebra, simple C*-algebras with tracial rank zero, and simple purely infinite C*-algebras are tracially $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing. We obtain the first purely infinite examples of tracially $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing C*-algebras which are not $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing. We use techniques from reduced free products of von~Neumann algebras to co…
Let G be a finite group acting on {1,...,n}. For any C*-algebra A, this defines an action of αof G on A^{\otimes n}. We show that if A tensorially absorbs a UHF algebra of infinite type, the Jiang-Su algebra, or is approximately divisible, then A \times_α G has the corresponding property as well.
The relative commutant $A'\cap A^{\mathcal{U}}$ of a strongly self-absorbing algebra $A$ is indistinguishable from its ultrapower $A^{\mathcal{U}}$. This applies both to the case when $A$ is the hyperfinite II$_1$ factor and to the case when it is a strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra. In the latter case we prove analogous results for $\ell_\infty(A)/c_0(A)$ and reduced powers corresponding to other filters on $\bf N$. Examples of algebras with approximately inner flip and approximately inner half-flip are provided, showing the optimality of our results. We also prove that strongly self-absorbi…
In order to realize all possible KMS-bundles on the Jiang-Su algebra, we introduce a class of C*-algebras which we call rationally approximately finite dimensional (RAF). Using these, we show that for a given proper simplex bundle $(S, π)$ with a singleton $π^{-1}(\{0\})$ and a unital separable monotracial C*-algebra $A$ absorbing the Jiang-Su algebra tensorially (for instance, the irrational rotation algebra), there exists a flow on $A$ whose KMS-bundle is isomorphic to $(S, π)$.
In this paper, we accomplish two objectives. Firstly, we extend and improve some results in the theory of (semi-)strongly self-absorbing C*-dynamical systems, which was introduced and studied in previous work. In particular, this concerns the theory when restricted to the case where all the semi-strongly self-absorbing actions are assumed to be unitarily regular, which is a mild technical condition. The central result in the first part is a strengthened version of the equivariant McDuff-type theorem, where equivariant tensorial absorption can be achieved with respect to so-called very strong c…
We give an operator algebraic model for the first group of the unit spectrum $gl_1(KU)$ of complex topological K-theory, i.e. $[X, BGL_1(KU)]$, by bundles of stabilized infinite Cuntz C*-algebras $O_{\infty} \otimes \K$. We develop similar models for the localizations of $KU$ at a prime $p$ and away from $p$. Our work is based on the $\mathcal{I}$-monoid model for the units of $K$-theory by Sagave and Schlichtkrull and it was motivated by the goal of finding connections between the infinite loop space structure of the classifying space of the automorphism group of stabilized strongly self-abso…
We show that there is a simple separable unital (non-nuclear) tracially AF algebra $A$ which does not absorb the Jiang-Su algebra $\mathcal Z$ tensorially, i.e., $A \ncong A\otimes\mathcal Z$.
Let A be a unital separable C*-algebra, and D a K_1-injective strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra. We show that if A is D-absorbing, then the crossed product of A by a compact second countable group or by Z or by R is D-absorbing as well, assuming the action satisfying a Rokhlin property. In the case of a compact Rokhlin action we prove a similar statement about approximate divisibility.
Suppose that $A,B$ are nuclear, separable ${\rm C}^*$-algebras of stable rank one and real rank zero, $A$ is unital simple, $B$ is stable and $({\rm K}_0(B),{\rm K}_0^+(B))$ is weakly unperforated in the sense of Elliott \cite{Ell}. We show that any unital extension with trivial index maps of $A$ by $B$ is absorbing.
We study permanence properties of the classes of stable and so-called D-stable C*-algebras, respectively. More precisely, we show that a C_0(X)-algebra A is stable if all its fibres are, provided that the underlying compact metrizable space X has finite covering dimension or that the Cuntz semigroup of A is almost unperforated (a condition which is automatically satisfied for C*-algebras absorbing the Jiang--Su algebra Z tensorially). Furthermore, we prove that if D is a K_1-injective strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra, then A absorbs D tensorially if and only if all its fibres do, again provi…
It is determined exactly which classifiable C*-algebras have approximately inner flip. The answer includes a number of C*-algebras with torsion in their K-theory, and a number of C*-algebras that are self-absorbing but not strongly self-absorbing.
We study a tracial notion of Z-absorption for simple, unital C*-algebras. We show that if A is a C*-algebra for which this property holds then A has almost unperforated Cuntz semigroup, and if in addition A is nuclear and separable we show this property is equivalent to having A being Z-absorbing. We furthermore show that this property is preserved under forming certain crossed products by actions satisfying a tracial Rokhlin type property.
In this paper we consider a bootstrap class $\mathfrak C$ of countable discrete groups, which is closed under countable unions and extensions by the integers, and we study actions of such groups on C*-algebras. This class includes all torsion-free abelian groups, poly-$\mathbb Z$-groups, as well as other examples. Using the interplay between relative Rokhlin dimension and semi-strongly self-absorbing actions established in prior work, we obtain the following two main results for any group $Γ\in\mathfrak C$ and any strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra $\mathcal D$: (1) There is a unique strongly …
Continuing our project on noncommutative (stable) homotopy we construct symmetric monoidal $\infty$-categorical models for separable $C^*$-algebras $\mathtt{SC^*_\infty}$ and noncommutative spectra $\mathtt{NSp}$ using the framework of Higher Algebra due to Lurie. We study smashing (co)localizations of $\mathtt{SC^*_\infty}$ and $\mathtt{NSp}$ with respect to strongly self-absorbing $C^*$-algebras. We analyse the homotopy categories of the localizations of $\mathtt{SC^*_\infty}$ and give universal characterizations thereof. We construct a stable $\infty$-categorical model for bivariant connect…
Let A be a unital separable simple C*-algebra with a unique tracial state. We prove that if A is nuclear and quasidiagonal, then A tensored with the universal UHF-algebra has decomposition rank at most one. Then it is proved that A is nuclear, quasidiagonal and has strict comparison if and only if A has finite decomposition rank. For such A, we also give a direct proof that A tensored with a UHF-algebra has tracial rank zero. Applying this characterization, we obtain a counter-example to the Powers-Sakai conjecture.
Consider an inclusion of diffuse von Neumann algebras A c M . We say that A c M has the absorbing amenability property if for any diffuse subalgebra B c A and any amenable intermediate algebra B c D c M we have that D is contained in A. We prove that the cup subalgebra associated to any subfactor planar algebra has the absorbing amenability property.
We have previously shown that the isomorphism classes of orientable locally trivial fields of $C^*$-algebras over a compact metrizable space $X$ with fiber $D\otimes \mathbb{K}$, where $D$ is a strongly self-absorbing $C^*$-algebra, form an abelian group under the operation of tensor product. Moreover this group is isomorphic to the first group $\bar{E}^1_D(X)$ of the (reduced) generalized cohomology theory associated to the unit spectrum of topological K-theory with coefficients in $D$. Here we show that all the torsion elements of the group $\bar{E}^1_D(X)$ arise from locally trivial fields …
We obtain three results: 1) Every compact simplex bundle with exactly one point in the fiber over 0 is the KMS bundle of a periodic flow on the Jiang-Su algebra. 2) Let A be a separable unital C*-algebra with a unique trace state. Suppose that A tensorially absorbs the Jiang-Su algebra. The (weak) cocycle-conjugacy classes of flows that are not approximately inner are uncountable. 3) Let B be a separable, simple, unital, purely infinite and nuclear C*-algebra in the UCT class. Assume that the K1 group of B is torsion free. Every proper simplex bundle with empty fiber over 0 is the KMS bundle o…
We show that the Dixmier-Douady theory of continuous field $C^*$-algebras with compact operators $\mathbb{K}$ as fibers extends significantly to a more general theory of fields with fibers $A\otimes \mathbb{K}$ where $A$ is a strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra. The classification of the corresponding locally trivial fields involves a generalized cohomology theory which is computable via the Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence. An important feature of the general theory is the appearance of characteristic classes in higher dimensions. We also give a necessary and sufficient $K$-theoretical cond…
In this paper, we introduce a class of non-unital tracial approximation ${\rm C^*}$-algebras. Consider the class of ${\rm C^*}$-algebras which are tracially $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing (in the sense of Amint, Golestani, Jamali, Phillips's simple tracially $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing or Castillejos, Li, Szabvo's tracial $\mathcal{Z}$-stability). Then $A$ is tracially $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing for any simple ${\rm C^*}$-algebra $A$ in the corresponding class of non-unital tracial approximation ${\rm C^*}$-algebras.
We show that if $A$ is a simple (not necessarily unital) tracially $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing C*-algebra and $α\colon G \to \mathrm{Aut} (A)$ is an action of a finite group $G$ on $A$ with the weak tracial Rokhlin property, then the crossed product $C^*(G, A,α)$ and the fixed point algebra $A^α$ are simple and tracially $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing, and they are $\mathcal{Z}$-stable if, in addition, $A$ is separable and nuclear. The same conclusion holds for all intermediate C*-algebras of the inclusions $A^α\subseteq A$ and $A \subseteq C^*(G, A,α)$. We prove that if $A$ is a simple tracially $\mathc…
We study circle actions with the Rokhlin property, in relation to their restrictions to finite subgroups. We construct examples showing the following: the restriction of a circle action with the Rokhlin property (even on a real rank zero $C^*$-algebra), need not have the Rokhlin property; and even if every restriction of a given circle action has the Rokhlin property, the circle action itself need not have it. As a positive result, we show that the restriction of a circle action with the Rokhlin property to the subgroup $\mathbb{Z}_n$ has the Rokhlin property if the underlying algebra absorbs …
We initiate the study of absorbing representations of $C^\ast$-algebras with respect to closed operator convex cones. We completely determine when such absorbing representations exist, which leads to the question of characterising when a representation is absorbing, as in the classical Weyl-von Neumann type theorem of Voiculescu. In the classical case, this was proven by Elliott and Kucerovsky who proved that a representation is nuclearly absorbing if and only if it induces a purely large extension. By considering a related problem for extensions of $C^\ast$-algebras, which we call the purely …
In this paper, we introduce some classes of generalized tracial approximation ${\rm C^*}$-algebras. Consider the class of unital ${\rm C^*}$-algebras which are tracially $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing (or have tracial nuclear dimension at most $n$, or have the property $\rm SP$, or are $m$-almost divisible). Then $A$ is tracially $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing (respectively, has tracial nuclear dimension at most $n$, has the property $\rm SP$, is weakly ($n, m$)-almost divisible) for any simple unital ${\rm C^*}$-algebra $A$ in the corresponding class of generalized tracial approximation ${\rm C^*}$-algebra…
In this paper, we introduce a class of generalized tracial approximation ${\rm C^*}$-algebras. Let $\mathcal{P}$ be a class of unital ${\rm C^*}$-algebras which have tracially $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing (tracial nuclear dimension at most $n$, $\rm SP$ property, $m$-almost divisible, weakly $(m, n)$-divisible). Then $A$ has tracially $\mathcal{Z}$-absorbing (tracial nuclear dimension at most $n$, $\rm SP$ property, weakly $m$-almost divisible, secondly weakly $(m, n)$-divisible) for any simple unital ${\rm C^*}$-algebra $A$ in the class of this generalized tracial approximation ${\rm C^*}$-algebra…
In this paper, we establish a connection between Rokhlin dimension and the absorption of certain model actions on strongly self-absorbing C*-algebras. Namely, as to be made precise in the paper, let $G$ be a well-behaved locally compact group. If $\mathcal D$ is a strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra, and $α: G\curvearrowright A$ is an action on a separable, $\mathcal D$-absorbing C*-algebra that has finite Rokhlin dimension with commuting towers, then $α$ tensorially absorbs every semi-strongly self-absorbing $G$-actions on $\mathcal D$. This contains several existing results of similar nature …
Suppose that A is a C*-algebra for which A is isomorphic to A tensor Z, where Z is the Jiang-Su algebra: a unital, simple, stably finite, separable, nuclear, infinite dimensional C*-algebra with the same Elliott invariant as the complex numbers. We show that: (i) The Cuntz semigroup W(A) of equivalence classes of positive elements in matrix algebras over A is weakly unperforated. (ii) If A is exact, then A is purely infinite if and only if A is traceless. (iii) If A is separable and nuclear, then A is isomorphic to A tensor O_infty if and only if A is traceless. (iv) If A is simple and unital,…
Elliott and Kucerovsky stated that a non-unital extension of separable $C^\ast$-algebras with a stable ideal, is nuclearly absorbing if and only if the extension is purely large. However, their proof was flawed. We give a counter example to their theorem as stated, but establish an equivalent formulation of nuclear absorption under a very mild additional assumption to being purely large. In particular, if the quotient algebra is non-unital, then we show that the original theorem applies. We also examine how this effects results in classification theory.
We prove that the infinite tensor power of a unital separable C*-algebra absorbs the Jiang-Su algebra Z tensorially if and only if it contains, unitally, a subhomogeneous algebra without characters. This yields a succinct universal property for Z in a category so large that there are no unital separable C*-algebras without characters known to lie outside it. This category moreover contains the vast majority of our stock-in-trade separable amenable C*-algebras, and is closed under passage to separable superalgebras and quotients, and hence to unital tensor products, unital direct limits, and cr…
We show that if A is a separable, nuclear, O_infty-absorbing (or strongly purely infinite) C*-algebra, which is homotopic to zero in an ideal-system preserving way, then A is the inductive limit of C*-algebras of the form M_k(C_0(G,v)), where G is a finite graph (and C_0(G,v) is the algebra of continuous functions on G that vanish at a distinguished point v in G). We show further that any separable, nuclear, stable, O_2-absorbing C*-algebra is isomorphic to a crossed product of a C*-algebra D with the integers by an action alpha, where D is an inductive limit of C*-algebras of the form M_k(C_0…
We formally introduce the concept of localizing the Elliott conjecture at a given strongly self-absorbing C*-algebra $D$; we also explain how the known classification theorems for nuclear C*-algebras fit into this concept. As a new result in this direction, we employ recent results of Lin to show that (under a mild K-theoretic condition) the class of separable, unital, simple C*-algebras with locally finite decomposition rank and UCT, and for which projections separate traces, satisfies the Elliott conjecture localized at the Jiang-Su algebra Z. Our main result is formulated in a more general …
This paper serves as a source of examples of Rokhlin actions or locally representable actions of finite groups on C*-algebras satisfying a certain UHF-absorption condition. We show that given any finite group $G$ and a separable, unital C*-algebra $A$ that absorbs $M_{|G|^\infty}$ tensorially, one can lift any group homomorphism $G\to\operatorname{Aut}(A)/{\approx_u}$ to an honest Rokhlin action $γ$ of $G$ on $A$. Unitality may be dropped in favour of stable rank one or being stable. If $A$ belongs to a certain class of C*-algebras that is classifiable by a suitable invariant (e.g. $K$-theory)…
We initiate the study of compact group actions on C*-algebras from the perspective of model theory, and present several applications to C*-dynamics. Firstly, we prove that the continuous part of the central sequence algebra of a strongly self-absorbing action is indistinguishable from the continuous part of the sequence algebra, and in fact equivariantly isomorphic under the Continuum Hypothesis. As another application, we present a unified approach to several dimensional inequalities in C*-algebras, which is done through the notion of order zero dimension for an (equivariant) *-homomorphism. …
