Classification of extensions of classifiable -algebras

For a certain class of extensions of C^*-algebras in which B and A belong to classifiable classes of C^*-algebras, we show that the functor which sends to its associated six term exact sequence in K-theory and the positive cones of K₀(B) and K₀(A) is a classification functor. We give two independent applications addressing the classification of a class of C^*-algebras arising from substitutional shift spaces on one hand and of graph algebras on the other. The former application leads to the answer of a question of Carlsen and the first named author concerning the completeness of stabilized Matsumoto algebras as an invariant of flow equivalence. The latter leads to the first classification result for nonsimple graph C^*-algebras.     

The smallness problem for -algebras

Akemann showed that any von Neumann algebra with a weak^* separable dual space has a faithful normal representation on a separable Hilbert space. He posed the question: If a C^*-algebra has a weak^* separable state space, must it have a faithful representation on a separable Hilbert space? Wright solved this question negatively and showed that a unital C^*-algebra has the weak^* separable state space if and only if it has a unital completely positive map, into a type I factor on a separable Hilbert space, whose restriction to the self-adjoint part induces an order isomorphism. He called such a C^*-algebra almost separably representable. We say that a unital C^*-algebra is small if it has a unital complete isometry into a type I factor on a separable Hilbert space. In this paper we show that a unital C^*-algebra is small if and only if the state spaces of all n by n matrix algebras over the C^*-algebra are weak^*-separable. It is natural to ask whether almost separably representable algebras are small or not. We settle this question positively for simple C^*-algebras but the general question remains open.     

TheK-theory of AF embeddings of the rational rotation algebras

Our main result is the construction of an embedding ofC(T²) into an approximately finite-dimensionalC ^*-algebra which induces an injection onK ₀(C(T²)). The existence of this embedding implies that Cech cohomology cannot be extended to a stable, continuous homology theory forC ^*-algebras which admits a well-behaved Chern character. Homotopy properties ofC ^*-algebras are also considered. For example, we show that the second homotopy functor forC ^*-algebras is discontinuous. Similar embeddings are constructed for all the rational rotation algebras, with the consequence that none of the rational rotation algebras satisfies the homotopy property called semiprojectivity.     

NonstableK-Theory for operator algebras

We show that the homotopy groups of the group of quasi-unitaries inC ^*-algebras form a homology theory on the category of allC ^*-algebras which becomes topologicalK-theory when stabilized. We then show how this functorial setting, in particular the half-exactness of the involved functors, helps to calculate the homotopy groups of the group of unitaries in a series ofC ^*-algebras. The calculations include the case of all AbelianC ^*-algebras and allC ^*-algebras of the formAB, whereA is one of the Cuntz algebras O_n n=2, 3, ..., an infinite dimensional simpleAF-algebra, the stable multiplier or corona algebra of a-unitalC ^*-algebra, a properly infinite von Neumann algebra, or one of the projectionless simpleC ^*-algebras constructed by Blackadar.     

Complete positivity,tensor products and C*-nuclearity for inverse limits of C*-algebras

The paper aims at developing a theory of nuclear (in the topological algebraic sense) pro-C^*-algebras (which are inverse limits of C^*-algebras) by investigating completely positive maps and tensor products. By using the structure of matrix algebras over a pro-C^*-algebra, it is shown that a unital continuous linear map between pro-C^*-algebrasA andB is completely positive iff by restriction, it defines a completely positive map between the C^*-algebrasb(A) andb(B) consisting of all bounded elements ofA andB. In the metrizable case,A andB are homeomorphically isomorphic iff they are matricially order isomorphic. The injective pro-C^*-topology α and the projective pro-C^*-topology v on A⊗B are shown to be minimal and maximal pro-C^*-topologies; and α coincides with the topology of biequicontinous convergence iff eitherA orB is abelian. A nuclear pro-C^*-algebraA is one that satisfies, for any pro-C^*-algebra (or a C^*-algebra)B, any of the equivalent requirements; (i) α =v onA ⊗B (ii)A is inverse limit of nuclear C^*-algebras (iii) there is only one admissible pro-C^*-topologyon A⊗B (iv) the bounded partb(A) ofA is a nuclear C⊗-algebra (v) any continuous complete state map A→B^* can be approximated in simple weak^* convergence by certain finite rank complete state maps. This is used to investigate permanence properties of nuclear pro-C^*-algebras pertaining to subalgebras, quotients and projective and inductive limits. A nuclearity criterion for multiplier algebras (in particular, the multiplier algebra of Pedersen ideal of a C^*-algebra) is developed and the connection of this C^*-algebraic nuclearity with Grothendieck’s linear topological nuclearity is examined. A σ-C^*-algebraA is a nuclear space iff it is an inverse limit of finite dimensional C^*-algebras; and if abelian, thenA is isomorphic to the algebra (pointwise operations) of all scalar sequences.     

On classifying monotone complete algebras of operators

We give a classification of “small” monotone complete C ^*-algebras by order properties. We construct a corresponding semigroup. This classification filters out von Neumann algebras; they are mapped to the zero of the classifying semigroup. We show that there are 2 ^c distinct equivalence classes (where c is the cardinality of the continuum). This remains true when the classification is restricted to special classes of monotone complete C ^*-algebras e.g. factors, injective factors, injective operator systems and commutative algebras which are subalgebras of ℓ^∞. Some examples and applications are given.      

Positive functionals on BP*-algebras

A new class of locally convex algebras, called BP^*-algebras, is introduced. It is shown that this class properly includes MQ^*-algebras which were introduced and studied by the first author andR. Rigelhof [10]. Among other results, it is proved that each positive functional on a BP^*-algebraA is admissible but not necessarily continuous as shown by an example. However, ifA, in addition, is either (i) a Q-algebra, or (ii) has an identity and is barrelled, or (iii)A is endowed with the inductive limit topology, then each positive functional onA is continuous.This work was supported by an N.R.C. Grant.     

Extension algebras of Cuntz algebra

In this paper, we construct representatives for all equivalence classes of the unital essential extension algebras of Cuntz algebra by the C^*-algebras of compact operators on a separable infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. We also compute their K-groups and semigroups and classify these extension algebras up to isomorphism by their semigroups.     

On the <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis>-Theory of Graph <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis><Superscript>*</Superscript>-Algebras

We classify graph C ^*-algebras, namely, Cuntz-Krieger algebras associated to the Bass-Hashimoto edge incidence operator of a finite graph, up to strict isomorphism. This is done by a purely graph theoretical calculation of the K-theory of the C ^*-algebras and the method also provides an independent proof of the classification up to Morita equivalence and stable equivalence of such algebras, without using the boundary operator algebra. A direct relation is given between the K ₁-group of the algebra and the cycle space of the graph. We thank Jakub Byszewski for his input in Sect. 2.8. The position of the unit in K ₀( _Ч) was guessed based on some example calculations by Jannis Visser in his SCI 291 Science Laboratory at Utrecht University College.     

On the Homotopy Type of the Unitary Group and the Grassmann Space of Purely Infinite Simple C*-Algebras

We completely determine the homotopy groups _n (.) of the unitary group and the space of projections of purely infinite simple C ^*-algebras in terms of K-theory. We also prove that the unitary group of a purely infinite simple C ^*-algebra A is a contractible topological space if and only if K0(A) = K1(A) = {0}, and again if and only if the unitary group of the associated generalized Calkin algebra L(HA) / K(HA) is contractible. The well-known Kuiper's theorem is extended to a new class of C ^*-algebras.     

KK-groups for generalized operator algebras. I

Kasparov's bivariant K-theory is extended to inverse limits of C ^*-algebras. It is shown how to define the intersection product for algebras satisfying a separability condition and the properties of the product are explained. The Bott periodicity theorem is proved.     

Real C*-Algebras, United K-Theory, and the Künneth Formula

We define united K-theory for real C^*-algebras, generalizing Bousfield's topological united K-theory. United K-theory incorporates three functors – real K-theory, complex K-theory, and self-conjugate K-theory – and the natural transformations among them. The advantage of united K-theory over ordinary K-theory lies in its homological algebraic properties, which allow us to construct a Künneth-type, nonsplitting, short exact sequence whose middle term is the united K-theory of the tensor product of two real C^*-algebras A and B which holds as long as the complexification of A is in the bootstrap category . Since united K-theory contains ordinary K-theory, our sequence provides a way to compute the K-theory of the tensor product of two real C^*-algebras. As an application, we compute the united K-theory of the tensor product of two real Cuntz algebras. Unlike in the complex case, it turns out that the isomorphism class of the tensor product is not determined solely by the greatest common divisor of K and l. Hence, we have examples of nonisomorphic, simple, purely infinite, real C^*-algebras whose complexifications are isomorphic.     

Abelian real W*-algebras

In this paper, we point out that most results on abelian (complex)W ^*-algebras hold in the real case. Of course, there are differences in homeomorphisms of period 2. Moreover, an abelian real Von Neumann algebra not containing any minimal projection on a separable real Hilbert space is * isomorphic toL _τ ^∞ ([0, 1]) (all real functions inL ^∞([0, 1])), orL ^∞([0, 1]) (as a realW ^*-algebra), orL _τ ^∞ ([0, 1]) ⋇L ^∞ ([0, 1]) (as a realW ^*-algebra), and it is different from the complex case. Partially supported by the NNSF     

Non-Pointed Strongly Protomodular Theories

We give criterions for strong protomodularity and prove that the strong protomodularity of an algebraic theory is inherited by its models in a category with finite limits. We give examples of strongly protomodular theories with several constants: C ^*-algebras, rings, Heyting algebras and Boolean algebras.     

F*-Rings Are O*

O ^*-rings were introduced by Fuchs and recently characterized by Steinberg. A ring R is called O ^* if every partial order on R extends to a total order. We weaken the condition on the ordering of the ring by requiring that every partial order on R extends to an f-order. We call those rings F ^*-rings. We show that the two classes of rings coincide.     

Tensor Products of Hilbert Modules Over Locally <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis><Superscript>*</Superscript>-Algebras

In this paper the tensor products of Hilbert modules over locally C ^*-algebras are defined and their properties are studied. Thus we show that most of the basic properties of the tensor products of Hilbert C ^*-modules are also valid in the context of Hilbert modules over locally C ^*-algebras.     

Quantum Real Projective Space, Disc and Spheres

We define the C ^*-algebra of quantum real projective space R P _q ², classify its irreducible representations, and compute its K-theory. We also show that the q-disc of Klimek and Lesniewski can be obtained as a non-Galois Z ₂-quotient of the equator Podle quantum sphere. On the way, we provide the Cartesian coordinates for all Podle quantum spheres and determine an explicit form of isomorphisms between the C ^*-algebras of the equilateral spheres and the C ^*-algebra of the equator one.     

Infinitesimal Generators of C *-Algebras

We develop the method introduced previously, to construct infinitesimal generators on locally compact group C ^*-algebras and on tensor product of C ^*-algebras. It is shown in particular that there is a C ^* -algebra A such that the C ^*-tensor product of A and an arbitrary C ^*-algebra B can have a non-approximately inner strongly one parameter group of ^*-automorphisms.