The Krein Spectral Shift Function in Semifinite von Neumann Algebras

We show the existence of a spectral shift function in the sense of Krein for bounded trace class perturbations of a self-adjoint operator affiliated with a semifinite von Neumann algebra     

Topological and bornological characterisations of ideals in von Neumann algebras: II

SupposeM is a von Neumann algebra on a Hilbert spaceH andI is any norm closed ideal inM. We extend to this setting the well known fact that the compact operators on a Hilbert space are precisely those whose restrictions to the closed unit ball are weak to norm continuous.     

MINIMUM MODULI IN VON NEUMANN ALGEBRAS

Abstract

In this paper we answer a question raised in [12] in the affirmative, namely that the essential minimum modulus of an element in a von Neumann algebra, relative to any norm closed two-sided ideal, is equal to the minimum modulus of the element perturbed by an element from the ideal. As a corollary of this result, we extend some basic perturbation results on semi-Fredholm elements to a von Neumann algebra setting. We then characterize the semi-Fredholm elements in terms of the points of continuity of the essential minimum modulus function.     

An upper triangular decomposition theorem for some unbounded operators affiliated to II<Subscript>1</Subscript>-factors

Results of Haagerup and Schultz [17] about existence of invariant subspaces that decompose the Brown measure are extended to a large class of unbounded operators affiliated to a tracial von Neumann algebra. These subspaces are used to decompose an arbitrary operator in this class into the sum of a normal operator and a spectrally negligible operator. This latter result is used to prove that, on a bimodule over a tracial von Neumann algebra that is closed with respect to logarithmic submajorization, every trace is spectral, in the sense that the trace value on an operator depends only on the Brown measure of the operator.     

THE UNIQUENESS OF OPERATIONAL QUANTITIES IN VON NEUMANN ALGEBRAS

Abstract

Since 1970 a number of operational quantities, characteristic of either the semi-Fredholm operators or of some “ideal” of compact-like operators, have been introduced in the theory of bounded operators between Banach spaces and applied successfully to for example perturbation theory. More recently such quantities have been introduced even in the abstract setting of Fredholm theory in a von Neumann algebra relative to some closed two-sided ideal. We show that in this fairly general setting there is only one “reasonable” set of such quantities—a result which in its present form is to the best of our knowledge new even in the case of B(H), the algebra of all bounded operators on a Hilbert space H. We accomplish this by first of all introducing the concept of a (reduced) minimum modulus in the setting of C*-algebras and developing the relevant techniques. In the process we generalise a result of Nikaido [N].     

The local index formula in semifinite Von Neumann algebras I: Spectral flow

We generalise the local index formula of Connes and Moscovici to the case of spectral triples for a *-subalgebra A of a general semifinite von Neumann algebra. In this setting it gives a formula for spectral flow along a path joining an unbounded self-adjoint Breuer-Fredholm operator, affiliated to the von Neumann algebra, to a unitarily equivalent operator. Our proof is novel even in the setting of the original theorem and relies on the introduction of a function valued cocycle which is ‘almost’ a (b,B)-cocycle in the cyclic cohomology of A.     

Some quasinilpotent generators of the hyperfinite II1 factor

For each sequence n{cn} in l₁(N) we define an operator A in the hyperfinite II₁-factor R. We prove that these operators are quasinilpotent and they generate the whole hyperfinite II₁-factor. We show that they have non-trivial, closed, invariant subspaces affiliated to the von Neumann algebra and we provide enough evidence to suggest that these operators are interesting for the hyperinvariant subspace problem. We also present some of their properties. In particular, we show that the real and imaginary part of A are equally distributed, and we find a combinatorial formula as well as an analytical way to compute their moments. We present a combinatorial way of computing the moments of A^∗A.     

Joint Reducing Subspaces of Multiplication Operators and Weight of Multi-variable Bergman Spaces

This paper mainly concerns a tuple of multiplication operators defined on the weighted and unweighted multi-variable Bergman spaces, their joint reducing subspaces and the von Neumann algebra generated by the orthogonal projections onto these subspaces. It is found that the weights play an important role in the structures of lattices of joint reducing subspaces and of associated von Neumann algebras. Also, a class of special weights is taken into account. Under a mild condition it is proved that if those multiplication operators are defined by the same symbols, then the corresponding von Neumann algebras are $*$-isomorphic to the one defined on the unweighted Bergman space.     

Canonical Models for Representations of Hardy Algebras

We develop a model theory for completely non coisometric representations of the Hardy algebra of a W^*-correspondence defined over a von Neumann algebra. It follows very closely the model theory developed by Sz.-Nagy and Foiaş for studying single contraction operators on Hilbert space and it extends work of Popescu for row contractions.     

The local index formula in semifinite von Neumann algebras II: The even case

We generalise the even local index formula of Connes and Moscovici to the case of spectral triples for a *-subalgebra A of a general semifinite von Neumann algebra. The proof is a variant of that for the odd case which appears in Part I. To allow for algebras with a non-trivial centre we have to establish a theory of unbounded Fredholm operators in a general semifinite von Neumann algebra and in particular prove a generalised McKean-Singer formula.     

Von Neumann Algebras and Hilbert Quantales

When A is a von Neumann algebra, the set of all weakly closed linear subspaces forms a Gelfand quantale, Max_w A. We prove that Max_w A is a von Neumann quantale for all von Neumann algebras A. The natural morphism from Max_w A to the Hilbert quantale on the lattice of weakly closed right ideals of A is, in general, not an isomorphism. However, when A is a von Neumann factor, its restriction to right-sided elements is an isomorphism and this leads to a new characterization of von Neumann factors.     

Fully symmetric operator spaces

It is shown that certain interpolation theorems for non-commutative symmetric operator spaces can be deduced from their commutative versions. A principal tool is a refinement of the notion of Schmidt decomposition of a measurable operator affiliated with a given semi-finite von Neumann algebra.Research supported by A.R.C.     

A stochastic Stinespring Theorem

Completely positive Markovian cocycles on a von Neumann algebra, adapted to a Fock filtration, are realised as conjugations of -homomorphic Markovian cocycles. The conjugating processes are affiliated to the algebra, and are governed by quantum stochastic differential equations whose coefficients evolve according to the -homomorphic process. Some perturbation theory for quantum stochastic flows is developed in order to achieve the above Stinespring decomposition. Received October 10, 1999 / Revised July 12, 2000 / Published online December 8, 2000     

Contractibility of the linear group in Banach spaces of measurable operators

We show contractibility to a point of the linear group for a wide class of symmetric spaces of measurable operators affiliated with several concrete non-atomic semifinite von Neumann algebras.Research supported by the Australian Research Council     

Fractal entropies and dimensions for microstates spaces

Using Voiculescu's notion of a matricial microstate we introduce fractal dimensions and entropies for finite sets of selfadjoint operators in a tracial von Neumann algebra. We show that they possess properties similar to their classical predecessors. We relate the new quantities to free entropy and free entropy dimension and show that a modified version of free Hausdorff dimension is an algebraic invariant. We compute the free Hausdorff dimension in the cases where the set generates a finite-dimensional algebra or where the set consists of a single selfadjoint. We show that the Hausdorff dimension becomes additive for such sets in the presence of freeness.     

Derivations on the Algebra of τ-Compact Operators Affiliated with a Type I von Neumann Algebra

Let M be a type I von Neumann algebra with the center Z, and a faithful normal semi-finite trace τ. Consider the algebra L(M, τ) of all τ-measurable operators with respect to M and let S ₀(M, τ) be the subalgebra of τ-compact operators in L(M, τ). We prove that any Z-linear derivation of S ₀(M, τ) is spatial and generated by an element from L(M, τ).      

Remarks on reductive operator algebras

It is shown that a weakly closed operator algebra with the property that each of its invariant subspaces is reducing and which is either strictly cyclic or has only closed invariant linear manifolds, must be a von Neumann algebra.     

On Properties of the ξ-Function in Semi-finite von Neumann Algebras

Versions of the Birman-Schwinger principle for (relative) trace class perturbation problems of dissipative operators in a semi-finite von Neumann algebra and self-adjoint operators affiliated with the algebra are obtained and applied in the study of the spectral shift function.      

On ergodic theorems for free group actions on noncommutative spaces

We extend in a noncommutative setting the individual ergodic theorem of Nevo and Stein concerning measure preserving actions of free groups and averages on spheres s_2n of even radius. Here we study state preserving actions of free groups on a von Neumann algebra A and the behaviour of (s_2n(x)) for x in noncommutative spaces L^p(A). For the Cesàro means this problem was solved by Walker. Our approach is based on ideas of Bufetov. We prove a noncommutative version of Rota ``Alternierende Verfahren' theorem. To this end, we introduce specific dilations of the powers of some noncommutative Markov operators.     

Duality and operator algebras: automatic weak* continuity and applications

We investigate some subtle and interesting phenomena in the duality theory of operator spaces and operator algebras, and give several applications of the surprising fact that certain maps are always weak^*-continuous on dual spaces. In particular, if X is a subspace of a C^*-algebra A, and if a∈A satisfies aX⊂X, then we show that the function x?ax on X is automatically weak^* continuous if either (a) X is a dual operator space, or (b) a^*X⊂X and X is a dual Banach space. These results hinge on a generalization to Banach modules of Tomiyama's famous theorem on contractive projections onto a C^*-subalgebra. Applications include a new characterization of the σ-weakly closed (possibly nonunital and nonselfadjoint) operator algebras, and a generalization of the theory of W^*-modules to the framework of modules over such algebras. We also give a Banach module characterization of σ-weakly closed spaces of operators which are invariant under the action of a von Neumann algebra.