On the Stable Rank of Algebras of Operator Fields Over an N-Cube

Let A be a unital maximal full algebra of operator fields withbase space [0, 1]^k and fibre algebras . It is shown in this paper that the stable rankof A is bounded above by the quantity , where ‘sr’ means stable rank. Usingthe above estimate, the stable ranks of the C*-algebras of the(possibly higher rank) discrete Heisenberg groups are computed.2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 47L99.     

Group Actions and Asymptotic Behavior of Graded Polynomial Identities

Let F be an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0,and let A be a G-graded algebra over F for some finite abeliangroup G. Through G being regarded as a group of automorphismsof A, the duality between graded identities and G-identitiesof A is exploited. In this framework, the space of multilinearG-polynomials is introduced, and the asymptotic behavior ofthe sequence of G-codimensions of A is studied. Two characterizations are given of the ideal of G-graded identitiesof such algebra in the case in which the sequence of G-codimensionsis polynomially bounded. While the first gives a list of G-identitiessatisfied by A, the second is expressed in the language of therepresentation theory of the wreath product G S_n, where S_nis the symmetric group of degree n. As a consequence, it is proved that the sequence of G-codimensionsof an algebra satisfying a polynomial identity either is polynomiallybounded or grows exponentially.     

A Peak Point Theorem for Uniform Algebras Generated by Smooth Functions on Two-Manifolds

We establish the peak point conjecture for uniform algebrasgenerated by smooth functions on two-manifolds: if A is a uniformalgebra generated by smooth functions on a compact smooth two-manifoldM, such that the maximal ideal space of A is M, and every pointof M is a peak point for A, then A = C(M). We also give an alternativeproof in the case when the algebra A is the uniform closureP(M) of the polynomials on a polynomially convex smooth two-manifoldM lying in a strictly pseudoconvex hypersurface in Cⁿ.     

Representations of Gan–Ginzburg algebras

Given a quiver, a fixed dimension vector, and a positive integer n, we construct a functor from the category of D-modules on the space of representations of the quiver to the category of modules over a corresponding Gan–Ginzburg algebra of rank n. When the quiver is affine Dynkin, we obtain an explicit construction of representations of the corresponding wreath product symplectic reflection algebra of rank n. When the quiver is star-shaped, but not finite Dynkin, we use this functor to obtain a Lie-theoretic construction of representations of a “spherical” subalgebra of the Gan–Ginzburg algebra isomorphic to a rational generalized double affine Hecke algebra of rank n. Our functors are a generalization of the type A and type BC functors from [1] and [4], respectively.     

Column Ranks and Their Preservers of Matrices Over Max Algebra

The column rank of an m by n matrix A over max algebra is the weak dimension of the column space of A. We compare the column rank with rank of matrices over max algebra. We also characterize the linear operators which preserve the column rank of matrices over max algebra.     

Decomposition Rank of Subhomogeneous C*-Algebras

We analyze the decomposition rank (a notion of covering dimensionfor nuclear C*-algebras introduced by E. Kirchberg and the author)of subhomogeneous C*-algebras. In particular, we show that asubhomogeneous C*-algebra has decomposition rank n if and onlyif it is recursive subhomogeneous of topological dimension n,and that n is determined by the primitive ideal space. As an application, we use recent results of Q. Lin and N. C.Phillips to show the following. Let A be the crossed productC*-algebra coming from a compact smooth manifold and a minimaldiffeomorphism. Then the decomposition rank of A is dominatedby the covering dimension of the underlying manifold. 2000 MathematicsSubject Classification 46L85, 46L35.     

Rigid representations of a double quiver of type A, and Richardson elements in seaweed Lie algebras

In this paper, we show that there is always an open adjointorbit in the nilpotent radical of a seaweed Lie algebra in gl_n(k),thus answering positively in this gl_n(k) case to a questionraised independently by Michel Duflo and Dmitri Panyushev. Theproof gives an explicit construction, using -filtered modulesof quasi-hereditary algebras arising from quotients of the doubleof quivers of type A. An example of a seaweed Lie algebra ina simple Lie algebra of type E₈ not admitting an open orbitin its nilpotent radical is given.     

There do not exist minimal algebras between C*(X) and C(X) with prescribed real maximal ideal spaces

Let C(X) be the algebra of all real-valued continuous functions on a completely regular Hausdorff space X, and C*(X) the subalgebra of bounded functions. We prove that for any intermediate algebra A between C*(X) and C(X), other than C*(X), there exists a smaller intermediate algebra with the same real maximal ideals as in A. The space X is called A-compact if any real maximal ideal in A corresponds to a point in X. It follows that, for a noncompact space X, there does not exist any minimal intermediate algebra A for which A is A-compact. This completes the answer to a question raised by Redlin and Watson in 1987.     

Monadic Algebras with finite degree

A monadic algebraA has finite degreen ifA/M has at most 2 ⁿ elements for every maximal idealM ofA and this bound is obtained for someM. Every countable monadic algebra with a finite degree is isomorphic to an algebra Γ(X, S) whereX is a Boolean space andS is a subsheaf of a constant sheaf with a finite simple stalk. This representation is used to prove that every proper equational class of monadic algebras has a decidable first-order theory.     

Fields of Definition for Division Algebras

Let A be a finite-dimensional division algebra containing abase field k in its center F. A is defined over a subfield F₀if there exists an F₀-algebra A₀ such that . The following are shown. (i) In many cases A canbe defined over a rational extension of k. (ii) If A has odddegree n 5, then A is defined over a field F₀ of transcendencedegree 1/2(n–1)(n–2) over k. (iii) If A is a Z/mx Z/2-crossed product for some m 2 (and in particular, if Ais any algebra of degree 4) then A is Brauer equivalent to atensor product of two symbol algebras. Consequently, M_m(A) canbe defined over a field F₀ such that trdeg_k(F₀) 4. (iv) IfA has degree 4 then the trace form of A can be defined overa field F₀ of transcendence degree 4. (In (i), (iii) and (iv)it is assumed that the center of A contains certain roots ofunity.)     

Hochschild (Co)Homology Dimension

In 1989 Happel asked the question whether, for a finite-dimensionalalgebra A over an algebraically closed field k, gl.dim A < if and only if hch.dim A < . Here, the Hochschild cohomologydimension of A is given by hch.dim A := inf{n N₀ | dim HHⁱ(A) = 0 for i > n}. Recently Buchweitz, Green, Madsen andSolberg gave a negative answer to Happel's question. They founda family of pathological algebras A_q for which gl.dim A_q = but hch.dim A_q = 2. These algebras are pathological in manyaspects. However, their Hochschild homology behaviors are notpathological any more; indeed one has hh.dim A_q = = gl.dimA_q. Here, the Hochschild homology dimension of A is given byhh.dim A := inf{n N₀ | dim HH_i(A) = 0 for i > n}. This suggestsposing a seemingly more reasonable conjecture by replacing theHochschild cohomology dimension in Happel's question with theHochschild homology dimension: gl.dim A < if and only ifhh.dim A < if and only if hh.dim A = 0. The conjecture holdsfor commutative algebras and monomial algebras. In the casewhere A is a truncated quiver algebra, these conditions areequivalent to the condition that the quiver of A has no orientedcycles. Moreover, an algorithm for computing the Hochschildhomology of any monomial algebra is provided. Thus the cyclichomology of any monomial algebra can be read off when the underlyingfield is characteristic 0.     

Algebras with Collapsing Monomials

A semigroup S is called collapsing if there exists a positiveinteger n such that for every subset of n elements in S, atleast two distinct words of length n on these letters are equalin S. In particular, S is collapsing whenever it satisfies alaw. Let U(A) denote the group of units of a unitary associativealgebra A over a field k of characteristic zero. If A is generatedby its nilpotent elements, then the following conditions areequivalent: U(A) is collapsing; U(A) satisfies some semigrouplaw; U(A) satisfies the Engel condition; U(A) is nilpotent;A is nilpotent when considered as a Lie algebra.     

Factor Algebras of Free Algebras: On a Problem of G. Bergman

Let A_n = K x₁,...,x_n be a free associative algebra over a fieldK. In this paper, examples are given of elements u A_n, n 3,such that the factor algebra of A_n over the ideal generatedby u is isomorphic to A_n–1, and yet u is not a primitiveelement of A_n (that is, it cannot be taken to x₁ by an automorphismof A_n). If the characteristic of the ground field K is 0, thisyields a negative answer to a question of G. Bergman. On theother hand, by a result of Drensky and Yu, there is no suchexample for n = 2. It should be noted that a similar questionfor polynomial algebras, known as the embedding conjecture ofAbhyankar and Sathaye, is a major open problem in affine algebraicgeometry. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 16S10, 16W20(primary); 14A05, 13B25 (secondary).     

Banach Spaces Whose Algebras of Operators are Unitary: A Holomorphic Approach

An element u of a norm-unital Banach algebra A is said to beunitary if u is invertible in A and satisfies ||u|| = ||u^–1||= 1. The norm-unital Banach algebra A is called unitary if theconvex hull of the set of its unitary elements is norm-densein the closed unit ball of A. If X is a complex Hilbert space,then the algebra BL(X) of all bounded linear operators on Xis unitary by the Russo–Dye theorem. The question of whetherthis property characterizes complex Hilbert spaces among complexBanach spaces seems to be open. Some partial affirmative answersto this question are proved here. In particular, a complex Banachspace X is a Hilbert space if (and only if) BL(X) is unitaryand, for Y equal to X, X* or X** there exists a biholomorphicautomorphism of the open unit ball of Y that cannot be extendedto a surjective linear isometry on Y. 2000 Mathematics SubjectClassification 46B04, 46B10, 46B20.     

The Tracial Topological Rank of C*-Algebras

We introduce the notion of tracial topological rank for C*-algebras.In the commutative case, this notion coincides with the coveringdimension. Inductive limits of C*-algebrasof the form PM_n(C(X))P,where X is a compact metric space with dim X k, and P is aprojection in M_n(C(X)), have tracial topological rank no morethan k. Non-nuclear C*-algebras can have small tracial topologicalrank. It is shown that if A is a simple unital C*-algebra withtracial topological rank k (< ), then

(i) A is quasidiagonal,

(ii) A has stable rank 1,

(iii) A has weakly unperforatedK₀(A),

(iv) A has the following Fundamental Comparabilityof Blackadar:if p, q A are two projections with (p) < (q)for all tracialstates on A, then p q

. 2000 MathematicsSubject Classification: 46L05, 46L35.     

A Note on Ideal Spaces of Banach Algebras

In a previous paper, the second author introduced a compacttopology _r on the space of closed ideals of a unital Banachalgebra A. If A is separable, then _r is either metrizable orelse neither Hausdorff nor first countable. Here it is shownthat _r is Hausdorff if A is C¹[0, 1], but that if A is a uniformalgebra, then _r is Hausdorff if and only if A has spectral synthesis.An example is given of a strongly regular, uniform algebra forwhich every maximal ideal has a bounded approximate identity,but which does not have spectral synthesis. 1991 MathematicsSubject Classification 46H10.     

Commutative Abelian Galois extensions of a Banach algebra

Let A be a commutative unital Banach algebra with connected maximal ideal space X. We show that the Gelfand transform induces an isomorphism between the group of commutative Galois extensions of A with given finite Abelian Galois group, and the corresponding group of extensions of C(X). This result is applied, when X is sufficiently nice, to construct a separable projective finitely generated faithful Banach A-algebra whose maximal ideal space is a given finitely fibered covering space of X.     

Dual Pairs of Hopf *-Algebras

If A is a Hopf *-algebra, the dual space A' is again a *-algebra.There is a natural subalgebra A° of A' that is again a Hopf*-algebra. In many interesting examples, A° will be largeenough (to separate points of A). More generally, one can considera pair (A, B) of Hopf *-algebras and a bilinear form on A xB with conditions such that, if the pairing is non-degenerate,one algebra can be considered as a subalgebra of the dual ofthe other. In these notes, we study such pairs of Hopf *-algebras. We startfrom the notion of a Hopf *-algebra A and its reduced dual A°.We give examples of pairs of Hopf *-algebras, and discuss theproblem of non-degeneracy. The first example is an algebra pairedwith itself. The second example is the pairing of a Hopf *-algebra(due to Jimbo) and the twisted SU(n) of Woronowicz. We alsodiscuss the notion of the quantum double of Drinfeld in thisframework of dual pairs.     

The Second Transpose of a Derivation

Let A be a Banach algebra, and let D: A A* be a continuousderivation, where A* is the topological dual space of A. Thepaper discusses the situation when the second transpose D**:A** (A**)* is also a derivation in the case where A** has thefirst Arens product.