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.     

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     

The Hochschild class of the Chern character for semifinite spectral triples

We provide a proof of Connes’ formula for a representative of the Hochschild class of the Chern character for (p,∞)-summable spectral triples. Our proof is valid for all semifinite von Neumann algebras, and all integral p?1. We employ the minimum possible hypotheses on the spectral triples.     

Entropy of automorphisms arising from dynamical systems through discrete groups with amenable actions

Let G⊂Aut(A) be a discrete group which is exact, that is, admits an amenable action on some compact space. Then the entropy of an automorphism of the algebra A does not change by the canonical extension to the crossed product A×G. This is shown for the topological entropy of an exact C∗-algebra A and for the dynamical entropy of an AFD von Neumann algebra A. These have applications to the case of transformations on Lebesgue spaces.     

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     

Noncommutative Orlicz spaces associated to a state II

We introduce and study the noncommutative Orlicz spaces associated to a normal faithful state on a semifinite von Neumann algebra. We also prove some convergence theorems for the (unbounded) trace measurable operators.     

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.     

A note on faithful traces on a von Neumann algebra

In this short note we give some techniques for constructing, starting from asufficient family ℱ of semifinite or finite traces on a von Neumann algebraM, a new trace which is faithful.     

Comp osition and Multiplication Op erators on Lp,∞(M)

We give some properties of the composition and multiplication operators on Lp,∞(M), where M is a semifinite von Neumann algebra with a normal semifinite faithful traceτ.     

Martingale-type convergence of modular automorphism groups on von Neumann algebras

The strong convergence of modular automorphism groups and Connes cocycle derivatives is discussed under an increasing or decreasing net of von Neumann subalgebras and faithful semifinite normal weights on a von Neumann algebra.     

Compressions of free products of von Neumann algebras

A reduction formula for compressions of von Neumann algebra II–factors arising as free products is proved. This shows that the fundamental group is for some such algebras. Additionally, by taking a sort of free product with an unbounded semicircular element, continuous one parameter groups of trace scaling automorphisms on II–factors are constructed; this produces type III factors with core , where can be a full II–factor without the Haagerup approximation property. Received: 26 October 1998 / in final form 18 March 1999     

Spectral flow and Dixmier traces

We obtain general theorems which enable the calculation of the Dixmier trace in terms of the asymptotics of the zeta function and of the heat operator in a general semi-finite von Neumann algebra. Our results have several applications. We deduce a formula for the Chern character of an odd -summable Breuer-Fredholm module in terms of a Hochschild 1-cycle. We explain how to derive a Wodzicki residue for pseudo-differential operators along the orbits of an ergodic action on a compact space X. Finally, we give a short proof of an index theorem of Lesch for generalised Toeplitz operators.     

Individual ergodic theorems in noncommutative Orlicz spaces

For a noncommutative Orlicz space associated with a semifinite von Neumann algebra, a faithful normal semifinite trace and an Orlicz function satisfying \((\delta _2,\Delta _2)\)-condition, an individual ergodic theorem is proved.     

On p-Convexity and q-Concavity in Non-Commutative Symmetric Spaces

It is shown that if a symmetric Banach space E on the positive semi-axis is p-convex (q-concave) then so is the corresponding non-commutative symmetric space E(τ) of τ-measurable operators affiliated with some semifinite von Neumann algebra ${({\mathcal{M}}, \tau)}$ , with preservation of the convexity (concavity) constants in the case that ${{\mathcal{M}}}$ is non-atomic. Similar statements hold in the case that E satisfies an upper (lower) p-estimate and extend to the more general semifinite setting earlier results due to Arazy and Lin for unitary matrix spaces.     

Ergodic theorems for noncommutative dynamical systems

Recently, E.C. Lance extended the pointwise ergodic theorem to actions of the group of integers on von Neumann algebras. Our purpose is to extend other pointwise ergodic theorems to von Neumann algebra context: the Dunford-Schwartz-Zygmund pointwise ergodic theorem, the pointwise ergodic theorem for connected amenable locally compact groups, the Wiener's local ergodic theorem for ₊ ^d and for general Lie groups.     

Trace and integrable operators affiliated with a semifinite von Neumann algebra

New properties of the space of integrable (with respect to the faithful normal semifinite trace) operators affiliated with a semifinite von Neumann algebra are found. A trace inequality for a pair of projections in the von Neumann algebra is obtained, which characterizes trace in the class of all positive normal functionals on this algebra. A new property of a measurable idempotent are determined. A useful factorization of such an operator is obtained; it is used to prove the nonnegativity of the trace of an integrable idempotent. It is shown that if the difference of two measurable idempotents is a positive operator, then this difference is a projection. It is proved that a semihyponormal measurable idempotent is a projection. It is also shown that a hyponormal measurable tripotent is the difference of two orthogonal projections.     

On weak* convergent sequences in duals of symmetric spaces of <Emphasis Type="Italic">τ</Emphasis>-measurable operators

It is shown that the pre-dual of a σ-finite von Neumann algebra has property (k) in the sense of Figiel, Johnson and Pelczyński [12]. This resolves in the affirmative an open question raised in [12]. It is shown further that a weakly sequentially complete symmetric space E of τ-measurable operators affiliated with a semifinite σ-finite von Neumann algebra has property (k).     

On Markushevich bases in preduals of von Neumann algebras

We prove that the predual of any von Neumann algebra is 1-Plichko, i.e., it has a countably 1-norming Markushevich basis. This answers a question of the third author who proved the same for preduals of semifinite von Neumann algebras. As a corollary we obtain an easier proof of a result of U. Haagerup that the predual of any von Neumann algebra enjoys the separable complementation property. We further prove that the selfadjoint part of the predual is 1-Plichko as well.     

Affiliated subspaces and infiniteness of von Neumann algebras

We show that the structural properties of von Neumann algebra s are connected with the metric and order theoretic properties of various classes of affiliated subspaces. Among others we show that properly infinite von Neumann algebra s always admit an affiliated subspace for which (1) closed and orthogonally closed affiliated subspaces are different; (2) splitting and quasi‐splitting affiliated subspaces do not coincide. We provide an involved construction showing that concepts of splitting and quasi‐splitting subspaces are non‐equivalent in any GNS representation space arising from a faithful normal state on a Type I factor. We are putting together the theory of quasi‐splitting subspaces developed for inner product spaces on one side and the modular theory of von Neumann algebra s on the other side.     

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].