Ergodic Actions of Universal Quantum Groups on Operator Algebras

We construct ergodic actions of compact quantum groups on C^*-algebras and von Neumann algebras, and exhibit phenomena of such actions that are of different nature from ergodic actions of compact groups. In particular, we construct: (1) an ergodic action of the compact quantum A_u(Q) on the type III_u Powers factor R_u for an appropriate positive Q ] GL(2, Â); (2) an ergodic action of the compact quantum group A_u(n) on the hyperfinite II₁ factor R; (3) an ergodic action of the compact quantum group A_u(Q) on the Cuntz algebra _boxclose_boxclose{\cal O}_n for each positive matrix Q ] GL(n, ³); (4) ergodic actions of compact quantum groups on their homogeneous spaces, as well as an example of a non-homogeneous classical space that admits an ergodic action of a compact quantum group.