On the Morita Equivalence of Tensor Algebras

We develop a notion of Morita equivalence for general C^*-correspondencesover C^*-algebras. We show that if two correspondences are Moritaequivalent, then the tensor algebras built from them are stronglyMorita equivalent in the sense developed by Blecher, Muhly andPaulsen. Also, the Toeplitz algebras are strongly Morita equivalentin the sense of Rieffel, as are the Cuntz–Pimsner algebras.Conversely, if the tensor algebras are strongly Morita equivalent,and if the correspondences are aperiodic in a fashion that generalizesthe notion of aperiodicity for automorphisms of C^*-algebras,then the correspondences are Morita equivalent. This generalizesa venerated theorem of Arveson on algebraic conjugacy invariantsfor ergodic, measure-preserving transformations. The notionof aperiodicity, which also generalizes the concept of fullConnes spectrum for automorphisms, is explored; its role inthe ideal theory of tensor algebras and in the theory of theirautomorphisms is investigated. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification:46H10, 46H20, 46H99, 46M99, 47D15, 47D25.