English

Von Neumann Algebras and Extensions of Inverse Semigroups

Operator Algebras 2014-11-27 v2

Abstract

In the 1970s, Feldman and Moore classified separably acting von Neumann algebras containing Cartan MASAs using measured equivalence relations and 2-cocycles on such equivalence relations. In this paper, we give a new classification in terms of extensions of inverse semigroups. Our approach is more algebraic in character and less point-based than that of Feldman-Moore. As an application, we give a restatement of the spectral theorem for bimodules in terms of subsets of inverse semigroups. We also show how our viewpoint leads naturally to a description of maximal subdiagonal algebras.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1409.1624,
  title  = {Von Neumann Algebras and Extensions of Inverse Semigroups},
  author = {Allan P. Donsig and Adam H. Fuller and David R. Pitts},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1409.1624},
  year   = {2014}
}

Comments

Applications added: i) a reformulation of the spectral theorem for Bures-closed bimodules and ii) a description of maximal subdiagonal algebras. 38 pages