W. Arveson

An Invitation to C*-Algebras

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

This book gives an introduction to C_-algebras and their representations on Hilbert spaces. We have tried to present only what we believe are the most basic ideas, as simply and concretely as we could. So whenever it is convenient (and it usually is), Hilbert spaces become separable and C_-algebras become GCR. This practice probably creates an impression that nothing of value is known about other C_-algebras. Of course that is not true. But insofar as representations are con cerned, we can point to the empirical fact that to this day no one has given a concrete parametric description of even the irreducible representations of any C_-algebra which is not GCR. Indeed, there is metamathematical evidence which strongly suggests that no one ever will (see the discussion at the end of Section 3. 4). Occasionally, when the idea behind the proof of a general theorem is exposed very clearly in a special case, we prove only the special case and relegate generalizations to the exercises. Ineffect, we have systematically eschewed the Bourbaki tradition. We have also tried to take into account the interests of a variety of readers. For example, the multiplicity theory for normal operators is contained in Sections 2. 1 and 2. 2. (it would be desirable but not necessary to include Section 1. 1 as well), whereas someone interested in Borel structures could read Chapter 3 separately. Chapter I could be used as a bare-bones introduction to C_-algebras. Sections 2.

Produktdetails

• Graduate Texts in Mathematics 39
• Verlag: Springer / Springer New York / Springer, Berlin
• Artikelnr. des Verlages: 978-0-387-90176-3
• 1976
• Seitenzahl: 116
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. Juli 1976
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 260mm x 183mm x 12mm
• Gewicht: 400g
• ISBN-13: 9780387901763
• ISBN-10: 0387901760
• Artikelnr.: 21458325

Inhaltsangabe

1 Fundamentals.- 1.1. Operators and C*-algebras.- 1.2. Two density theorems.- 1.3. Ideals, quotients, and representations.- 1.4. C*-algebras of compact operators.- 1.5. CCR and GCR algebras.- 1.6. States and the GNS construction.- 1.7. The existence of representations.- 1.8. Order and approximate units.- 2 Multiplicity Theory.- 2.1. From type I to multiplicity-free.- 2.2. Commutative C*-algebras and normal operators.- 2.3. An application: type I von Neumann algebras.- 2.4. GCR algebras are type I.- 3 Borel Structures.- 3.1. Polish spaces.- 3.2. Borel sets and analytic sets.- 3.3. Borel spaces.- 3.4. Cross sections.- 4 From Commutative Algebras to GCR Algebras.- 4.1. The spectrum of a C*-algebra.- 4.2. Decomposable operator algebras.- 4.3. Representations of GCR algebras.