Extending states on preordered semigroups and the existence of quasitraces on \(C^ \ast\)-algebras (Q1204412)

Let \((S,<,u)\) be a scaled preordered semigroup (i.e. \(S\) is an Abelian semigroup with a translation-invariant preorder \(<\) and distinguished order unit \(u\)). A state on \(S\) is an order-preserving homomorphism \(f\) from \(S\) to the additive group of real numbers \(R\), such that \(f(u)=1\). The main result of the paper says that every state on a subsemigroup of \(S\) extends to a state on the whole of \(S\). This generalizes Goodearl- Handelman theorem on extension of states from subgroups [\textit{K. R. Goodearl} and \textit{D. Handelman}, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 7, 195-216 (1976; Zbl 0321.16009)]. The stated result is then applied in the \(K\)-theory of \(C^*\)-algebras. The authors prove (in a purely algebraic way) that every state on the group \(K_ 0(A)\) for a unital \(C^*\)-algebra \(A\) is induced by a quasitrace of \(A\), extending hitherto known results for simple and \(C^*\)-algebras [\textit{M. Rodman}, On the structure of simple \(C^*\)- algebras tensored with a UHF algebra. II, J. Funct. Anal. 107, 225-269 (1992)].