Biflatness and biprojectivity of the Fourier algebra (Q1024171)

Let \(G\) be a locally compact group. The Fourier algebra \(A(G)\) is a Banach algebra, the closed \(*\)-subalgebra of the Fourier-Stieltjes algebra [\textit{P. Eymard}, Bull. Soc. Math. Fr. 92, 181--236 (1964; Zbl 0169.46403)] generated by functions with compact support. It is the predual of the full von Neumann algebra \(C^{*}(G)^{**}\) and so has the structure of an operator space [\textit{Z.-J. Ruan}, Am. J. Math. 117, No.~6, 1449--1474 (1995; Zbl 0842.43004)]. The concept of a projective module (i.e., if a quotient of a free module \(N\) then it is a direct summand of \(N\)) extends to Banach operator space modules, as also the concept of a flat module (i.e., the tensor product with the module is exact), so implying a projective module is also flat. The projective (i.e., the largest) Banach tensor product of \(A(G)\) with itself is isomorphic as an operator space to \(A(G \times G)\). A morphism of Banach modules \( X \to Y\) is called admissible if the kernel and image have Banach complements in \(X\) and \(Y\) respectively; a surjective morphism \(X \to Y\)is then admissible if and only if it has a right continuous inverse linear operator \(Y \to X\). Then for a Banach operator space \(A\) a left \(A\)-module \(P\) is projective if for each admissible left Banach \(A\)-module \(X\) there is a left Banach A-module isomorphism \(X \to P\) which has a right continuous linear inverse operator \(P \to X\). The author defines a projective tensor product of Banach algebras \(A\) acting as operators on left and right modules to be biprojective if the mappings \(a(x \otimes y) \mapsto ax \otimes y\) have bounded bimodule right inverses and it is called biflat if the corresponding mapping from the dual of \(A(G)\) to the dual of the tensor product has a bounded bimodule left inverse. The biprojective mapping is based on the uniform topology whereas the biflat is based on the weak Banach topology. Therefore a projective bimodule is also biflat. Thus the author will need prove his main theorem only for biflat \(A(G)\). A Banach algebra A is defined to be amenable if a first cohomology group, related to bounded derivations to the dual of a Banach module, is trivial; this has been modified to define a Banach algebra bimodule as amenable if it is biflat and has a bounded approximate identity [cf. \textit{P. C. Curtis jun.} and \textit{R. J. Loy}, J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 40, No. 1, 89--104 (1989; Zbl 0698.46043)]. \textit{P. J. Wood} [Can. J. Math. 54, No. 5, 1100--1120 (2002; Zbl 1033.46045)] showed that for \(A(G)\) to be biprojective it is necessary and sufficient that \(G\) be discrete. One sees that the elements of \(A(F_{2})\) are not all products of elements \(A(F_{2})\) so if \(G\) contains \(F_{2}\) as a closed subgroup then the multiplication (or collapse) mapping from the tensor product to \(A(G)\) is not surjective. The main result is that biflatness of \(A(G)\) forces \(G\) to either have an Abelian subgroup of finite index [see \textit{B. E. Forrest} and \textit{V. Runde}, Math. Z. 250, No. 4, 731--744 (2005; Zbl 1080.22002)] or to be non-amenable without containing \(F_{2}\) as a closed subgroup. The necessity follows from a result of \textit{H. G. Dales} [Banach algebras and automatic continuity. London Mathematical Society Monographs. New Series. 24. Oxford: Clarendon Press (2000; Zbl 0981.46043)], the sufficiency follows using [\textit{R. J. Loy, C. J. Read, V. Runde} and \textit{G. A. Willis}, J. Funct. Anal. 171, No.~1, 78--114 (2000; Zbl 0946.46041)].