On the C *-algebras of foliations in the plane (Q1096858)

The author gives a complete classification of the C *-algebras associated with foliations of the plane \({\mathbb{R}}^ 2 \)satisfying a mild technical condition (``with \(T_ 2\)-separatrices''). These C *-algebras had been introduced by Connes - in the present case however, since the foliation comes from an action of \({\mathbb{R}}\) they could also be defined simply as the crossed product \({\mathcal C}_ 0({\mathbb{R}}\) 2)\(\rtimes {\mathbb{R}}.\) The starting point is the classification by Kaplan and Markus of foliations of the plane. This classification allows to associate with a foliation of the plane a continuous ``\({\mathbb{R}}\)-tree'' and then to describe the C *-algebra of the foliation as a continuous fibered product of elementary ``cells''. The cells are the C *-algebras of different types of canonical foliated regions (separated by separatrices), and of the form \({\mathcal C}([0,1])\otimes {\mathcal K}\). The main theorem then reads: Theorem 4.3.2. The distinguished trees are complete invariants for C *- algebras of foliations with \(T_ 2\)-separatrices. More precisely, the isomorphism class of C *-algebras of foliations with \(T_ 2\)- separatrices are in one-to-one correspondence with similarity classes of distinguished trees. Note that two non-isomorphic foliations may give rise to isomorphic C *-algebras. The technical details are highly non- trivial.