Maximal abelian subalgebras of function algebras associated with free products (Q1116051)

Let \(\Gamma\) be the free product of n groups each of order k. The author identifies the group with its complex group ring and interchanges between the terminologies of functions and of elements or words of the group. The \(C^*\) and von Neumann algebras generated by the (presumably left) regular representaion of \(\Gamma\) are denoted by \(C^*_ r(\Gamma)\) and V(\(\Gamma)\) respectively. A complex valued function on \(\Gamma\) is called radial if its value depends only on the length of the word in \(\Gamma\). The characteristic function of the set of words of length i is denoted by \(\chi_ i\) and can be expressed as a polynomial in \(\chi_ 1\), so radial subalgebras are abelian, and the techniques used rely heavily on the Gelfand spectrum. The interest in maximal abelianess is motivated by unspecified questions in harmonic analysis. The author, using the methods of \textit{T. Pytlik} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 326, 124-135 (1981; Zbl 0464.22004)] proves that if \(n\geq k\) the (abelian) radial subalgebras of \(C^*_ r(\Gamma)\) and V(\(\Gamma)\) are maximal abelian subalgebras. It seems likely that the result is true also if the component groups have variable orders \(k\leq n\). When each component group has order \(k>n\) the author constructs a nonradial element of \(C^*_ r(\Gamma)\) which commutes with the radial subalgebra, so that the radial subalgebra of \(C^*_ r(\Gamma)\), and hence also of V(\(\Gamma)\), cannot be maximal abelian.