Diagonalizing projections in multiplier algebras and in matrices over a C* -algebra (Q1120803)

Assume that \({\mathcal A}\) is a \(C^*\)-algebra with the `FS' property. We prove that every projection in \(M_ n({\mathcal A})\) (n\(\geq 1)\) is homotopic to a projection whose diagonal entries are projections of \({\mathcal A}\) and off-diagonal entries are zeros (actually proved for more general situation). This yields partial answers for two questions raised by M. A. Rieffel concerning the generators of \(K_ 0({\mathcal A})\) and the homotopy classes of projections in \(M_ n({\mathcal A})\). If \({\mathcal A}\) is \(\sigma\)- unital but non-unital, then every projection in the multiplier algebra M(\({\mathcal A})\) is unitarily equivalent to a diagonal projection, and homotopic to a block-diagonal projection with respect to an approximate identity of \({\mathcal A}\) consisting of an increasing sequence of projections. The unitary orbits of self-adjoint elements of \({\mathcal A}\) and M(\({\mathcal A})\) are also considered.