Discrete product systems and their \(C^*\)-algebras (Q1180627)

The index theory for \(E_ 0\)-semigroups (i.e. continuous semigroups of normal *-endomorphisms of the algebra of all bounded operators on a given Hilbert space), introduced by R. T. Powers and D. Robinson, was alternatively studied by W. Arveson, using what he called continuous product systems of (measurable families of) Hilbert spaces. The author of the present paper continues Arveson's work by studying discrete product systems. He associates to each discrete product system \(E\) a \(C^*\)- algebra whose non-degenerate *-representations correspond bijectively to representations of \(E\). He shows that this \(C^*\)-algebra is simple and studies its gauge automorphisms, quasi-free automorphisms, and Fock state.