Von Neumann categories and extended \(L^2\)-cohomology (Q1272525)

There are classical notions of a finitely generated Hilbert \({\mathcal A}\)-module for a finite von Neumann algebra \({\mathcal A}\), of a trace for a finite von Neumann algebra and the associated dimension theory. These were used to define \(L^2\)-cohomology of regular coverings of finite polyhedra and compact Riemannian manifolds and related notions like \(L^2\)-Betti numbers and Novikov-Shubin invariants. All this is put into a more general abstract setting leading to notions like finite von Neumann category and extended \(L^2\)-cohomology. In particular a general construction due to Freyd is used to embed some of these relevant categories into abelian categories where one can define homology and cohomology in the ordinary way. It is explained how different choices of traces than the standard one yield local versions of Novikov-Shubin invariants, and in particular the abelian (= commutative) case is investigated further.