Integrable and proper actions on \(C^*\)-algebras, and square-integrable representations of groups (Q1429127)

The author extends the notion of proper action of a locally compact group on a \(C^{\ast}\)-algebra introduced in \textit{H. Araki} and \textit{R.V. Kadison} (eds.) [Mappings of operator algebras (Birkhäuser, Boston-Basel-Berlin, 1990), 141--182 (1991; Zbl 0722.00020)]. It is proved that if the \(C^{\ast}\)-algebra is commutative this definition captures the usual notion of a proper action on a locally compact space. The author notes that his definition of proper action is closely related to the notion of integrable elements and to the notion of \(C^{\ast}\)-valued weights. He shows that if the \(C^{\ast}\)-algebra is the algebra of compact operators on a Hilbert space, this definition gives an attractive view of the subject of square-integrable representations. Several examples are also considered.