Nearly relatively compact projections in operator algebras (Q1751638)

Let \(A\) be a \(C^*\)-algebra, \(A^{**}\) be its enveloping von Neumann algebra, and \(A_{sa}\) the set of selfadjoint elements of \(A\). Let \(p,q\in A^{**}\) be selfadjoint projections. The author examines the relations between the the following conditions {\parindent=0.7cm \begin{itemize}\item[(1)] there exists \(a\in A_{sa}\) such that \(p\leq a \leq 1\), \item[(2)] there exists \(a\in A_{sa}\) such that \(p\leq a\), and \item[(3)] there exists \(a\in A_{sa}\) such that \(p\leq pap\), \end{itemize}} as well as other properties related to these. The paper contains many results concerning open, closed and compact projections. The common idea that links these results is the use of the numerical invariant \(\alpha(p)=\inf\{\|a\|: a\in A_{sa} \hbox{ such that } p\leq pap\}\) (otherwise \(\alpha(p)=+\infty\)). For instance, Theorem 2.1. \(\alpha(p)=1\) if and only if \(p\) satisfies Condition (2); or Theorem 5.4. If \(p\) is closed, \(q\) is open and \(\alpha(q)<\infty\), then \(p\) is compact.