Addition of \(C^*\)-algebra extensions (Q1826080)

The authors consider in the article the possibility of addition of two extensions of a \(C^*\)-algebra A by a \(C^*\)-algebra B: Theorem. Suppose that the abelian local semigroup D(M(A)/A) is a semigroup, then the weak equivalence classes of essential extensions of A by B form a semigroup in a canonical way. This is also the case with respect to a third, weaker, equivalence relation of \textit{P. Brown}, \textit{R. G. Douglas} and \textit{P. A. Fillmore} [Ann. of Math 105, 265-324 (1977; Zbl 0376.46036)]. The strong equivalence classes can be made into a semigroup in a way which, while possibly not canonical in general, is canonical at least in the case when A is a separable AF-algebra. Here D(A) for a \(C^*\)-algebra A means the canonical images in the group \(K_ 0(A)\) of the set of projections in A. In connection with the condition in the Theorem the criteria for embedding of the Cuntz algebra \({\mathcal O}_ n\) [mainly \({\mathcal O}_{\infty}\) and \({\mathcal O}_ 2\), \textit{J. Cuntz}, Commun. Math. Phys. 57, 173-185 (1977; Zbl 0399.46045)] into the quotient algebra M(A) A are proved (Theorem 3.1 and 3.3), when A is a separable AF-algebra.