Principal ideals in subalgebras of groupoid \(C^*\)-algebras. (Q1850248)

A \(C^*\)-algebra \(B\) is said to be approximately finite-dimensional (AF) if it is the closure of an increasing union of finite-dimensional \(C^*\)-subalgebras \(B_n\). Each of these subalgebras \(B_n\) has a system of matrix units and a corresponding diagonal \(D_n\) associated to it. These matrix unit systems can be chosen in such a way that each \(D_n\) is generated by diagonal matrix units and such that \(D_n\subseteq D_{n+1}\) for every \(n\). Then \(D=\overline{\bigcup_{n=1}^{\infty}{D_n}}\) is called a regular canonical masa (short for \`\` maximal abelian self-adjoint subalgebra'') of \(B\) associated with the chosen system of matrix units. A subalgebra \(A\) of an AF \(C^*\)-algebra \(B\) is called a regular canonical subalgebra if it is closed and if \(D\subseteq A\), where \(D\) is a regular canonical masa for \(B\). Triangular uniformly hyperfinite algebras and triangular approximately finite-dimensional algebras are special subclasses of regular canonical subalgebras. The bulk of the paper under review is devoted to a discussion of what is known about regular canonical subalgebras, particularly as it relates to the spectrum of such algebras and to their ideals. The presentation is clear, to the point, and illustrated with numerous specific examples. For instance, example 3.3(1) shows us exactly how the normalizing partial isometries of the \(7\times 7\) upper-triangular matrix algebra \(T_7\) act on the spectrum (maximal ideal space) of the masa. Then, in remark 4.2.3, we see how to find a generator for a typical ideal in \(T_7\). This reviewer found such examples to be quite helpful. The main new result of the paper comes only towards the end, after the background has been laid. To introduce some technical language, the spectrum of an AF \(C^*\)-algebra \(B\) with canonical masa \(D\) has the structure of a second countable, locally compact, \(r\)-discrete principal groupoid \(G\) that admits a cover by compact open \(G\)-sets. The algebra \(B\) corresponds to \(C^*(G)\), the completion of the \(C^*\)-algebra of continuous complex-valued functions with compact support on \(G\). Theorem 7.2.2 demonstrates that certain subalgebras of \(C^*(G)\) are principal ideal algebras. Then, in Corollary 7.3.2, it is shown that a regular canonical subalgebra of an AF \(C^*\)-algebra \(B\) corresponds to an appropriate subalgebra of \(C^*(G)\) and, hence, is a principal ideal algebra. This result provides a valuable addition to our understanding of the structure of these important limit algebras.