The uniqueness of AF diagonals in regular limit algebras (Q1865309)

A regular limit algebra is either an algebraic limit or a closed operator algebra limit of a direct system \(\{\varphi_k:A_k\to A_{k+1}\mid k\in{\mathbb N}\}\) of digraph algebras \(\{A_k\}\) (also called incidence algebras) with connecting maps \(\{\varphi_k\}\) that are regular. (That is, each \(\varphi_k\) can be decomposed into a direct sum of elementary multiplicity one maps.) Each of the finite-dimensional digraph algebras \(A_k\) contains a maximal abelian selfadjoint algebra (masa) that is intrinsic to \(A_k\) in the sense of being unique up to inner unitary equivalence. The direct system \(\{A_k,\varphi_k\}\) then provides a distinguished regular masa of the limit algebra. This masa is unique up to approximate inner unitary equivalence for the given direct system, but is the masa intrinsic to the limit algebra itself? This question is fundamental to the classification theory of limit algebras. The main results of this important and well-written paper show that the distinguished masa of a limit algebra is indeed intrinsic provided that the connecting maps in the direct system belong to a family that is functorial. To be a bit more specific, let \({\mathcal F}\) be a family of connecting homomorphisms between building block algebras. Let \(\operatorname {Alglim}{\mathcal F}\) and \(\operatorname {Lim}{\mathcal F}\), respectively, denote the sets of all algebraic limits and of all closed operator algebra limits formed by direct systems of digraph algebras with connecting maps taken from the family \({\mathcal F}\). The family \({\mathcal F}\) is said to be functorial if, whenever two algebras in \(\operatorname {Alglim}{\mathcal F}\) are star-extendibly isomorphic then this isomorphism is induced by a commuting diagram in which \textit{all} of the maps belong to \({\mathcal F}\). The authors prove that, if the family \({\mathcal F}\) is functorial, then the regular masa of an algebra in \(\operatorname {Alglim}{\mathcal F}\) is unique up to approximate inner unitary equivalence (Theorem 3.7). Also, if \({\mathcal F}\) is approximately functorial and satisfies an additional stability condition, then the regular masa of an algebra in \(\operatorname {Lim}{\mathcal F}\) is unique (Theorem 5.5). Moreover, converse implications are established for certain saturated families of connecting homomorphisms (Theorems 3.3 and 5.6). By way of application, section 4 of the paper shows how functoriality leads to the determination of complete isomorphic invariants for the set \(\operatorname {Alglim}{\mathcal F}\). In particular, Theorem 4.1 shows that the spectrum of an algebra in \(\operatorname {Alglim}{\mathcal F}\) is a complete invariant for star-extendible isomorphism.