When locally contractive representations are completely contractive (Q1891803)

The representation theory of non-self-adjoint matrix algebras is explored. A representation is called locally contractive if each matrix unit is sent to a contraction. The class of finite dimensional algebras for which every locally contractive representation of the enveloping \(C^*\)-algebra coincides with the class of finite dimensional algebras for which locally contractive representations are contractive. A lattice theoretic characterization of this class is obtained. A matrix algebra containing the diagonal algebra is classified by a directed graph depending on the matrix units in the algebra. There is given also a lattice theoretic characterization of algebras for which the commutant lifting theorem is valid. The results are generalized to infinite dimensional commutative subspace lattice algebras.