A rationality criterion for unbounded operators (Q1971932)

Let \(G\) be a group and let \(U(G)\) denote the set of unbounded operators on \(L^2(G)\) which are affiliated to the group von Neumann algebra of \(G\). Consider \(D(G)\), the division closure of \({\mathbb C}G\) in \(U(G)\), that is the smallest subring of \(U(G)\) containing \({\mathbb C}G\) and which is closed under taking inverses. A criterion is given for an element of \(U(G)\) to be in \(D(G)\) in the case \(G\) is a free group. This extends a previous result of G. Duchamp and C. Reutenauer.