On individual ergodic theorems for semifinite von Neumann algebras (Q1995785)

Let \((M,\tau)\) consist of a semifinite von Neumann algebra \(M\) with a faithful normal semifinite trace \(\tau,\) and let \(T\colon M+L^1(M,\tau)\to M+L^1(M,\tau)\) be a Dunford-Schwartz operator, i.e., \(T(L^1(M,\tau))\subset L^1(M,\tau),\, T(M)\subset M\) and the restrictions of \(T\) to \(L^1(M,\tau)\) and \(M\) are, respectively, \(L^1\) and \(L^\infty\) contractions. The authors investigate convergence of averages \((1/n)\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}T^k(x)\) to the operator \(x\). They generalize earlier results on bilateral almost uniform convergence of such averages for elements of \(L^p(M,\tau)\) with \(p>1\) and show that it holds for operators from the much larger space \(R_\tau=\{x\in M+L^1(M,\tau)\colon \mu_t(x)\to0\text{ as }t\to\infty\}\), where \(\mu_t(x)\) is the non-decreasing rearrangement of~\(x\). A variety of such theorems are studied, including the multiparameter case. It is shown that \(R_\tau\) contains many noncommutative symmetric spaces of interest and that Dunford-Schwartz-type ergodic theorems hold in those spaces.