A dichotomy for simple self-similar graph \(C^\ast \)-algebras (Q2227581)

Self-similar graph \(C^*\)-algebras \(\mathcal{O}_{G,E}\) were introduced in [\textit{R. Exel} and \textit{E. Pardo}, Adv. Math. 306, 1046--1129 (2017; Zbl 1390.46050)] as a unified approach to Katsura algebras [\textit{T. Katsura}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 617, 27--65 (2008; Zbl 1158.46042)] and Nekrashevych algebras [\textit{V. V. Nekrashevych}, J. Oper. Theory 52, No. 2, 223--249 (2004; Zbl 1447.46045); \textit{V. Nekrashevych}, Self-similar groups. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS) (2005; Zbl 1087.20032)]. Being initially considered for countable discrete groups \(G\) acting on finite graphs \(E\) with no sources, the definition extended to broadly larger classes [\textit{E. Bédos} et al., J. Oper. Theory 78, No. 2, 309--345 (2017; Zbl 1399.46100); \textit{R. Exel} et al., ``\( C^\ast \)-algebras of self-similar graphs over arbitrary graphs''. Preprint (2018), \url{arXiv:1807.01686}]. The strategy for understanding these algebras was to attach to the self-similar graph \((G,E, \varphi)\) an inverse semigroup \(S_{G,E}\) and its tight groupoid \(\mathcal{G}_{\text{tight}}(S_{G,E})\) in such a way that \(\mathcal{O}_{G,E}\cong C^*(\mathcal{G}_{\text{tight}}(S_{G,E}))\). Then, algebraic properties of \(\mathcal{O}_{G,E}\), like simplicity or pure infiniteness, could be characterized in terms of properties of the underlying groupoid. In the paper under review, the author investigates the dichotomy between pure infiniteness and stable finiteness for simple groupoid \(C^*\)-algebras [\textit{C. Bönicke} and \textit{K. Li}, Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 40, No. 1, 34--63 (2020; Zbl 1444.46046); \textit{T. Rainone} and \textit{A. Sims}, Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 40, No. 2, 521--563 (2020; Zbl 1444.46041)] in this particular context. For most of the results, the author will add an extra hypothesis -- pseudo freeness~--, associated to the faithfulness of the action of \(G\) on \(E\) when seen into \(\mathcal{O}_{G,E}\). Under this restriction, the author shows a characterization of pure infiniteness in the nonsimple case, when the groupoid is amenable and effective (Theorem~3.1). Also, he connects this property with some \(K\)-theoretical invariants (Theorem~3.9). In order to deal with stable finiteness, the author introduces an auxiliary graph \(\widetilde{E}\) associated to \((G,E,\varphi)\). Using it, he shows that stable finiteness, in the simple case, can be characterized in terms of properties of \(\widetilde{E}\) (Theorem 4.12); also, it relates this behavior to the above-mentioned \(K\)-theoretical invariants (Corollary~4.13). Finally, the author deals with the problem of extending these results to self-similar \(k\)-graph \(C^*\)-algebras.