Crossed products of \(C^\ast\)-algebras for singular actions (Q2253282)

The classical theory of crossed products as it can be found for instance in [\textit{D. P. Williams}, Crossed products of \(C^*\)-algebras. Mathematical Surveys and Monographs 134. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (2007; Zbl 1119.46002)] is concerned with strongly continuous actions of locally compact groups on \(C^*\)-algebras. A particularly important feature is the natural bijection between the representation theory of a crossed product and the covariant representation theory of the underlying \(C^*\)-dynamical system. The motivation for the paper under review originates in quantum field theory where the actions that naturally occur may involve infinite-dimensional (hence not locally compact) Lie groups and need not be strongly continuous. Moreover, it may happen that not all representations of a regular crossed product are physically acceptable and that certain constraints, of spectral nature or other, must be taken into account. The approach adopted here relies on the concept of host algebra, a generalization of group \(C^*\)-algebras introduced by the first named author in [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 72, No. 3, 742--762 (2005; Zbl 1117.46038)] and discussed by the second author in [Semigroup Forum 77, No. 1, 5--35 (2008; Zbl 1146.22012)]. Using this and the point of view adopted by \textit{I. Raeburn} in [Proc. Edinb. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 31, No. 2, 321--330 (1988; Zbl 0674.46038)], the authors introduce the notion of crossed product host and prove a uniqueness theorem that generalizes Raeburn's characterization of unital crossed products [loc. cit.]. Existence criteria are studied and cases are discussed where crossed products hosts exist although usual crossed products do not. Again motivated by physical problems (compatibility between quantum constraints), the authors investigate situations in which the existence criteria are not satisfied and indicate a procedure to build relevant host crossed products. They also study the case of discontinuous actions of locally compact groups, in relation to the work by \textit{H.-J. Borchers} [Translation group and particle representations in quantum field theory. Lecture Notes in Physics. New Series m: Monographs. 40. Berlin: Springer (1996; Zbl 0858.46052)] and show that a weaker form of continuity for the action is required to ensure the existence of a crossed product host.