Cartan subalgebras, transverse measures and non-type-I Plancherel formulae (Q2266131)

This interesting paper deals with the Plancherel formula for a second countable locally compact group. Two approaches to the problem are given. The first takes the central decomposition of the regular representation, and decomposes the canonical weight on the associated Neumann algebra into weights on the various factors. The second is deeper, and uses work of \textit{A. Connes} [Lect. Notes Math. 725, 19-143 (1979; Zbl 0412.46053)] on the structure of hyperfinite von Neumann algebras. Roughly speaking, the factor representations which occur in the central decomposition are further decomposed into an essentially unique integral of irreducible representations, with a ''Cartan subalgebra'' of the commutant as the commuting algebra. Using Connes' generalized integration theory, a Plancherel formula is given in this context. With both approaches, some attention is given to the question of reducing the theory in the case where G is nonunimodular to knowledge of the theory for the kernel H of the modular function and the action of the whole group G on the dual of H. Some examples are then given to illustrate the author's decompositions. Finally, the work is complemented by two long appendices on direct integrals of weights and on weights on ''constructible'' von Neumann algebras.