Reconstructing the Bost-Connes semigroup actions from \(K\)-theory (Q2309106)

The original Bost-Connes system is an action of the group of real numbers on a \(C^*\)-algebra whose set of KMS states shows an interesting symmetry breaking and whose partition function is related to the Riemann zeta function. Several authors have constructed analogues of the Bost-Connes system for arbitrary number fields. By design, these Bost-Connes systems determine the zeta function of the number field and some information from class field theory. The \(C^*\)-dynamical system is constructed using a certain semigroup action or a groupoid defined by it. The semigroup action may also be viewed as a partial group action. Recently, it was shown that the underlying number field may be recovered from the Bost-Connes system, that is, from the \(C^*\)-algebra together with the action of the real numbers [\textit{G. Cornelissen} et al., ``Reconstructing global fields from Dirichlet \(L\)-series'', Preprint (2917), \url{arXiv:1706.04515}; Sel. Math., New Ser. 25, No. 2, Paper No. 24, 18 p. (2019; Zbl 1431.11110)]. This article shows that the action is not needed: if the \(C^*\)-algebras of the Bost-Connes system are isomorphic as \(C^*\)-algebras, then the underlying number fields are isomorphic. Even less information is needed. Namely, the Bost-Connes \(C^*\)-algebra of a number field~\(K\) is a \(C^*\)-algebra over the compact space~\(2^{P_K}\), where~\(P_K\) denotes the set of prime ideals of~\(K\). Thus the Bost-Connes \(C^*\)-algebra gives rise to a diagram of ordered $K$-theory groups indexed by the locally closed subsets of this space. Moreover, this diagram of ordered groups already determines the underlying \(C^*\)-dynamical system and thus the number field.