Berger-Shaw theorem of self-commutators in semifinite von Neumann algebras (Q2320103)

The research on the Berger-Shaw inequality has a long history in operator algebras. \textit{C. A. Berger} and \textit{B. I. Shaw} [Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 79, 1193--1199 (1974; Zbl 0283.47018)] originally gave an inequality for ensuring that the self-commutators of hypernormal operators lie in the trace class. \textit{D. Voiculescu} gave a generalization of the Berger-Shaw theorem in [Acta Sci. Math. 42, 195--199 (1980; Zbl 0441.47022)]. The argument given by Voiculescu is based on the modulus of quasitriangularity which is an analogue of Apostol's modulus of quasitriangularity relative to a Schatten-von Neumann class. In this paper, the authors give an analogue of Voiculescu's modulus of quasitriangularity and generalize the Berger-Shaw theorem to self-commutators in semifinite von Neumann algebras. The authors firstly deal with self-commutators in semifinite factors and apply the direct integral technique to obtain the result in the general case.