A new look at the proof of \(K\)-theoretic amenability for groups acting on trees (Q2349221)

The operator \(P\) of \textit{T. Pytlik} and \textit{R. Szwarc} [Acta Math. 157, 287--309 (1986; Zbl 0681.43011)] is a bounded operator on the Hilbert space \(H_0\), \(l^2\)-space on points of a tree, with a certain relation of multiplication and addition with its adjoint \(P^*\). There is a continuous path of operators \(T_t\) (\(t\in [0, 1])\) between the identity \(1\) and \(1- P - p_0\) with \(p_0\) the orthogonal projection corresponding to the origin of a tree and with a sort of commuting relation for \(\pi_0\) the (shift) unitary representation of a (locally compact) group \(G\) acting on a tree on the same Hilbert space \(H_0\). It is shown by Pytlik-Szwarc that for complex numbers \(z\) norm less than \(1\), the operators \(\rho_z\) for \(G\) defined by involving \(P\) and \(\pi_0\) are bounded and representations of \(G\), and \(\rho_z -\pi_0\) for (elements of) \(G\) are finite rank, so compact operators and each \(\rho_z\) for \(G\) is uniformly (norm) bounded. It is shown by Julg in this paper that for \(0 < t <1\), the composites \(\rho^{\sim}_t\) of \(\pi_0\) with the adjoint action of \(T_t\) are unitary representations of \(G\) and \(\rho^{\sim}_t - \pi_0\) for \(G\) are finite rank and the uniformly boundedness of \(\rho^{\sim}_t\) is equivalent to that of \(\rho_t\). By taking the limit of \(t\) to \(1\), it is obtained that \(\rho^{\sim}_t\) for \(G\) converges strongly to an operator involving three operators \(p_0\), \(\pi_1\) the (shift) unitary representation of \(G\) on another Hilbert space \(H_1\), \(l^2\)-space on edges of a tree, and the Julg-Valette map from \(H_0\) to the conjugate of \(H_1\). It then follows that \(\rho^{\sim}_t\) and \(\pi_0\) define a Kasparov \(KK_G\)-class for \((\mathbb C, \mathbb C)\), which is zero at \(t=0\) and is \(1-\gamma\) at \(t=1\), where \(\gamma\) is the \(KK_G\)-class defined by \(\pi_0\) and \(\pi_1\) by \textit{P. Julg} and \textit{A. Valette} [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 296, 977--980 (1983; Zbl 0537.46055)] and [J. Funct. Anal. 58, 194--215 (1984; Zbl 0559.46030)].