Estimates for spectral density functions of matrices over \(\mathbb{C} [\mathbb{Z}^d]\) (Q2355465)

This article gives an explicit lower bound on the spectral density function of a finite matrix \(A\in\mathbb{C}[\mathbb{Z}^d]\), the complex group ring of a free Abelian group. The spectral density function measures the von Neumann dimensions of the images of the projections in the spectral measure of the positive self-adjoint element \(A^* A\) in the group von Neumann algebra of the group \(\mathbb{Z}^d\). The lower bound obtained implies that the Novikov--Shubin invariant of~\(A\) is strictly positive. The latter statement was proved by \textit{J. Lott} [J. Differ. Geom. 35, No. 2, 471--510 (1992; Zbl 0770.58040)] for \(A\in\mathbb{Z}[\mathbb{Z}^d]\); complex coefficients are needed by new twisted versions of the Novikov--Shubin invariants. For matrices in \(\mathbb{Z}[G]\) for an arbitrary group~\(G\), recent preprints give examples of vanishing Novikov--Shubin invariants, disproving a conjecture of \textit{J. Lott} and \textit{W. Lück} [Invent. Math. 120, No. 1, 15--60 (1995; Zbl 0876.57050)].