The flow of weights and the Cuntz-Pimsner algebras (Q2413044)

Let \(E\) be a \(C^*\)-correspondence over a \(C^*\)-algebra \(A\) and \(\gamma: \mathbb{R}\curvearrowright \mathcal{T}_E\) the gauge action on the Toeplitz algebra \(\mathcal{T}_E\). With slight abuse of notation, we will also use the symbol \(A\) for its canonical image in \(\mathcal{T}_E\). Given a Kubo-Martin-Schwinger state (KMS-state) \(\omega\) on \((\mathcal{T}_E,\gamma)\) for inverse temperature \(\beta \in \mathbb{R}\setminus\{0\}\) with GNS-representation \(\pi_\omega\), the author studies the flow of weights for the von Neumann algebra \(\pi_\omega(\mathcal{T}_E)''\). A prominent role is played by a subset \(\Lambda \subset E\) chosen so that \(\bigl(\sum_{\xi \in F} \theta_{\xi,\xi}\bigr)_{F \subset \Lambda \text{ finite}}\) yields an approximate unit for the generalized compacts \(\mathcal{K}(E)\) on \(E\), where \(\theta_{\xi,\xi}(\eta) = \xi\cdot\langle \xi,\eta\rangle\) for \(\eta \in E\). The set \(\Lambda\) has the property that the series \(\sum_{\xi \in \Lambda} \omega(T_\xi^{\phantom{*}} T_\xi^*) \leq 1\) converges to a value that does not depend on the choice of \(\Lambda\). The KMS-states \(\omega\) for which the bound \(1\) is attained are said to be of infinite type. These form a face of the simplex of KMS\(_\beta\)-states and it is shown in Lemma 2.4 that finite type KMS-states lead to semi-finite von Neumann algebras \(\pi(\mathcal{T}_E)''\). Therefore, the focus is set on the KMS-states of infinite type. It is then observed in Lemma 2.5 that, for the infinite type KMS-states \(\omega\), both \(\omega\) and \(\pi_\omega\) factor through Pimsner's original version \(\mathcal{O}_E\), which may be significantly smaller than Katsura's version of the Cuntz-Pimsner algebra without further assumptions. Theorem 2.7 characterizes the KMS-states of infinite type in terms of finite traces on \(A\) subject to two extra conditions featuring \(\Lambda\). The central result of the present work is Theorem 3.5 for KMS-states \(\omega\) of infinite type, where a Markov operator \(P\) (unital normal completely positive map) on the center of \(\pi_\omega(A)''\) is employed to identify \newline -- the reduced flow of weights for \(\pi_\omega(\mathcal{T}_E)''\) with the tail boundary of \(P\); and \newline -- the center of \(\pi_\omega(\mathcal{T}_E)''\) with the Poisson boundary of \(P\).\newline This approach ``follow[s] the spirit of Connes-Woods'', though the obtained ``description of the random walks (or Markov operators) is not as direct as in the case of Araki-Woods factors.'' The Markov operator is given by \(P(f) = E(\sum_{\xi \in \Lambda} \pi_\omega(T_\xi) f \pi_\omega(T_\xi)^*)\), where \(E\) is the conditional expectation from \(\pi_\omega(\mathcal{T}_E)''\) to the center of \(\pi_\omega(A)''\) that is invariant under the weakly continuous extension \(\varphi\) of \(\omega\), and the sum is to be understood as a strong limit. A notable ingredient in the proof is the characterization of \(P\) via the limit of a family of normal completely positive maps on \(\pi_\omega(\mathcal{T}_E)''\), given by \(Q_F(x) := e^{-\beta} \sum_{\xi \in \Lambda} \pi_\omega(T_\xi)^* x \pi_\omega(T_\xi)\) for \(F\subset \Lambda\) finite: For every \(g \in \pi_\omega(A)''\) and \(f\) in its center, Lemma 3.6 shows \(\varphi(P(f)g) = \lim_{F\subset \Lambda}\varphi(fQ_F(g))\). This leads to a neat criterion for \(\pi_\omega(\mathcal{T}_E)''\) to be of type III, see Corollary 3.9. The non-unital case is then deduced from the unital case. The final section is devoted to an extensive analysis of different examples arising from a finite family of \(*\)-endomorphisms of a unital \(C^*\)-algebra \(A\). Special attention is given to the situation of non-unital \(*\)-endomorphisms acting on the continuous functions on the space of infinite words in two letters, see Example 4.5. The variety hidden in this seemingly innocent example is fascinating, and two open problems are mentioned in 4.11 and 4.15. The manuscript is carefully composed by an experienced author sharing his valuable insights and perspectives. Nevertheless, the reader may find it useful to collect a list of symbols while going through the document.