\(K\)-amenability of HNN extensions of amenable discrete quantum groups (Q2436744)

\(K\)-amenability for discrete groups was defined by \textit{J. Cuntz} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 344, 180--195 (1983; Zbl 0511.46066)] in order to understand why the maximal and reduced \(C^*\)-algebras of the free groups have the same \(K\)-theory. A locally compact group \(G\) is \(K\)-amenable if the unit element in the equivariant Kasparov group \(KK^G(\mathbb C,\mathbb C)\) is homotopic to an element where the underlying representations of \(G\) are weakly contained in the left regular representation (see [\textit{P. Julg} and \textit{A. Valette}, J. Funct. Anal. 58, 194--215 (1984; Zbl 0559.46030)]). This implies that the maximal and reduced group \(C^*\)-algebras of \(G\) are KK-equivalent. A group that acts on a tree with amenable stabilizers is \(K\)-amenable. An HNN-extension of groups is constructed from two groups \(H\) and \(S\) with a pair \((i_1,i_2)\) of injective group homomorphisms from \(S\) to \(H\) by adding another generator \(t\) with the relations \(t i_1(x) t^{-1} = i_2(x)\) for all \(x\in S\). If \(H\) is amenable, then the HNN-extension acts on a tree with amenable stabilisers. Hence it is \(K\)-amenable. \textit{P. Fima} and \textit{S. Vaes} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 364, No. 5, 2601--2617 (2012; Zbl 1251.46032)] have defined reduced and maximal HNN-extensions of \(C^*\)-algebras. Their main ingredients are conditional expectations and Hilbert modules constructed from them. This construction may be applied to reduced or maximal \(C^*\)-algebras of compact quantum groups. For group \(C^*\)-algebras of discrete groups, this gives the reduced or maximal \(C^*\)-algebra of the HNN-extension of the groups in question. This article shows that HNN-extensions of amenable discrete quantum groups are \(K\)-amenable.