Embeddings of von Neumann algebras into uniform Roe algebras and quasi-local algebras (Q6065771)

The authors study embeddings of von Neumann algebras into uniform Roe algebras. This study is based on, and builds from, previous literature of the authors (together with some other authors) about ``rigidity'' questions of uniform Roe algebras; \emph{i.e.}\ the very general question of whether the existence of an isomorphism between uniform Roe algebras \(C_u^*(X) \cong C_u^*(Y)\) implies the existence of a coarse equivalence between the metric spaces \(X\) and \(Y\). Nevertheless, this paper is particularly concerned with how these uniform Roe algebras may contain von Neumann algebras, and under which conditions this may happen. Recall that, given a (``uniformly locally finite'') metric space \((X, d)\), the \emph{uniform Roe algebra of \(X\)} is the norm closure of the set of (linear bounded) operators \(t : \ell^2(X) \to \ell^2(X)\) such that \(\sup \{d(x_1,x_2) \mid x_1, x_2 \in X \text{ and } \langle \delta_{x_2}, t \delta_{x_1}\rangle\neq0\} < \infty\). This last quantity is usually known as the ``propagation'' of \(t\), and such \(t\)'s are said to be of ``finite propagation''. Note that it is always the case that the von Neumann algebra \(\ell^\infty(X)\) is contained in \(C_u^*(X)\), as these have ``trivial propagation''. The kind of questions the paper is concerned about are then of the following nature: \begin{center} \emph{If a von Neumann algebra \(M\) embeds into \(C_u^*(X)\), is \(M\) diffuse? Is it atomic? Can \(\prod_k M_{n_k}\) be contained in \(C_u^*(X)\) for some increasing sequence \(\{n_k\}_k\)?} \end{center} Recall, as well, that ``coarse geometry'' is a paradigm of geometry where two objects are identified when they share the same large scale features, that is, when there are maps \(f : X \to Y\) and \(g : Y \to X\) such that \(\sup_{x} d(x, g(f(x))) < \infty\) (and similarly for \(f \circ g\)). Ever since the pioneering work of Roe, it has been well known that coarse geometry and ``Roe'' algebras (of which uniform Roe algebras are a sub-class) are closely related. Indeed, heuristically speaking, coarsely equivalent spaces usually yield isomorphic Roe algebras. For this to be true one needs, in fact, the spaces to be \emph{uniformly locally finite}, that is, \(\sup_{x \in X}|B_r(x)| < \infty\) for all \(x \in X\). In this paper, the authors follow this coarse paradigm and prove the following theorems. \textbf{Theorem 1.4.} There is no embedding of a diffuse von Neumann algebra into \(C_u^*(X)\), where \(X\) is a uniformly locally finite metric space. The above result decreases the class of possible von Neumann algebras to those with separable predual and atomic, \emph{i.e.}\ of the form \(\prod_{k} M_{n_k}\) (as shown in Corollary 1.5). Immediately, the authors realize that the above result has the following consequence. \textbf{Corollary 1.6.} If \(\prod_k M_{n_k}\) embeds into \(C_u^*(X)\), where \(X\) has property A, then the sequence \(\{n_k\}_k\) is bounded. The latter is a consequence of the well known fact that property A of a space \(X\) implies exactness of its uniform Roe algebra. Moreover, exactness passes to subalgebras, and \(\prod_k M_{n_k}\) is exact if and only if \(\{n_k\}_k\) is bounded. The last fundamental theorem the authors prove is quite technical, but has the following as its main consequence. \textbf{Corollary 1.9.} Assume \(C_u^*(X)\) contains no non-compact ghost projections. If a von Neumann algebra \(M\) embeds into \(C_u^*(X)\) via a map sending minimal projections to compact operators, then \(M \cong \prod_k M_{n_k}\) for some bounded \(\{n_k\}_k\). It is worthwhile to mention that, in fact, the authors prove the above results for embeddings into the larger C*-algebra \(C^*_{ql}(X)\), made of \emph{quasi-local} operators. Also, the main techniques used in the paper are of the same nature as those used in the ``rigidity'' papers alluded to earlier in these notes.