Exotic \(\mathrm{C}^*\)-algebras of geometric groups (Q6184598)

An interesting open problem about group C*-algebras is whether every non-amenable group \(G\) has an exotic C*-algebra, that is whether there is a proper intermediate quotient \(\mathrm{C}^*_{\mathrm{max}}(G) \longrightarrow A \longrightarrow \mathrm{C}^*_{\mathrm{red}}(G)\). The principal objective of the present article is to add new examples to the list of groups known to have exotic C*-algebras. The authors show that for specific groups and for some \(2 < p < \infty\) the group C*-algebra generated by unitary representations with \(\mathrm{L}^p\)-summable matrix coefficients \(\mathrm{C}^*_{\mathrm{L}^p}(G)\) is not isomorphic with the reduced group C*-algebra. As the trivial representation separates \(\mathrm{C}_{\mathrm{max}}^*(G)\) from \(\mathrm{C}^*_{\mathrm{L}^p}(G)\), this proves the existence of exotic C*-algebras for the group in question. The key novel notion group notion that is used to establish this result is what the authors call the integrable Haagerup property. For context, recall that a locally compact group \(G\) has the Haagerup property if some \(\mathrm{C}_0\)-representation contains approximately invariant unit vectors. Strengthening this requirement, the authors define \(G\) to have the integrable Haagerup property if some unitary representation with coefficients in \(\bigcup_{1 \leq p < \infty} \mathrm{L}^p(G)\) has approximately invariant unit vectors. The author's Corollary 4.3 says that any non-amenable locally compact group with the integrable Haagerup property has an exotic group C*-algebra. Examples of groups satisfying the requirements of Corollary 4.3 are Coxeter groups and groups acting geometrically on trees. An new open problem posed as Question 3.4 in the present article is whether the enveloping C*-algebra of the symmetrised \(p\)-pseudofunction algebra \(\mathrm{PF}^*_p(G)\) is isomorphic with \(\mathrm{C}^*_{\mathrm{L}^p}(G)\) for all locally compact groups.