Finiteness of von Neumann algebras and non-commutative \(L^ p\)-spaces (Q757795)

Let M be a von Neumann algebra and \(L^ p(M)\) \((0<p<\infty)\) be a non- commutative \(L^ p\)-space for M in the sense of \textit{U. Haagerup} [Colleq. int. CNRS, No.274, 175-184 (1979; Zbl 0426.46045)]. The author proves that the relation \(a\sim b\) between two positive elements a and b in \(L^ p(M)\) defined by \(a=\sum^{\infty}_{n=1}x^*_ nx_ n\) and \(b=\sum^{\infty}_{n=1}x_ nx^*_ n\) for a sequence \(\{x_ n\}\) in \(L^{2p}(M)\) is a countably additive equivalence relation (Theorem 3.3) [for operator algebras cf. \textit{R. Kadison} and \textit{G. Pedersen}, Math. Scand. 27, 205-222 (1970; Zbl 0217.168); \textit{J. Cuntz} and \textit{G. Pedersen}, J. Funct. Anal. 33, 135-164 (1979; Zbl 0427.46042)]. The result naturally implies the definition of finiteness for a positive element in \(L^ p(M)\) and then for the space \(L^ p(M)\). It is then proved that for \(1<p<\infty\), the space \(L^ p(M)\) is finite if and only if M is finite as a von Neumann algebra (Theorem 4.7).