Flat dimension growth for \(C^{*}\)-algebras (Q852599)

In order to study simple nuclear \(C^*\)-algebras which do not tensorially absorb the Jiang--Su algebra \(\mathcal Z\) [\textit{X.--H.\,Jiang} and \textit{H.--B.\,Su}, Am.\ J.\ Math.\ 121, No.\,2, 359--413 (1999; Zbl 0923.46069)], the author presents two new real-valued invariants: the dimension-rank ratio (for unital AH algebras) and the radius of comparison (for unital stably finite algebras), which distill purely non-\(\mathcal Z\)-stable information: they are insensitive to differences between \(\mathcal Z\)-stable algebras, while detecting differences between non-\(\mathcal Z\)-stable algebras not readily manifest in known invariants. Both invariants can be viewed as measuring the ratio of the matricial size of a \(C^*\)-algebra to its topological dimension. Basic properties of these invariants and their connection to ordered \(K\)-theory are established. In particular, it is proved that the range of the dimension-rank ratio is exhausted by simple algebras, showing that the class of simple nuclear non-\(\mathcal Z\)-stable algebras is uncountable. Some other applications are also given.