Noncommutative maximal ergodic theorems for positive contractions (Q924652)

Two of the recent major developments in operator ergodic theory are due to \textit{M.\,Junge} and \textit{Q.--H.\thinspace Xu} [J.~Am.\ Math.\ Soc.\ 20, No.\,2, 385--439 (2007; Zbl 1116.46053)] and \textit{G.\,Cohen} [J.~Funct.\ Anal.\ 242, No.\,2, 658--668 (2007; Zbl 1128.47011)]. The first one, the proof of the noncommutative maximal ergodic inequality for (both averages and products of) positive contractions \(T: L_p (M) \to L_p (M), \;p>1\), where \(M\) is a semifinite von Neumann algebra, is a major breakthrough which paved the way to noncommutative ergodic theorems for operators beyond the ones considered in the Lance--Yeadon line of results (see \textit{T.\,Fack} and \textit{H.\,Kosaki} [Pac.\ J.\ Math.\ 123, 269--300 (1986; Zbl 0617.46063)], \textit{M.\,Goldstein} [Funkts.\ Anal.\ Prilozh.\ 14, No.\,4, 69--70 (1980; Zbl 0467.46056)], \textit{F.\,J.\thinspace Yeadon} [J.~Lond.\ Math.\ Soc., II.\ Ser 16, 326--332 (1977; Zbl 0369.46061)], \textit{E.\,C.\thinspace Lance} [Invent.\ Math.\ 37, 201--214 (1976; Zbl 0338.46054)], and \textit{M.\,Goldstein} and \textit{S.\,N.\thinspace Litvinov} [Stud.\ Math.\ 143, No.\,1, 33--41 (2000; Zbl 0968.46049)]). The second one, the maximal inequality for the products of conditional expectation operators on \(L_p (X),\;1<p\leq \infty\), settled an old conjecture of D.\,L.\thinspace Burkholder on the a.e.\ convergence of the products of conditional expectation operators on \(L_p\). The main result of the article under consideration is a generalization of the maximal ergodic inequality (product version) of M.\,Junge and Q.--H.\thinspace ,Xu to the setting where the numerical range of the operator \(T\) in \(L_2 (M)\) is contained in a Stolz region of the form \(D_{\delta}= \{z\in \mathbb C : |1-z| < \delta (1-|z|)\}\) for some \(\delta >0:\) Theorem. Let \(T\) be a positive contraction on a semifinite von Neumann algebra \(M\) with a normal faithful trace \(\tau \) such that \(\tau (T(x)) \leq \tau (x)\) for all \(x\in L_1 (M) \cap M_+. \) If the numerical range of \(T\) is contained in a Stolz region \(D_{\delta}\) with vertex 1, then \[ \| \sup_n{}^{+} T^n (x) \|_2 \leq C_{2,\delta} \| x \|_2\text{ for all }x\in L_2(M). \] This result is also extended to \(L_p (M), \;1<p\leq\infty \). Then, via the method of \textit{B.\,Delyon} and \textit{F.\,Delyon} [Bull.\ Soc.\ Math.\ Fr.\ 127, No.\,~1, 25--41 (1999; Zbl 0937.47004)], the maximal inequality of G. Cohen is extended to the non-commutative setting. As application, some almost uniform and bilaterally almost uniform convergence results for such operators are obtained. This is a well written paper with lucid exposition and clear arguments.