Stone duality above dimension zero: axiomatising the algebraic theory of C(X)

DOI10.1016/J.AIM.2016.11.012MaRDI QIDQ502643zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Publication date 5 January 2017

Published in Advances in Mathematics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1508.07750

abelian \(C^*\)-algebra compact MV-algebra Stone duality Stone-Weierstrass theorem

Equational classes, universal algebra in model theory (03C05) MV-algebras (06D35) Ordered abelian groups, Riesz groups, ordered linear spaces (06F20) Rings and algebras of continuous, differentiable or analytic functions (46E25)

Abstract: It has been known since the work of Duskin and Pelletier four decades ago that KH^op, the category opposite to compact Hausdorff spaces and continuous maps, is monadic over the category of sets. It follows that KH^op is equivalent to a possibly infinitary variety of algebras V in the sense of Slominski and Linton. Isbell showed in 1982 that the Lawvere-Linton algebraic theory of V can be generated using a finite number of finitary operations, together with a single operation of countably infinite arity. In 1983, Banaschewski and Rosicky independently proved a conjecture of Bankston, establishing a strong negative result on the axiomatisability of KH^op. In particular, V is not a finitary variety--Isbell's result is best possible. The problem of axiomatising V by equations has remained open. Using the theory of Chang's MV-algebras as a key tool, along with Isbell's fundamental insight on the semantic nature of the infinitary operation, we provide a finite axiomatisation of V.

Review text

It is well-known that the opposite \(K^{\mathrm{op}}\) of the category \(K\) of compact Hausdorff spaces and continuous maps is not equivalent to any finitary equational class. It is also known that \(K^{op}\) is equivalent to an (infinitary) equational class of algebras in the sense of \textit{J. Słomiński} [Rozprawy Mat. 18, 67 p. (1959; Zbl 0178.34104)] and \textit{F. E. J. Linton} [in: Proc. Conf. Categor. Algebra, La Jolla 1965, 84--94 (1966; Zbl 0201.35003)]. In [Algebra Univers. 15, 153--155 (1982; Zbl 0516.18008)], \textit{J. Isbell} showed that the Lawvere-Linton algebraic theory of such equational class can be generated using a finite number of finitary operations, along with a single operation of countably infinite arity. In 1983, \textit{B. Banaschewski} [Can. J. Math. 36, 1113--1118 (1984; Zbl 0561.18004)] and \textit{J. Rosicky} [Arch. Math. 52, No. 3, 284--288 (1989; Zbl 0665.18004)] independently proved that Isbell's result [loc. cit.] is best possible. The open problem of axiomatizing an equational class equivalent to \(K^{\mathrm{op}}\) by equations is solved in the present paper, where a finite equational axiomatization is given of \(\partial\)-algebras. Up to isomorphism, the latter are expansions of (necessarily semisimple) MV algebras, by the infinitary operation \[ \partial(x_1,x_2,\dots)= \sum_i x_i/2^i. \] Specifically, let \(\Delta\) denote the category whose objects are \(\partial\)-algebras and whose morphisms are MV-homomorphisms that also preserve the \(\partial\) operation. The authors prove that \(K^{\mathrm{op}}\) is equivalent to \(\Delta\). A key tool for the proof is the adjunction constructed by \textit{R. L. O. Cignoli} et al. [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 189, No. 1--3, 37--59 (2004; Zbl 1055.06004)], between the category \(\mathbf {MV}\) of MV-algebras and \(K^{\mathrm{op}}\). In that paper, it is also shown that \(K^{\mathrm{op}}\) is equivalent to the full subcategory of \(\mathbf{MV}\) whose objects are (up to isomorphism) the MV algebras of all \((0,1]\)-valued continuous functions on some compact Hausdorff space. Another main tool for the main result in the paper under review is the categorical equivalence established in the present reviewers paper [J. Funct. Anal. 65, 15--63 (1986; Zbl 0597.46059)], between MV algebras and the category \(G\) of unital abelian lattice-ordered groups. Indeed, complex unital abelian \(C^*\)-algebras are equivalent to a full reflective subcategory of \(G\), and are also equivalent to \(K^{\mathrm{op}}\) via the Gelfand-Naimark duality. For background on MV algebras see [\textit{R. L. O. Cignoli} et al., Algebraic foundations of many-valued reasoning. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers (2000; Zbl 0937.06009)]; and [the reviewer, Advanced Łukasiewicz calculus and MV-algebras. Berlin: Springer (2011; Zbl 1235.03002)].

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