On generalized universal irrational rotation algebras and associated strongly irreducible operators (Q2855479)

Let \(\theta\) be an irrational number. Recall that the irrational rotation algebra \(A_\theta\) is the universal \(C^*\)-algebra generated by two unitaries satisfying the relation \(uv=e^{2\pi i\theta}vu\). The \(C^*\)-algebra \(A_\theta\) also can be identified as the crossed product \(C^*\)-algebra \(\mathrm{C}(\mathbb T)\rtimes_{\sigma}\mathbb Z\), where \(\sigma\) is the automorphism of \(\mathrm{C}(\mathbb T)\) induced by the rotation of angel \(2\pi \theta\).NEWLINENEWLINELet \(\gamma\in\mathrm{C}(\mathbb T)\) be a positive continuous function on the unit circle. The authors introduce \(A_{\theta, \gamma}\), the universal \(C^*\)-algebra generated by \(x\) and \(w\) with respect to the relations NEWLINE\[NEWLINEw^*w=ww^*=1,\;x^*x=\gamma(w),\;xx^*=\gamma(e^{-2\pi i\theta}w),\;\mathrm{and}\;xw=e^{-2\pi i\theta}wx.NEWLINE\]NEWLINE As pointed out in the paper, the abstract algebra \(A_{\theta, \gamma}\) is actually isomorphic to the Putnam sub-\(C^*\)-algebra NEWLINE\[NEWLINE\mathrm{C}^*(\mathrm{C}(\mathbb T), u\mathrm{C}_0(\mathbb T\setminus Y))\subseteq A_\theta,NEWLINE\]NEWLINE where \(A_\theta\) is identified as \(\mathrm{C}(\mathbb T)\rtimes_{\sigma}\mathbb Z\), \(u\) is the canonical unitary and \(Y=\{z\in\mathbb T:\;\gamma(z)=0\}\).NEWLINENEWLINEThe authors calculate the \(K\)-groups of \(A_{\theta, \gamma}\) and develop certain criteria for the simplicity of \(A_{\theta, \gamma}\). It is also shown that, if \(A_{\theta, \gamma}\) is simple, then it is classifiable (in fact, in this case, it is a simple inductive limit of circle algebras).NEWLINENEWLINEA particular interesting example of these \(C^*\)-algebras is when \(\gamma=|{1+z}|\). In this case, the authors show that NEWLINE\[NEWLINEA_{\theta, \gamma}\cong\mathrm{C}^*(u+v)\subseteq A_\theta.NEWLINE\]NEWLINE Together with their results on \(K\)-theory and the simplicity, one concludes that the sub-\(C^*\)-algebra of \(A_\theta\) generated by \(u+v\) is simple, proper, and has a unique trace.NEWLINENEWLINEThe operator \(u+v\) is also shown to be strongly irreducible on the \(\mathrm{II}_1\)-factor generated by \(A_\theta\) in the trace representation; that is, there is no nontrivial idempotent in the \(\mathrm{II}_1\)-factor which commutes with \(u+v\). As a consequence, the spectrum of \(u+v\) has to be connected. A similar calculation is also carried over to all of the operators \(u+v^k\), \(k=1,2,\dots\), but for \(\theta\) in a dense \(G_\delta\) subset of \([0, 1]\).