Schröder–Bernstein theorems for operator algebras
Encyclopedia
The Schröder–Bernstein theorem, from set theory
, has analogs in the context operator algebras. This article discusses such operator-algebraic results.
and E, F are projections in M. Let ~ denote the Murray-von Neumann equivalence relation on M. Define a partial order « on the family of projections by E « F if E ~ F' ≤ F. In other words, E « F if there exists a partial isometry U ∈ M such that U*U = E and UU* ≤ F.
For closed subspaces M and N where projections PM and PN, onto M and N respectively, are elements of M, M « N if PM « PN.
The Schröder–Bernstein theorem states that if M « N and N « M, then M ~ N.
A proof, one that is similar to a set-theoretic argument, can be sketched as follows. Colloquially, N « M means that N can be isometrically embedded in M. So
where N0 is an isometric copy of N in M. By assumption, it is also true that, N, therefore N0, contains an isometric copy M1 of M. Therefore one can write
By induction,
It is clear that
Let
So
and
Notice
The theorem now follows from the countable additivity of ~.
If there exists a projection P in L(H) where P φ(a) = φ(a) P for every a in A, then a subrepresentation σ of φ can be defined in a natural way: σ(a) is φ(a) restricted to the range of P. So φ then can be expressed as a direct sum of two subrepresentations φ = φ' ⊕ σ.
Two representations φ1 and φ2, on H1 and H2 respectively, are said to be unitarily equivalent if there exists an unitary operator U: H2 → H1 such that φ1(a)U = Uφ2(a), for every a.
In this setting, the Schröder–Bernstein theorem reads:
A proof that resembles the previous argument can be outlined. The assumption implies that there exist surjective partial isometries from H to G and from G to H. Fix two such partial isometries for the argument. One has
In turn,
By induction,
and
Now each additional summand in the direct sum expression is obtained using one of the two fixed partial isometries, so
This proves the theorem.
Set theory
Set theory is the branch of mathematics that studies sets, which are collections of objects. Although any type of object can be collected into a set, set theory is applied most often to objects that are relevant to mathematics...
, has analogs in the context operator algebras. This article discusses such operator-algebraic results.
For von Neumann algebras
Suppose M is a von Neumann algebraVon Neumann algebra
In mathematics, a von Neumann algebra or W*-algebra is a *-algebra of bounded operators on a Hilbert space that is closed in the weak operator topology and contains the identity operator. They were originally introduced by John von Neumann, motivated by his study of single operators, group...
and E, F are projections in M. Let ~ denote the Murray-von Neumann equivalence relation on M. Define a partial order « on the family of projections by E « F if E ~ F' ≤ F. In other words, E « F if there exists a partial isometry U ∈ M such that U*U = E and UU* ≤ F.
For closed subspaces M and N where projections PM and PN, onto M and N respectively, are elements of M, M « N if PM « PN.
The Schröder–Bernstein theorem states that if M « N and N « M, then M ~ N.
A proof, one that is similar to a set-theoretic argument, can be sketched as follows. Colloquially, N « M means that N can be isometrically embedded in M. So
where N0 is an isometric copy of N in M. By assumption, it is also true that, N, therefore N0, contains an isometric copy M1 of M. Therefore one can write
By induction,
It is clear that
Let
So
and
Notice
The theorem now follows from the countable additivity of ~.
Representations of C*-algebras
There is also an analog of Schröder–Bernstein for representations of C*-algebras. If A is a C*-algebra, a representation of A is a *-homomorphism φ from A into L(H), the bounded operators on some Hilbert space H.If there exists a projection P in L(H) where P φ(a) = φ(a) P for every a in A, then a subrepresentation σ of φ can be defined in a natural way: σ(a) is φ(a) restricted to the range of P. So φ then can be expressed as a direct sum of two subrepresentations φ = φ' ⊕ σ.
Two representations φ1 and φ2, on H1 and H2 respectively, are said to be unitarily equivalent if there exists an unitary operator U: H2 → H1 such that φ1(a)U = Uφ2(a), for every a.
In this setting, the Schröder–Bernstein theorem reads:
- If two representations ρ and σ, on Hilbert spaces H and G respectively, are each unitarily equivalent to a subrepresentation of the other, then they are unitarily equivalent.
A proof that resembles the previous argument can be outlined. The assumption implies that there exist surjective partial isometries from H to G and from G to H. Fix two such partial isometries for the argument. One has
In turn,
By induction,
and
Now each additional summand in the direct sum expression is obtained using one of the two fixed partial isometries, so
This proves the theorem.
See also
- Schroeder–Bernstein theorem for measurable spaces
- Schröder–Bernstein theorems for Banach spaces
- Schröder–Bernstein propertySchröder–Bernstein propertyA Schröder–Bernstein property is any mathematical property that matches the following patternThe name Schröder–Bernstein property is in analogy to the theorem of the same name ....