A Murray-von Neumann type classification of $C^*$-algebras

Abstract

We define type $\mathfrak{A}$, type $\mathfrak{B}$, type $\mathfrak{C}$ as well as C*-semi-finite C*-algebras. It is shown that a von Neumann algebra is a type $\mathfrak{A}$, type $\mathfrak{B}$, type $\mathfrak{C}$ or C*-semi-finite C*-algebra if and only if it is, respectively, a type I, type II, type III or semi-finite von Neumann algebra. Any type I C*-algebra is of type $\mathfrak{A}$ (actually, type $\mathfrak{A}$ coincides with the discreteness as defined by Peligrad and Zsido), and any type II C*-algebra (as defined by Cuntz and Pedersen) is of type $\mathfrak{B}$. Moreover, any type $\mathfrak{C}$ C*-algebra is of type III (in the sense of Cuntz and Pedersen). Furthermore, any purely infinite C*-algebra (in the sense of Kirchberg and Rordam) with real rank zero is of type $\mathfrak{C}$, and any separable purely infinite C*-algebra with stable rank one is also of type $\mathfrak{C}$. We also prove that type $\mathfrak{A}$, type $\mathfrak{B}$, type $\mathfrak{C}$ and C*-semi-finiteness are stable under taking hereditary C*-subalgebras, multiplier algebras and strong Morita equivalence. Furthermore, any C*-algebra $A$ contains a largest type $\mathfrak{A}$ closed ideal $J_\mathfrak{A}$, a largest type $\mathfrak{B}$ closed ideal $J_\mathfrak{B}$, a largest type $\mathfrak{C}$ closed ideal $J_\mathfrak{C}$ as well as a largest C*-semi-finite closed ideal $J_\mathfrak{sf}$. Among them, we have $J_\mathfrak{A} + J_\mathfrak{B}$ being an essential ideal of $J_\mathfrak{sf}$, and $J_\mathfrak{A} + J_\mathfrak{B} + J_\mathfrak{C}$ being an essential ideal of $A$. On the other hand, $A/J_\mathfrak{C}$ is always C*-semi-finite, and if $A$ is C*-semi-finite, then $A/J_\mathfrak{B}$ is of type $\mathfrak{A}$.