On the topological ranks of Banach $^*$-algebras associated with groups of subexponential growth

Abstract

Let $G$ be a group of subexponential growth and $\mathscr C\overset{q}{\to}G$ a Fell bundle. We show that any Banach $^*$-algebra that sits between the associated $\ell^1$-algebra $\ell^1( G\,\vert\,\mathscr C)$ and its $C^*$-envelope has the same topological stable rank and real rank as $\ell^1( G\,\vert\,\mathscr C)$. We apply this result to compute the topological stable rank and real rank of various classes of symmetrized twisted $L^p$-crossed products and show that some twisted $L^p$-crossed products have topological stable rank 1. Our results are new even in the case of (untwisted) group algebras.