Projections in Rotation Algebras and Theta Functions

Abstract

For each $\alpha \in (0,1)$, $A_\alpha$ denotes the universal $C^*$-algebra generated by two unitaries $u$ and $v$, which satisfy the commutation relation $uv=\exp (2\pi i\alpha)vu$. We consider the order four automorphism $\sigma$ of $A_\alpha$ defined by $\sigma (u)=v$, $\sigma (v)=u^{-1}$ and describe a method for constructing projections in the fixed point algebra $A_\alpha^\sigma$, using Rieffel's imprimitivity bimodules and Jacobi's theta functions. In the case $\alpha =q^{-1}$, $q\in {\mathbf Z}$, $q\geq 2$, we give explicit formulae for such projections and find a lower bound for the norm of the Harper operator $u+u^* +v+v^*$.