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Nathanial P. Brown

Publications and source records attributed to Nathanial P. Brown.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2021

The UCT problem for nuclear $C^\ast$-algebras

In recent years, a large class of nuclear $C^\ast$-algebras have been classified, modulo an assumption on the Universal Coefficient Theorem (UCT). We think this assumption is redundant and propose a strategy for proving it. Indeed, following the original proof of the classification theorem, we propose bridging the gap between reduction theorems and examples. While many such bridges are possible, various approximate ideal structures appear quite promising.

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arXiv2017

Decomposable approximations revisited

Nuclear C*-algebras enjoy a number of approximation properties, most famously the completely positive approximation property. This was recently sharpened to arrange for the incoming maps to be sums of order-zero maps. We show that, in addition, the outgoing maps can be chosen to be asymptotically order-zero. Further these maps can be chosen to be asymptotically multiplicative if and only if the C*-algebra and all its traces are quasidiagonal.

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arXiv2016

Covering dimension of C*-algebras and 2-coloured classification

We introduce the concept of finitely coloured equivalence for unital *-homomorphisms between C*-algebras, for which unitary equivalence is the 1-coloured case. We use this notion to classify *-homomorphisms from separable, unital, nuclear C*-algebras into ultrapowers of simple, unital, nuclear, Z-stable C*-algebras with compact extremal trace space up to 2-coloured equivalence by their behaviour on traces; this is based on a 1-coloured classification theorem for certain order zero maps, also in terms of tracial data. As an application we calculate the nuclear dimension of non-AF, simple, separable, unital, nuclear, Z-stable C*-algebras with compact extremal trace space: it is 1. In the case that the extremal trace space also has finite topological covering dimension, this confirms the remaining open implication of the Toms-Winter conjecture. Inspired by homotopy-rigidity theorems in geometry and topology, we derive a "homotopy equivalence implies isomorphism" result for large classes of C*-algebras with finite nuclear dimension.

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arXiv2013

Groups associated to $II_1$-factors

We extend recent work of the first named author, constructing a natural Hom semigroup associated to any pair of II$_1$-factors. This semigroup always satisfies cancelation, hence embeds into its Grothendieck group. When the target is an ultraproduct of a McDuff factor (e.g., $R^ω$), this Grothendieck group turns out to carry a natural vector space structure; in fact, it is a Banach space with natural actions of outer automorphism groups.

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arXiv2012

New C*-completions of discrete groups and related spaces

Let $Γ$ be a discrete group. To every ideal in $\ell^{\infty}(\G)$ we associate a C$^*$-algebra completion of the group ring that encapsulates the unitary representations with matrix coefficients belonging to the ideal. The general framework we develop unifies some classical results and leads to new insights. For example, we give the first C$^*$-algebraic characterization of a-T-menability; a new characterization of property (T); new examples of "exotic" quantum groups; and, after extending our construction to transformation groupoids, we improve and simplify a recent result of Douglas and Nowak.

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arXiv2011

Topological dynamical systems associated to II_1 factors

If $N \subset \R$ is a separable II$_1$-factor, the space $\Hom(N,\R)$ of unitary equivalence classes of unital *-homomorphisms $N \to \R$ is shown to have a surprisingly rich structure. If $N$ is not hyperfinite, $\Hom(N,\R)$ is an infinite-dimensional, complete, metrizeable topological space with convex-like structure, and the outer automorphism group $\Out(N)$ acts on it by "affine" homeomorphisms. (If $N \cong R$, then $\Hom(N,\R)$ is just a point.) Property (T) is reflected in the extreme points -- they're discrete in this case. For certain free products $N = Σ\ast R$, every countable group acts nontrivially on $\Hom(N, \R)$, and we show the extreme points are not discrete for these examples. Finally, we prove that the dynamical systems associated to free group factors are isomorphic.

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arXiv2008

The symbiosis of C*- and W*-algebras

These days it is common for young operator algebraists to know a lot about C*-algebras, or a lot about von Neumann algebras -- but not both. Though a natural consequence of the breadth and depth of each subject, this is unfortunate as the interplay between the two theories has deep historical roots and has led to many beautiful results. We review some of these connections, in the context of amenability, with the hope of convincing (younger) readers that tribalism impedes progress.

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arXiv2008

Isomorphism of Hilbert modules over stably finite C*-algebras

It is shown that if A is a stably finite C*-algebra and E is a countably generated Hilbert A-module, then E gives rise to a compact element of the Cuntz semigroup if and only if E is algebraically finitely generated and projective. It follows that if E and F are equivalent in the sense of Coward, Elliott and Ivanescu (CEI) and E is algebraically finitely generated and projective, then E and F are isomorphic. In contrast to this, we exhibit two CEI-equivalent Hilbert modules over a stably finite C*-algebra that are not isomorphic.

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arXiv2007

Free Entropy Dimension in Amalgamated Free Products

We calculate the microstates free entropy dimension of natural generators in an amalgamated free product of certain von Neumann algebras, with amalgamation over a hyperfinite subalgebra. In particular, some `exotic' Popa algebra generators of free group factors are shown to have the expected free entropy dimension. We also show that microstates and non--microstates free entropy dimension agree for generating sets of many groups. In the appendix by Wolfgang Lueck, the first L^2-Betti number for certain amalgamated free products of groups is calculated.

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arXiv2007

The Cuntz semigroup, the Elliott conjecture, and dimension functions on C*-algebras

We prove that the Cuntz semigroup is recovered functorially from the Elliott invariant for a large class of C*-algebras. In particular, our results apply to the largest class of simple C*-algebras for which K-theoretic classification can be hoped for. This work has three significant consequences. First, it provides new conceptual insight into Elliott's classification program, proving that the usual form of the Elliott conjecture is equivalent, among Z-stable algebras, to a conjecture which is in general substantially weaker and for which there are no known counterexamples. Second and third, it resolves, for the class of algebras above, two conjectures of Blackadar and Handelman concerning the basic structure of dimension functions on C*-algebras. We also prove in passing that the Cuntz-Pedersen semigroup is recovered functorially from the Elliott invariant for a large class of unital simple C*-algebras.

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arXiv2007

Three Applications of the Cuntz Semigroup

Building on work of Elliott and coworkers, we present three applications of the Cuntz semigroup: (i) for many simple C$^*$-algebras, the Thomsen semigroup is recovered functorially from the Elliott invariant, and this yields a new proof of Elliott's classification theorem for simple, unital AI algebras; (ii) for the algebras in (i), classification of their Hilbert modules is similar to the von Neumann algebra context; (iii) for the algebras in (i), approximate unitary equivalence of self-adjoint operators is characterised in terms of the Elliott invariant.

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arXiv2006

Kazhdan's Property T and C*-algebras

Kazhdan's notion of property T has recently been imported to the C$^*$-world by Bekka. Our objective is to extend a well known fact to this realm; we show that a nuclear C$^*$-algebra with property T is finite dimensional (for all intents and purposes). Though the result is not surprising, the proof is significantly more complicated than the discrete group case.

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arXiv2006

Inductive limits, unique traces and tracial rank zero

In the program to classify C$^*$-algebras, it is very important to find abstract conditions which are sufficient to imply that a given algebra has tracial rank zero, in the sense of Huaxin Lin. Even in the presence of a unique trace, we show that the union of the known necessary conditions is not enough.

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arXiv2006

Invariant means and finite representation theory of C*-algebras

Various subsets of the tracial state space of a unital C*-algebra are studied. The largest of these subsets has a natural interpretation as the space of invariant means. II_1-factor representations of a class of C*-algebras considered by Sorin Popa are also studied. These algebras are shown to have an unexpected variety of II_1-factor representations. This general theory is related to various other problems as well. Applications include: (1) A characterization of R^ω-embeddable factors in terms of Lance's WEP. (2) A classification theorem for certain simple, nuclear C*-algebras with unique trace. (3) For a self-adjoint operator there always exists a filtration such that the finite section method (from numerical analysis) works as well as could be hoped for. (4) New examples of non-tracially AF algebras which answer negatively questions of Sorin Popa and Huaxin Lin.

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