## Constructing new C*-algebras – Crossed product.

In this post I want to cover the concept of a crossed product C*-algebras. These are algebras which arise naturally as C*-algebras associated with dynamical systems and (as the name suggests) has many similarities with the semidirect of groups. It is a wide area of active research. To simplify things, unless stated otherwise, $\mathcal{A}$ will denote a unital C*-algebra, $G$ a discrete group and $H$ will always denote a complex Hilbert space. I will give references for the more general definitions when the C*-algebra is non-unital or the group is only assumed to be locally compact, as this would require the use of multiplier algebras and Haar measures/integrals making the exposition less approachable and the notation a lot less readable.
Continue reading “Constructing new C*-algebras – Crossed product.”

## Constructing new C*-algebras – Injective and Projective limits

The injective (or direct) limit of C*-algebras is one way to construct new C*-algebras from directed system of C*-algebras (defined below), and is an essential tool in operator  theory, so one may as well get acquainted with it. The projective limit (or inverse limit) is not as common it seems, but I will add it here for completeness. In this post I will try to give a definition of the construct by universal properties of colimits in the category of C*-algebras, but reducing the prerequisites from category theory to a bare minimum. The point is to highlight that similarities between direct limits of groups, rings, algebras etc., stems from the fact that they all solve the same universal problem in their respective categories, and to justify why some of these limits/colimits are preserved under certain transformations. Though the similarities may be evidenced, this is understandably (but also unfortunately) often not addressed in the classical references of operator theory, as a formal definition of a limit/colimit would be a significant digression.
Continue reading “Constructing new C*-algebras – Injective and Projective limits”

## A tour of functional analysis 1 – Locally convex vector spaces and the Hahn-Banach theorem(s)

One of the pillars of functional analysis is the Hahn-Banach theorem, so it makes sense to dedicate a post to this theorem. On normed spaces, the theorem has a plethora of interesting corollaries, some of which will be stated here. The locally convex spaces are of interest since they are the most rudimentary topological vector spaces on which the the Hahn-Banach theorem can be used to extend continuous linear functionals, and encompasses a sizable chunk of the topological vector spaces one might meet in the wild.