A weak*-topological dichotomy with applications in operator theory

Denote by $[0,\omega_1)$ the locally compact Hausdorff space consisting of all countable ordinals, equipped with the order topology, and let $C_0[0,\omega_1)$ be the Banach space of scalar-valued, continuous functions which are defined on $[0,\omega_1)$ and vanish eventually. We show that a weakly$^*$ compact subset of the dual space of $C_0[0,\omega_1)$ is either uniformly Eberlein compact, or it contains a homeomorphic copy of the ordinal interval $[0,\omega_1]$. Using this result, we deduce that a Banach space which is a quotient of $C_0[0,\omega_1)$ can either be embedded in a Hilbert-generated Banach space, or it is isomorphic to the direct sum of $C_0[0,\omega_1)$ and a subspace of a Hilbert-generated Banach space. Moreover, we obtain a list of eight equivalent conditions describing the Loy-Willis ideal, which is the unique maximal ideal of the Banach algebra of bounded, linear operators on $C_0[0,\omega_1)$. As a consequence, we find that this ideal has a bounded left approximate identity, thus resolving a problem left open by Loy and Willis, and we give new proofs, in some cases of stronger versions, of several known results about the Banach space $C_0[0,\omega_1)$ and the operators acting on it.Comment: accepted to Transactions of the London Mathematical Societ

Noncommutative Lattices and Their Continuum Limits

We consider finite approximations of a topological space $M$ by noncommutative lattices of points. These lattices are structure spaces of noncommutative $C^*$-algebras which in turn approximate the algebra \cc(M) of continuous functions on $M$. We show how to recover the space $M$ and the algebra \cc(M) from a projective system of noncommutative lattices and an inductive system of noncommutative $C^*$-algebras, respectively.Comment: 22 pages, 8 Figures included in the LaTeX Source New version, minor modifications (typos corrected) and a correction in the list of author

Lie groups in nonequilibrium thermodynamics: Geometric structure behind viscoplasticity

Poisson brackets provide the mathematical structure required to identify the reversible contribution to dynamic phenomena in nonequilibrium thermodynamics. This mathematical structure is deeply linked to Lie groups and their Lie algebras. From the characterization of all the Lie groups associated with a given Lie algebra as quotients of a universal covering group, we obtain a natural classification of rheological models based on the concept of discrete reference states and, in particular, we find a clear-cut and deep distinction between viscoplasticity and viscoelasticity. The abstract ideas are illustrated by a naive toy model of crystal viscoplasticity, but similar kinetic models are also used for modeling the viscoplastic behavior of glasses. We discuss some implications for coarse graining and statistical mechanics.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. Keywords: Elastic-viscoplastic materials, Nonequilibrium thermodynamics, GENERIC, Lie groups, Reference state