Preduals of semigroup algebras

For a locally compact group G, the measure convolution algebra M(G) carries a natural coproduct. In previous work, we showed that the canonical predual C 0(G) of M(G) is the unique predual which makes both the product and the coproduct on M(G) weak*-continuous. Given a discrete semigroup S, the convolution algebra ℓ 1(S) also carries a coproduct. In this paper we examine preduals for ℓ 1(S) making both the product and the coproduct weak*-continuous. Under certain conditions on S, we show that ℓ 1(S) has a unique such predual. Such S include the free semigroup on finitely many generators. In general, however, this need not be the case even for quite simple semigroups and we construct uncountably many such preduals on ℓ 1(S) when S is either ℤ+×ℤ or (ℕ,⋅)

Dual Banach algebras: Connes-amenability, normal, virtual diagonals, and injectivity of the predual bimodule

Let $A$ be a dual Banach algebra with predual $A_\ast$ and consider the following assertions: (A) $A$ is Connes-amenable; (B) $A$ has a normal, virtual diagonal; (C) $A_\ast$ is an injective $A$-bimodule. For general $A$, all that is known is that (B) implies (A) whereas, for von Neumann algebras, (A), (B), and (C) are equivalent. We show that (C) always implies (B) whereas the converse is false for $A = M(G)$ where $G$ is an infinite, locally compact group. Furthermore, we present partial solutions towards a characterization of (A) and (B) for $B(G)$ in terms of $G$: For amenable, discrete $G$ as well as for certain compact $G$, they are equivalent to $G$ having an abelian subgroup of finite index. The question of whether or not (A) and (B) are always equivalent remains open. However, we introduce a modified definition of a normal, virtual diagonal and, using this modified definition, characterize the Connes-amenable, dual Banach algebras through the existence of an appropriate notion of virtual diagonal.Comment: 21 pages; some typos remove

On the geometry of von Neumann algebra preduals

Let $M$ be a von Neumann algebra and let $M_\star$ be its (unique) predual. We study when for every $\varphi\in M_\star$ there exists $\psi\in M_\star$ solving the equation $\|\varphi \pm \psi\|=\|\varphi\|=\|\psi\|$. This is the case when $M$ does not contain type I nor type III$_1$ factors as direct summands and it is false at least for the unique hyperfinite type III$_1$ factor. We also characterize this property in terms of the existence of centrally symmetric curves in the unit sphere of $M_\star$ of length 4. An approximate result valid for all diffuse von Neumann algebras allows to show that the equation has solution for every element in the ultraproduct of preduals of diffuse von Neumann algebras and, in particular, the dual von Neumann algebra of such ultraproduct is diffuse. This shows that the Daugavet property and the uniform Daugavet property are equivalent for preduals of von Neumann algebras.Comment: 10 pages; some facts added; to appear in Positivit

On the predual of non-commutative H∞H^\infty

The unique predual $M_\star/A_\perp$ of a non-commutative $H^\infty$-algebra $A = H^\infty(M,\tau)$ is investigated. In particular, we will prove the liftability property of weakly relatively compact subsets in $M_\star/A_\perp$ to $M_\star$.Comment: 10 pages, Final version, to appear in BLM