Open Mathematics Courses

Foundations of von Neumann algebras

Build Hilbert-space representations from positive functionals, compare norm and operator closures, and classify commutative and finite-dimensional approximation models. The course includes complete functional and complex analysis prerequisites, C*-algebra calculus and quotients, normal duality, projection types, dilation, state decompositions and measurable selection tools.

  1. Hahn–Banach, Baire and the basic theorems on Banach spaces
  2. Weak topologies: Tychonoff, Banach–Alaoglu, Mazur, bipolars, Krein–Milman and Eberlein–Šmulian
  3. Hilbert spaces and compact operators
  4. Cauchy's theorem for cycles and its consequences
  5. Banach algebras, spectrum, holomorphic functional calculus and Gelfand theory
  6. Order, local units and quotients of C*-algebras
  7. Building representations from positive functionals
  8. The spectral theorem for bounded self-adjoint operators
  9. Compact and trace-class operators, the predual of B(H), and the operator topologies
  10. The double commutant theorem
  11. Kaplansky's density theorem and its consequences
  12. Completely positive maps
  13. The universal enveloping von Neumann algebra of a C*-algebra, and W*-algebras
  14. Borel models, measurable inversion and Polish group quotients
  15. Spectral estimates and Borel selection: two reading routes
  16. Commutative operator algebras: measure, order and duality
  17. Projections and types of von Neumann algebras
  18. Polar decomposition of functionals and weak compactness in preduals
  19. Integral representations of states
  20. Finite-dimensional approximations and AF-algebra classification

Supporting chapters

Proofs and dependencies · Source editions · Sources and attribution

Download the complete reader and editable sources · Group representations · Covariant representations