Operator Algebras And Their Applications

* Introduces the fundamental theory of vertex operator algebras and its basic techniques and examples. * Begins with a detailed presentation of the theoretical foundations and proceeds to a range of applications. * Includes a number of new, original results and brings fresh perspective to important works of many other researchers in algebra, lie theory, representation theory, string theory, quantum field theory, and other areas of math and physics.

The study of operator algebras, which grew out of von Neumann's work in the 1920s and the 1930s on modelling quantum mechanics, has in recent years experienced tremendous growth and vitality. This growth has resulted in significant applications in other areas - both within and outside mathematics. The field was a natural candidate for a 1994-1995 program year in Operator Algebras and Applications held at The Fields Institute for Research in the Mathematical Sciences. This volume contains a selection of papers that arose from the seminars and workshops of the program. Topics covered include the classification of amenable C*-algebras, the Baum-Connes conjecture, E[subscript 0] semigroups, subfactors, E-theory, quasicrystals, and the solution to a long-standing problem in operator theory: Can almost commuting self-adjoint matrices be approximated by commuting self-adjoint matrices?

The proceedings of the August 1996 conference contain the 15 contributions of the main speakers. Themes include operator spaces; abstract operator algebras and their Hilbert modules; interaction with ring theory; non-self-adjoint operator algebras (limit algebras, reflexive algebras and subspaces, relations to basis theory); C*- algebraic quantum groups; endomorphisms of operator algebras, conditional expectations and projection maps; and applications, particularly to wavelet theory. A special lecture given by Stelios Negrepontis on the Pythagoreans is also presented. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This book offers a presentation of some new trends in operator theory and operator algebras, with a view to their applications. It consists of separate papers written by some of the leading practitioners in the field. The content is put together by the three editors in a way that should help students and working mathematicians in other parts of the mathematical sciences gain insight into an important part of modern mathematics and its applications. While different specialist authors are outlining new results in this book, the presentations have been made user friendly with the aid of tutorial material. In fact, each paper contains three things: a friendly introduction with motivation, tutorial material, and new research. The authors have strived to make their results relevant to the rest of mathematics. A list of topics discussed in the book includes wavelets, frames and their applications, quantum dynamics, multivariable operator theory, $C*$-algebras, and von Neumann algebras. Some longer papers present recent advances on particular, long-standing problems such as extensions and dilations, the Kadison-Singer conjecture, and diagonals of self-adjoint operators.

The study of operator algebras, which grew out of von Neumann's work in the 1920s and 30s on modelling quantum mechanics, has in recent years experienced tremendous growth and vitality, with significant applications in other areas both within mathematics and in other fields. For this reason, and because of the existence of a strong Canadian school in the subject, the topic was a natural candidate for an emphasis year at The Fields Institute. This volume is the second selection of papers that arose from the seminars and workshops of a year-long program, Operator Algebras and Applications, that took place at The Fields Institute. Topics covered include the classification of amenable C*-algebras, lifting theorems for completely positive maps, and automorphisms of von Neumann algebras of type III.

During the last few years, the theory of operator algebras, particularly non-self-adjoint operator algebras, has evolved dramatically, experiencing both international growth and interfacing with other important areas. The present volume presents a survey of some of the latest developments in the field in a form that is detailed enough to be accessible to advanced graduate students as well as researchers in the field. Among the topics treated are: operator spaces, Hilbert modules, limit algebras, reflexive algebras and subspaces, relations to basis theory, C* algebraic quantum groups, endomorphisms of operator algebras, conditional expectations and projection maps, and applications, particularly to wavelet theory. The volume also features an historical paper offering a new approach to the Pythagoreans' discovery of irrational numbers.

This book is composed of three survey lecture courses and some twenty invited research papers presented to WOAT 2006 - the International Summer School and Workshop on Operator Algebras, Operator Theory and Applications, held at Lisbon in September 2006. The volume reflects recent developments in the area of operator algebras and their interaction with research fields in complex analysis and operator theory. The book is aimed at postgraduates and researchers in these fields.

The articles in this book are based on talks given at the international conference 'Lie algebras, vertex operator algebras and their applications'. The focus of the papers is mainly on Lie algebras, quantum groups, vertex operator algebras and their applications to number theory, combinatorics and conformal field theory.