Homomorphisms of Fourier–Stieltjes algebras

Abstract

Every homomorphism $\varphi: B(G) \rightarrow B(H)$ between Fourier-Stieltjes algebras on locally compact groups $G$ and $H$ is determined by a continuous mapping $\alpha: Y \rightarrow \Delta(B(G))$, where $Y$ is a set in the open coset ring of $H$ and $\Delta(B(G))$ is the Gelfand spectrum of $B(G)$ (a $*$-semigroup). We exhibit a large collection of $\alpha$ for which $\varphi=j_\alpha: B(G) \rightarrow B(H)$ is a completely positive/completely contractive/completely bounded homomorphism and establish converse statements in several instances. For example, we fully characterize all completely positive/completely contractive/completely bounded homomorphisms $\varphi: B(G) \rightarrow B(H)$ when $G$ is a Euclidean- or $p$-adic-motion group. In these cases, our description of the completely positive/completely contractive homomorphisms employs the notion of a fusion map of a compatible system of homomorphisms/affine maps and is quite different from the Fourier algebra situation.