The Asymptotic Ratio Set and Direct Integral Decompositions of a Von Neumann Algebra

Abstract

The fact that any von Neumann algebra on a separable Hilbert space has an essentially unique direct integral decomposition into factors means that there is a global as well as a local aspect to any partial classification of von Neumann algebras. More precisely, suppose that J is a statement about von Neumann algebras which is either true or false for any given von Neumann algebra. Then a von Neumann algebra is said to satisfy J globally if it satisfies J, and to satsify J locally if almost all the factors appearing in some (and hence in any) central decomposition of it satisfy J . In a recent paper [3], H. Araki and E. J. Woods introduced the notion of the asymptotic ratio set of a factor, and by means of this they made remarkable progress in the classification of factors.