The Riesz space structure of an Abelian W*-algebra

Abstract

Let M be an Abelian W*-algebra of operators on a Hilbert space H. Let M0 be the set of all linear, closed, densely defined transformations in H which commute with every unitary operator in the commutant M’ of M. A well known result of R. Pallu de Barriere states that if ɸ is a normal positive linear functional on M, then ɸ is of the form T → (Tx, x) for some x in H, where T is in M. An elementary proof of this result is given, using only those properties which are consequences of the fact that ReM is a Dedekind complete Riesz space with plenty of normal integrals. The techniques used lead to a natural construction of the class M0, and an elementary proof is given of the fact that a positive self-adjoint transformation in M0 has a unique positive square root in M0. It is then shown that when the algebraic operations are suitably defined, then M0 becomes a commutative algebra. If ReM0 denotes the set of all self-adjoint elements of M0, then it is proved that ReM0 is Dedekind complete, universally complete Riesz spaces which contains ReM as an order dense ideal. A generalization of the result of R. Pallu de la Barriere is obtained for the Riesz space ReM0 which characterizes the normal integrals on the order dense ideals of ReM0. It is then shown that ReM0 may be identified with the extended order dual of ReM, and that ReM0 is perfect in the extended sense. Some secondary questions related to the Riesz space ReM are also studied. In particular it is shown that ReM is a perfect Riesz space, and that every integral is normal under the assumption that every decomposition of the identity operator has non-measurable cardinal. The presence of atoms in ReM is examined briefly, and it is shown that ReM is finite dimensional if and only if every order bounded linear functional on ReM is a normal integral.