# Visualize operator algebras?

It seems to me that to study mathematics is to convert the abstract language into diagrams, graphs and images. It does depend on the subject how much this technique can ease the struggle yet most of the time it is helpful, at least to some extent.

However, studying operator algebras and related fields, I find hardly any images or diagrams can be drawn which makes this subject particularly difficult for me.

I checked almost every book I can find yet none of them contains any technique for visualization.

I wonder whether someone here have advice or experience on visualizing operator algebras. Even just simple diagrams may be helpful.

Many thanks!

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It seems to me that one should first answer the following question: how do you visualize a ring? And then, of course: how do you visualize a monoid? –  Qiaochu Yuan Feb 13 '12 at 18:07
@QiaochuYuan Good point! So any suggestion on visualizing a ring? –  Hui Yu Feb 14 '12 at 2:02
@QiaochuYuan. Actually I think there are methods to visualize rings. One often uses a diagram to illustrate how elements in a ring interact with others. The difficulty for operator algebras lies in the fact that they have both the algebraic interaction and norm strictures, which can hardly be described in the same image. –  Hui Yu Feb 14 '12 at 2:07
I don't think that's necessarily true. For example, if your operator algebra is a $C^{\ast}$-algebra then the algebra structure already determines the norm. –  Qiaochu Yuan Feb 14 '12 at 2:08
Qiaochu is right (if he meant to include the star operation in the word algebra structure). A $C^*$-algebra is really just a $^*$-algebra which happens to admit a (then necessarily unique) $C^*$-norm. Also, a $^*$-homomorphism between two $C^*$-algebras is automatically continuous. There are other notions of morphisms between $C^*$-algebras, though: for instance, the completely positive maps defined in purely algebraic terms as well, and Woronowicz's morphisms involving multiplier algebras and corresponding to non-proper continuous maps. –  Rasmus Feb 14 '12 at 8:47

The short piece Quantum Spaces and Their Noncommutative Topology by Joachim Cuntz in the Notices of the AMS contains several visualizations of Quantum Spaces". It might also be worthwhile to take a look at Alain Connes' Noncommutative Geometry.