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Let $M$ be an von Neumann algebra, $x\in M_+$ is a positive element, $e\in M$ is a projection ($e^2=e,e^*=e$). $f$ is a bounded Borel function on spectral set $\sigma(x)$ and $f(0)=0$. If $exe = x$, prove that $f(x)\in eMe$.

My attempt: I know that $f(x) \in M$ by Borel functional calculus, but on the reduced von Neumann algebra $eMe$, we can't say that $f(x)\in eMe$, because the spectral set $\sigma(x)$ in $M$ is different from spectral set in $eMe$ even if $exe=x$. I think that $0\notin \sigma(exe)$ but may be belongs to $\sigma(x)$. so this is why we need that $f(0)=0$, but I don't know how to use this condition.

Thanks in advance!

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1 Answer 1

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You don't have to re-do the Borel functional calculus on $eMe$. All you need is the assertion that $f(x)\in eMe$.

Since $exe=x$, for any $n\in\mathbb N$ $$ x^n=x\,x^{n-1}=exe\,x^{n-1}=e\,exe\,x^{n-1}=ex^n. $$ Do the same on the right, or take adjoints, and $x^n=ex^ne$. Thus $p(x)=ep(x)e$ for any polynomial $p$ with $p(0)=0$. The continuous functional calculus then gives you $$\tag1 f(x)=ef(x)e,\qquad f\in C(\sigma(x))\ \text{ such that $f(0)=0$}. $$A typical way to construct the spectral measure for $x$ is to define, for each $\xi\in H$, $$\tag2 f\longmapsto \langle f(x)\xi,\xi\rangle. $$ This is a bounded positive linear functional on $C(\sigma(x))$, and so by Riesz-Markov there exists a regular Borel measure $\mu_\xi$ on $\sigma(x)$ such that $$\tag3 \langle f(x)\xi,\xi\rangle=\int_{\sigma(x)}f\,d\mu_\xi,\qquad f\in C(\sigma(x)). $$ For $f$ bounded Borel, one defines an operator $f(x)\in M$ by $$ \langle f(x)\xi,\xi\rangle=\int_{\sigma(x)}f\,d\mu_\xi. $$ Combining $(1)$ and $(3)$ one gets that $\mu_{e\xi}(\Delta)=\mu_\xi(\Delta)$ for all $\xi\in H$, as long as $0\not\in\Delta$ (since they agree on all continuous $f$ with $f(0)=0$). Then, as long as $f$ is bounded Borel with $f(0)=0$, $$ \langle ef(x)e\xi,\xi\rangle=\langle f(x)e\xi,e\xi\rangle=\int_{\sigma(x)\setminus\{0\}}f\,d\mu_{e\xi}=\int_{\sigma(x)\setminus\{0\}}f\,d\mu_{\xi}=\langle f(x)\xi,\xi\rangle, $$ which shows that $f(x)=ef(x)e\in eMe$.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you! Why polynomial with $p(0)=0$ could approach continuous function with $f(0)=0$ ?And if we want to use continuous functional calculus, we could directly use it, why we need to prove equation for polynomial with $p(0)=0$? $\endgroup$
    – John
    Commented May 20, 2021 at 4:49
  • $\begingroup$ Not sure what you mean with your first question; you want to approximate a continuous $f$ such that $f(0)=0$ with polynomials that take what value at $0$? As for your second question, if you know that $f(x)=ef(x)e$ then yes, you can use continuous functional calculus directly. $\endgroup$ Commented May 20, 2021 at 8:55
  • $\begingroup$ I don't understand why if $ep(x)e=p(x)$ for $p(0)=0$, then $ef(x)e=f(x)$ for $f(0)=0$? because continuous functional calculus ? But on $M$, we can use it for any continuous functions because there exist unit in $M$. We don't need $f(0)=0$. Or because continuous functions could be approximated by polynomial? But function take value $0$ at $0$ could be approximated by polynomial take value $0$ at $0$ ? $\endgroup$
    – John
    Commented May 20, 2021 at 11:28
  • $\begingroup$ Sorry, I don't really follow what you say. If $f(0)\ne0$, then $ef(x)e\ne f(x)$, so I'm not sure where you are going. If $f(0)=0$, then it can be written as a uniform limit of polynomials $p_n$ with $p_n(0)=0$. Then $$\|ef(x)e-f(x)\|\leq \|ef(x)e-ep_n(x)e\|+\|p_n(x)-f(x)\|\leq2\|p_n(x)-f(x)\|\to0, $$ so $ef(x)e=f(x)$. $\endgroup$ Commented May 20, 2021 at 17:22
  • $\begingroup$ Sorry, I made a mistake, I know continuous function can be approximated by polynomials (Weierstrass theorem), but I used to think that if $f(0)=0$, then $p_n$ may be not satisfy $p_n(0)= 0$. Now I know that because $f$ is a uniform limit, then $p(0)$ must be $0$. $\endgroup$
    – John
    Commented May 21, 2021 at 1:39

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