Kaplansky density theorem

In the theory of von Neumann algebras, the Kaplansky density theorem, due to Irving Kaplansky, is a fundamental approximation theorem. The importance and ubiquity of this technical tool led Gert Pedersen to comment in one of his books^[1] that,

The density theorem is Kaplansky's great gift to mankind. It can be used every day, and twice on Sundays.

Formal statement

Let K^- denote the strong-operator closure of a set K in B(H), the set of bounded operators on the Hilbert space H, and let (K)₁ denote the intersection of K with the unit ball of B(H).

Kaplansky density theorem.^[2] If $A$ is a self-adjoint algebra of operators in $B(H)$, then each element $a$ in the unit ball of the strong-operator closure of $A$ is in the strong-operator closure of the unit ball of $A$. In other words, $(A)_1^{-} = (A^{-})_1$. If $h$ is a self-adjoint operator in $(A^{-})_1$, then $h$ is in the strong-operator closure of the set of self-adjoint operators in $(A)_1$.

The Kaplansky density theorem can be used to formulate some approximations with respect to the strong operator topology.

1) If h is a positive operator in (A^-)₁, then h is in the strong-operator closure of the set of self-adjoint operators in (A⁺)₁, where A⁺ denotes the set of positive operators in A.

2) If A is a C*-algebra acting on the Hilbert space H and u is a unitary operator in A^-, then u is in the strong-operator closure of the set of unitary operators in A.

In the density theorem and 1) above, the results also hold if one considers a ball of radius r > 0, instead of the unit ball.

Proof

The standard proof uses the fact that, a bounded continuous real-valued function f is strong-operator continuous. In other words, for a net {a_α} of self adjoint operators in A, the continuous functional calculus a → f(a) satisfies,

$\lim f(a_{\alpha}) = f (\lim a_{\alpha})$

in the strong operator topology. This shows that self-adjoint part of the unit ball in A^- can be approximated strongly by self-adjoint elements in A. A matrix computation in M₂(A) considering the self-adjoint operator with entries 0 on the diagonal and a and a^* at the other positions, then removes the self-adjointness restriction and proves the theorem.

See also

• Jacobson density theorem

Notes

1. Pg. 25; Pedersen, G. K., C*-algebras and their automorphism groups, London Mathematical Society Monographs, ISBN 978-0125494502.
2. Theorem 5.3.5; Richard Kadison, Fundamentals of the Theory of Operator Algebras, Vol. I : Elementary Theory, American Mathematical Society. ISBN 978-0821808191.

References

• Kadison, Richard, Fundamentals of the Theory of Operator Algebras, Vol. I : Elementary Theory, American Mathematical Society. ISBN 978-0821808191.
• V.F.R.Jones von Neumann algebras; incomplete notes from a course.
• M. Takesaki Theory of Operator Algebras I ISBN 3-540-42248-X