The Dixmier property and tracial states for C*-algebras

TL;DR

This paper characterizes when unital C*-algebras have the Dixmier property based on weak centrality and tracial conditions, extends known theorems, and explores a uniform version with applications to various algebra classes.

Contribution

It generalizes the Haagerup-Zsido theorem, introduces a uniform Dixmier property, and provides criteria and examples for its presence in C*-algebras.

Findings

Characterization of the Dixmier property via weak centrality and tracial conditions.

Necessary and sufficient conditions for the uniform Dixmier property in simple unital C*-algebras.

Formula for the distance between Dixmier sets involving tracial data.

Abstract

It is shown that a unital C*-algebra A has the Dixmier property if and only if it is weakly central and satisfies certain tracial conditions. This generalises the Haagerup-Zsido theorem for simple C*-algebras. We also study a uniform version of the Dixmier property, as satisfied for example by von Neumann algebras and the reduced C*-algebras of Powers groups, but not by all C*-algebras with the Dixmier property, and we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for a simple unital C*-algebra with unique tracial state to have this uniform property. We give further examples of C*-algebras with the uniform Dixmier property, namely all C*-algebras with the Dixmier property and finite radius of comparison-by-traces. Finally, we determine the distance between two Dixmier sets, in an arbitrary unital C*-algebra, by a formula involving tracial data and algebraic numerical ranges.