Non-weakly amenable Beurling algebras

TL;DR

This paper investigates the weak amenability of non-commutative Beurling algebras, providing characterizations, criteria, and examples that show when such algebras are not weakly amenable, especially for weighted group and quotient group algebras.

Contribution

It offers new characterizations of derivations, criteria for non-weak amenability, and insights into inheritance properties of weak amenability in weighted group algebras.

Findings

Non-zero group homomorphisms can obstruct weak amenability.

Many polynomial weights lead to non-weakly amenable Heisenberg and ax+b group algebras.

Weak amenability does not always pass to subgroups or quotient algebras.

Abstract

Weak amenability of a weighted group algebra, or a Beurling algebra, is a long-standing open problem. The commutative case has been extensively investigated and fully characterized. We study the non-commutative case. Given a weight function $\omega$ on a locally compact group $G$, we characterize derivations from $L^1(G,\omega)$ into its dual in terms of certain functions. Then we show that for a locally compact IN group $G$, if there is a non-zero continuous group homomorphism $\varphi$: $G\to \mathbb{C}$ such that $\varphi(x)/\omega(x)\omega(x^{-1})$ is bounded on $G$, then $L^1(G,\omega)$ is not weakly amenable. Some useful criteria that rule out weak amenability of $L^1(G,\omega)$ are established. Using them we show that for many polynomial type weights the weighted Heisenberg group algebra is not weakly amenable, neither is the weighted $\boldsymbol{ax+b}$ group algebra. We further study weighted quotient group algebra $L^1(G/H,\hat\omega)$, where $\hat\omega$ is the canonical weight on $G/H$ induced by $\omega$. We reveal that the kernel of the canonical homomorphism from $L^1(G,\omega)$ to $L^1(G/H,\hat\omega)$ is complemented. This allows us to obtain some sufficient conditions under which $L^1(G/H,\hat\omega)$ inherits weak amenability of $L^1(G,\omega)$. We study further weak amenability of Beurling algebras of subgroups. In general, weak amenability of a Beurling algebra does not pass to the Beurling algebra of a subgroup. However, in some circumstances this inheritance can happen. We also give an example to show that weak amenability of both $L^1(H,\omega|_H)$ and $L^1(G/H,\hat\omega)$ does not ensure weak amenability of $L^1(G,\omega)$.