$C^*$-isomorphisms associated with two projections on a Hilbert $C^*$-module

TL;DR

This paper investigates $C^*$-isomorphisms related to pairs of projections on Hilbert $C^*$-modules, introducing matched triples and semi-harmonious pairs, and explores their algebraic and unitary equivalence properties with concrete examples.

Contribution

It introduces the concepts of matched triples and semi-harmonious pairs of projections, and analyzes their associated $C^*$-algebras and isomorphisms, including counterexamples and new phenomena.

Findings

Unitary equivalence of $C^*$-algebras for semi-harmonious pairs

Counterexamples for non-semi-harmonious pairs

New phenomena in adjointable operators on Hilbert $C^*$-modules

Abstract

Motivated by two norm equations used to characterize the Friedrichs angle, this paper studies $C^*$-isomorphisms associated with two projections by introducing the matched triple and the semi-harmonious pair of projections. A triple $(P,Q,H)$ is said to be matched if $H$ is a Hilbert $C^*$-module, $P$ and $Q$ are projections on $H$ such that their infimum $P\wedge Q$ exists as an element of $\mathcal{L}(H)$, where $\mathcal{L}(H)$ denotes the set of all adjointable operators on $H$. The $C^*$-subalgebras of $\mathcal{L}(H)$ generated by elements in $\{P-P\wedge Q, Q-P\wedge Q, I\}$ and $\{P,Q,P\wedge Q,I\}$ are denoted by $i(P,Q,H)$ and $o(P,Q,H)$, respectively. It is proved that each faithful representation $(\pi, X)$ of $o(P,Q,H)$ can induce a faithful representation $(\widetilde{\pi}, X)$ of $i(P,Q,H)$ such that \begin{align*}&\widetilde{\pi}(P-P\wedge Q)=\pi(P)-\pi(P)\wedge \pi(Q),\\ &\widetilde{\pi}(Q-P\wedge Q)=\pi(Q)-\pi(P)\wedge \pi(Q). \end{align*} When $(P,Q)$ is semi-harmonious, that is, $\overline{\mathcal{R}(P+Q)}$ and $\overline{\mathcal{R}(2I-P-Q)}$ are both orthogonally complemented in $H$, it is shown that $i(P,Q,H)$ and $i(I-Q,I-P,H)$ are unitarily equivalent via a unitary operator in $\mathcal{L}(H)$. A counterexample is constructed, which shows that the same may be not true when $(P,Q)$ fails to be semi-harmonious. Likewise, a counterexample is constructed such that $(P,Q)$ is semi-harmonious, whereas $(P,I-Q)$ is not semi-harmonious. Some additional examples indicating new phenomena of adjointable operators acting on Hilbert $C^*$-modules are also provided.