Concept

Von Neumann algebra

Summary
In mathematics, a von Neumann algebra or W*-algebra is a -algebra of bounded operators on a Hilbert space that is closed in the weak operator topology and contains the identity operator. It is a special type of C-algebra. Von Neumann algebras were originally introduced by John von Neumann, motivated by his study of single operators, group representations, ergodic theory and quantum mechanics. His double commutant theorem shows that the analytic definition is equivalent to a purely algebraic definition as an algebra of symmetries. Two basic examples of von Neumann algebras are as follows: *The ring L^\infty(\mathbb R) of essentially bounded measurable functions on the real line is a commutative von Neumann algebra, whose elements act as multiplication operators by pointwise multiplication on the Hilbert space L^2(\mathbb R) of square-integrable functions. *The algebra \mathcal B(\mathcal H) of all bounded operators on a Hilbert space \ma
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