von Neumann double commutant theorem


The von Neumann double commutant theorem is a remarkable result in the theory of self-adjoint algebras of operatorsMathworldPlanetmath on Hilbert spacesMathworldPlanetmath, as it expresses purely topological aspects of these algebras in terms of purely algebraic properties.

Theorem - von Neumann - Let H be a Hilbert space (http://planetmath.org/HilbertSpace) and B(H) its algebra of bounded operatorsMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmath. Let be a *-subalgebra of B(H) that contains the identity operatorMathworldPlanetmath. The following statements are equivalentMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath:

  1. 1.

    =′′, i.e. equals its double commutant.

  2. 2.

    is closed in the weak operator topology.

  3. 3.

    is closed in the strong operator topology.

Thus, a purely topological property of a , as being closed for some operator topology, is equivalent to a purely algebraic property, such as being equal to its double commutant.

This result is also known as the bicommutant theorem or the von Neumann density theorem.

Title von Neumann double commutant theorem
Canonical name VonNeumannDoubleCommutantTheorem
Date of creation 2013-03-22 18:40:27
Last modified on 2013-03-22 18:40:27
Owner asteroid (17536)
Last modified by asteroid (17536)
Numerical id 4
Author asteroid (17536)
Entry type Theorem
Classification msc 46H35
Classification msc 46K05
Classification msc 46L10
Synonym double commutant theorem
Synonym bicommutant theorem
Synonym von Neumann bicommutant theorem
Synonym von Neumann density theorem