Necessary applications of set theory to C*-algebras

Ilijas Farah (York University Toronto)

Tuesday 30th June, 2015 11:00-12:00 Maths 325

Abstract

Connections between set theory and operator algebras in the past century were few and
sparse, although von Neumann was an important figure in the early history of both areas
and some key mid-century developments in descriptive set theory occurred within an
operator-algebraic context in the work of Mackey, Glimm, and Effros.

Recently, there has been great progress at the interface of operator algebras, set theory and
model theory.  Long-standing open problems on the structure of C*-algebras were solved
using methods from set theory. I will survey some of these results, with particular emphasis
to those related to the structure of the Calkin algebra.

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