Right submodules of finite rank for von Neumann dynamical systems

Abstract

Let $(M,\tau ,\sigma ,\Gamma )$ be a (finite) von Neumann dynamical system and let $N$ be a $\Gamma$-invariant unital von Neumann subalgebra of $M$. If $V\subset L^2(M)$ is a right $N$-submodule whose projection $p_V$ has finite trace in $<M,e_N>$ and is $\Gamma$-invariant, then we prove that, for every $\epsilon >0$, one can find a $\Gamma$-invariant submodule $W\subset V$ which has finite rank and such that $Tr(p_V-p_W)<\epsilon$. Furthermore, we also construct a $\sigma$-cocycle that gives the action of $\Gamma$ on a basis of $W$. In particular, this answers a question of T. Austin, T. Eisner and T. Tao.

Statements have been extended to arbitrary actions; 10 pages ; typos fixed