Using Steinberg algebras to study decomposability of Leavitt path algebras

Abstract

Given an arbitrary graph $E$ we investigate the relationship between $E$ and the groupoid $G_E$. We show that there is a lattice isomorphism between the lattice of pairs $(H,S)$, where $H$ is a hereditary and saturated set of vertices and $S$ is a set of breaking vertices {associated to $H$}, onto the lattice of open invariant subsets of $G_E^{(0)}$. We use this lattice isomorphism to characterize the decomposability of the Leavitt path algebra $L_K(E)$, where $K$ is a field. First we find a graph condition to characterise when an open invariant subset of $G_E^{(0)}$ is closed. Then we give both a graph condition and a groupoid condition each of which is equivalent to $L_K(E)$ being decomposable {in the sense that it can be written as a direct sum of two nonzero ideals}.