A non-commutative Fejér theorem for crossed products, the approximation property, and applications

Abstract

We prove that a locally compact group has the approximation property (AP), introduced by Haagerup-Kraus, if and only if a non-commutative Fejér theorem holds for the associated $C^{\ast }$- or von Neumann crossed products. As applications, we answer three open problems in the literature. Specifically, we show that any locally compact group with the AP is exact. This generalizes a result by Haagerup-Kraus, and answers a problem raised by Li. We also answer a question of Bédos-Conti on the Fejér property of discrete $C^{\ast }$-dynamical systems, as well as a question by Anoussis-Katavolos-Todorov for all locally compact groups with the AP. In our approach, which relies on operator space techniques, we develop a notion of Fubini crossed product for locally compact groups, and a dynamical version of the AP for actions associated with $C^{\ast }$- or $W^{\ast }$-dynamical systems.

v1: 19 pages, v2: overall presentation significantly improved, established converse of main result, and added answer to a question of Bédos-Conti. v3: minor corrections, v4: added a few remarks and references v5: journal version, Int. Math. Res. Not. IMRN, to appear, 20 pages