group -algebra
Let be the group ring of a discrete group .It has two completions to a -algebra:
- Reduced group -algebra.
The reduced group -algebra, , is obtained by completing in the operator norm
for its regular representation on .
- Maximal group -algebra.
The maximal group -algebra, or just ,is defined by the following universal property
:any *-homomorphism
from to some (the -algebra of bounded operators
on some Hilbert space
)factors through the inclusion .
If is amenable then .