Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2010 / iii / Paper 7 / 2 / b / Solution

Let $V$ be a finite-dimensional real or complex inner product space, and let $A\subseteq \mathrm{End}(V)$ be a unital subalgebra stable under the adjoint operator. Define its commutant of an operator algebra by $A^{\prime }=\{T:Ta=aT\text{ for all }a\in A\}$. The double commutant theorem for star-algebras asserts $\boxed{A^{\prime \prime }=A}$. The inclusion $A\subseteq A^{\prime \prime }$ follows immediately from the definition; we prove the reverse.

Write $N=\dim V$, fix a basis $v_1,\dots ,v_N$, and act diagonally on $V^N$. The linear subspaceis invariant under every diagonal $a$. Since $A$ is closed under adjoints, its orthogonal complement $W^{\perp }$ is invariant too: $⟨aw,z⟩=⟨w,a^{\ast }z⟩=0$ for $w\in W^{\perp }$, $z\in W$. Hence the orthogonal projection $P$ onto $W$ commutes with every diagonal $a$.

Writing $P$ as an $N$ by $N$ block matrix $(P_{ij})$, this says $P_{ij}a=a{P}_{ij}$, so each $P_{ij}\in A^{\prime }$. If $b\in A^{\prime \prime }$, it commutes with every $P_{ij}$, and its diagonal action therefore commutes with $P$ and preserves $W$. Because $1\in A$, $(v_1,\dots ,v_N)\in W$. Therefore there is one $a\in A$ such thatEquality on the basis gives $b=a$, proving the theorem over either scalar field.

The identity hypothesis is necessary. For a possibly nonunital adjoint-stable subalgebra, adjoining the ambient identity does not change its commutant of an operator algebra, so the exact statement is $A^{\prime \prime }=A+\mathbb{F}I$. For example $A=\{0\}$ has $A^{\prime \prime }=\mathbb{F}I$ on a nonzero $V$. Thus the usual exam formulation takes the algebra to contain the identity.