A duality theorem for the automorphism group of a covariant system

Abstract

In this paper we examine the covariant representation theory of a covariant system (A, G) introduced by Doplicher, Kastler and Robinson. (A is aC*-algebra andG is a locally compact group of automorphisms ofA.) We define the concept of left tensor product of two covariant representations. Loosely stated, our duality theorem says thatG is canonically isomorphic to the set of bounded operator valued maps on the set of covariant representations of the covariant system (A, G) which preserve direct sums, unitary equivalence and left tensor products. We further show that the enveloping von Neumann algebraA(A, G) of the covariant system (A, G) admits a (not necessarily injective) comultiplicationd such that (A(A, G),d) is a Hopf von Neumann algebra. The intrinsic group of this Hopf von Neumann algebra is canonically isomorphic and (strong operator topology) homeomorphic toG.