Differences of idempotents in C*-algebras

Abstract

Suppose that P and Q are idempotents on a Hilbert space H, while Q = Q* and I is the identity operator in H. If U = P − Q is an isometry then U = U* is unitary and Q = I − P. We establish a double inequality for the infimum and the supremum of P and Q in H and P − Q. Applications of this inequality are obtained to the characterization of a trace and ideal F-pseudonorms on a W*-algebra. Let φ be a trace on the unital C*-algebra A and let tripotents P and Q belong to A. If P − Q belongs to the domain of definition of φ then φ(P − Q) is a real number. The commutativity of some operators is established.