Embeddings of von Neumann algebras into uniform Roe algebras and quasi-local algebras
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We study which von Neumann algebras can be embedded into uniform Roe algebras and quasi-local algebras associated to a uniformly locally finite metric space $X$. Under weak assumptions, these $mathrm{C}^*$-algebras contain embedded copies of $prod_{k}mathrm{M}_{n_k}(mathbb C)$ for any emph{bounded} countable (possibly finite) collection $(n_k)_k$ of natural numbers; we aim to show that they cannot contain any other von Neumann algebras. One of our main results shows that $L_infty[0,1]$ does not embed into any of those algebras, even by a not-necessarily-normal $*$-homomorphism. In particular, it follows from the structure theory of von Neumann algebras that any von Neumann algebra which embeds into such algebra must be of the form $prod_{k}mathrm{M}_{n_k}(mathbb C)$ for some countable (possibly finite) collection $(n_k)_k$ of natural numbers. Under additional assumptions, we also show that the sequence $(n_k)_k$ has to be bounded: in other words, the only embedded von Neumann algebras are the ``obvious'' ones.