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We conduct a systematic study of traces on locally compact groups, in particular traces on their universal and reduced C*-algebras. We introduce the trace kernel, and examine its relation to the von Neumann kernel and to small-invariant neighbourhood (SIN) quotients. In doing so, we introduce the class of residually-$SIN$ groups, which contains both $SIN$ and maximally almost periodic groups. We examine in detail the trace kernel for connected groups. We study traces on reduced C*-algebras, giving a simple proof for compactly generated groups that existence of such a trace is equivalent to having an open normal amenable subgroup, and we display non-discrete groups admitting unique trace. We finish by examining amenable traces and the factorization property. We show for property (T) groups that amenable trace kernels coincide with von Neumann kernels. We show for totally disconnected groups that amenable trace separation implies the factorization property. We use amenable traces to give a simple proof that amenability of the group is equivalent to simultaneous nuclearity and possessing a trace of its reduced C*-algebra. As a final application of the results obtained in the paper, we address the embeddability of group C*-algebras into simple AF algebras. As a consequence, if a locally compact group is amenable and tracially separated (trace kernel is trivial), then its reduced C*-algebra is quasi-diagonal.

We study fixed points of contractive convolution operators associated to contractive quantum measures on locally compact quantum groups. We characterise the existence of non-zero fixed points respectively on $L^\infty(\mathbb{G})$ and on $C_0(\mathbb{G})$, and exploit these results to obtain for example the structure of the fixed points on the non-commutative $L_p$-spaces. Some consequences for the fixed points of classical convolution operators and Herz-Schur multipliers are also indicated., Comment: 26 pages, v2 contains very minor changes. The paper will appear in the Indiana University Mathematics Journal

We address two errors made in our paper arXiv:1511.03423. The most significant error is in Theorem 1.1. We repair this error, and show that the main result, Theorem 2.5 of arXiv:1511.03423, is true. The second error is in one of our examples, Remark 2.4 (iv), and we partially resolve it., Comment: 6 pages

We investigate Beurling-Fourier algebras, a weighted version of Fourier algebras, on various Lie groups focusing on their spectral analysis. We will introduce a refined general definition of weights on the dual of locally compact groups and their associated Beurling-Fourier algebras. Constructions of nontrivial weights will be presented focusing on the cases of representative examples of Lie groups, namely $SU(n)$, the Heisenberg group $\mathbb{H}$, the reduced Heisenberg group $\mathbb{H}_r$, the Euclidean motion group $E(2)$ and its simply connected cover $\widetilde{E}(2)$. We will determine the spectrum of Beurling-Fourier algebras on each of the aforementioned groups emphasizing its connection to the complexification of underlying Lie groups. We also demonstrate "polynomially growing" weights does not change the spectrum and show the associated regularity of the resulting Beurling-Fourier algebras., Comment: A few minor updates, to appear in Adv. Math.; 88 pages

We consider the Fourier-Stietljes algebra B(G) of a locally compact group G. We show that operator amenablility of B(G) implies that a certain semitolpological compactification of G admits only finitely many idempotents. In the case that G is connected, we show that operator amenability of B(G) entails that $G$ is compact., Comment: 16 pages

Let (G,tau_G) be a topological group. We establish relationships between weakly almost periodic topologies on G coarser than tau_G, central idempotents in the weakly almost periodic compactification G^W, and certain ideals in the algebra of weakly almost periodic functions W(G). We gain decompositions of weakly almost periodic representations, generalizing many from the literature. We look at the role of pre-locally compact topologies, unitarizable topologies, and extend or decompositions to Fourier-Stieltjes algebras B(G)., Comment: 31 pages, V2 has some corrected mistakes and typos, and a new example added to Section 6.7

Let $G$ be a locally compact group. It is not always the case that its reduced C*-algebra $C^*_r(G)$ admits a tracial state. We exhibit closely related necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of such. We gain a complete answer when $G$ compactly generated. In particular for $G$ almost connected, or more generally when $C^*_r(G)$ is nuclear, the existence of a trace is equivalent to amenability. We exhibit two examples of classes of totally disconnected groups for which $C^*_r(G)$ does not admit a tracial state., Comment: The proof of Remark 2.6 (ii) has been corrected, and a typo has been fixed

We outline a simple proof of Hulanicki's theorem, that a locally compact group is amenable if and only if the left regular representation weakly contains all unitary representations. This combines some elements of the literature which have not appeared together, before., Comment: 4 pages

We show that for a locally compact group $G$, amongst a class which contains amenable and small invariant neighbourhood groups, that its Fourier algebra $A(G)$ satisfies a completely bounded version Pisier's similarity property with similarity degree at most $2$. Specifically, any completely bounded homomorphism $\pi: A(G)\to B(H)$ admits an invertible $S$ in $B(H)$ for which $\|S\|\|S^{-1}\|\leq ||\pi||_{cb}^2$ and $S^{-1}\pi(\cdot)S$ extends to a $*$-representation of the $C^*$-algebra $C_0(G)$. This significantly improves some results due to Brannan and Samei (J. Funct. Anal. 259, 2010) and Brannan, Daws and Samei (M\"{u}nster J. Math 6, 2013). We also note that $A(G)$ has completely bounded similarity degree $1$ if and only if it is completely isomorphic to an operator algebra if and only if $G$ is finite., Comment: 14 pages; Final version to appear in JFA

We consider the issue of describing all self-adjoint idempotents (projections) in $L^1(G)$ when $G$ is a unimodular locally compact group. The approach is to take advantage of known facts concerning subspaces of the Fourier-Stieltjes and Fourier algebras of $G$ and the topology of the dual space of $G$. We obtain an explicit description of any projection in $L^1(G)$ which happens to also lie in the coefficient space of a finite direct sum of irreducible representations. This leads to a complete description of all projections in $L^1(G)$ for $G$ belonging to a class of groups that includes $SL(2,R)$ and all almost connected nilpotent locally compact groups., Comment: 13 pages

We determine when contractive idempotents in the measure algebra of a locally compact group commute. We consider a dynamical version of the same result. We also look at some properties of groups of measures whose identity is a contactive idempotent., Comment: 13 pages

We show that for a connected Lie group $G$, its Fourier algebra $A(G)$ is weakly amenable only if $G$ is abelian. Our main new idea is to show that weak amenability of $A(G)$ implies that the anti-diagonal, $\check{\Delta}_G=\{(g,g^{-1}):g\in G\}$, is a set of local synthesis for $A(G\times G)$. We then show that this cannot happen if $G$ is non-abelian. We conclude for a locally compact group $G$, that $A(G)$ can be weakly amenable only if it contains no closed connected non-abelian Lie subgroups. In particular, for a Lie group $G$, $A(G)$ is weakly amenable if and only if its connected component of the identity $G_e$ is abelian., Comment: The final version to appear in Adv. Math.;Proposition 3.4 and related comments from the previous version have been deleted; 25 pages

Let $G$ be a compact group. For $1\leq p\leq\infty$ we introduce a class of Banach function algebras $\mathrm{A}^p(G)$ on $G$ which are the Fourier algebras in the case $p=1$, and for $p=2$ are certain algebras discovered in \cite{forrestss1}. In the case $p\not=2$ we find that $\mathrm{A}^p(G)\cong \mathrm{A}^p(H)$ if and only if $G$ and $H$ are isomorphic compact groups. These algebras admit natural operator space structures, and also weighted versions, which we call $p$-Beurling-Fourier algebras. We study various amenability and operator amenability properties, Arens regularity and representability as operator algebras. For a connected Lie $G$ and $p>1$, our techniques of estimation of when certain $p$-Beurling-Fourier algebras are operator algebras rely more on the fine structure of $G$, than in the case $p=1$. We also study restrictions to subgroups. In the case that $G=SU(2)$, restrict to a torus and obtain some exotic algebras of Laurent series. We study amenability properties of these new algebras, as well., Comment: Introduction has been rewritten, 41 pages

We define the Schur multipliers of a separable von Neumann algebra M with Cartan masa A, generalising the classical Schur multipliers of $B(\ell^2)$. We characterise these as the normal A-bimodule maps on M. If M contains a direct summand isomorphic to the hyperfinite II_1 factor, then we show that the Schur multipliers arising from the extended Haagerup tensor product $A \otimes_{eh} A$ are strictly contained in the algebra of all Schur multipliers.

We let the central Fourier algebra, ZA(G), be the subalgebra of functions u in the Fourier algebra A(G) of a compact group, for which u(xyx^{-1})=u(y) for all x,y in G. We show that this algebra admits bounded point derivations whenever G contains a non-abelian closed connected subgroup. Conversely when G is virtually abelian, then ZA(G) is amenable. Furthermore, for virtually abelian G, we establish which closed ideals admit bounded approximate identities. We also show that if ZA(G) is weakly amenable, even hyper-Tauberian, exactly when G admits no non-abelian connected subgroup. We also study the amenability constant of ZA(G) for finite G and exhibit totally disconnected groups G for which ZA(G) is non-amenable., Comment: 21 pages, mildy expository improvements made

We study the ranges of the maps of convolution $u\otimes v\mapsto u\ast v$ and a `twisted' convolution $u\otimes v\mapsto u\ast \check{v}$ ($\check{u}(s)=u(s^{-1})$) and on the Haagerup tensor product of a Fourier algebra of a compact group $A(G)$ with itself. We compare the results to result of factoring these maps through projective and operator projective tensor products. We notice that $(A(G),\ast)$ is an operator algebra and observe an unexpected set of spectral synthesis., Comment: 12 pages

We prove two theorems about convolution operators on $L^p(G)$ for a locally compact group $G$. First, if $G$ has the approximation property, then the algebra of convoluters is the algebra of pseudo-measures. Second, the bicommutant of the algebra of pseudo-measures is the algebra of convoluters., Comment: Author accepted version; to appear in Studia Math

A general form of contractive idempotent functionals on coamenable locally compact quantum groups is obtained, generalising the result of Greenleaf on contractive measures on locally compact groups. The image of a convolution operator associated to a contractive idempotent is shown to be a ternary ring of operators. As a consequence a one-to-one correspondence between contractive idempotents and a certain class of ternary rings of operators is established., Comment: 16 pages, v2 contains very minor changes and updates the references. The paper will appear in the Indiana University Journal of Mathematics

Let $G$ be a compact connected Lie group. The question of when a weighted Fourier algebra on $G$ is completely isomorphic to an operator algebra will be investigated in this paper. We will demonstrate that the dimension of the group plays an important role in the question. More precisely, we will get a positive answer to the question when we consider a polynomial type weight coming from a length function on $G$ with the order of growth strictly bigger than the half of the dimension of the group. The case of SU(n) will be examined, focusing more on the details including negative results. The proof for the positive directions depends on a non-commutative version of Littlewood multiplier theory, which we will develop in this paper, and the negative directions will be taken care of by restricting to a maximal torus., Comment: 28 pages; Appendix A. has been shortened; some minor corrections have been done; A new result, Corollary 4.4, is added

Let $G$ be a finitely generated group with polynomial growth, and let $\om$ be a weight, i.e. a sub-multiplicative function on $G$ with positive values. We study when the weighted group algebra $\ell^1(G,\om)$ is isomorphic to an operator algebra. We show that $\ell^1(G,\om)$ is isomorphic to an operator algebra if $\om$ is a polynomial weight with large enough degree or an exponential weight of order $0<\alpha<1$. We will demonstrate the order of growth of $G$ plays an important role in this question. Moreover, the algebraic centre of $\ell^1(G,\om)$ is isomorphic to a $Q$-algebra and hence satisfies a multi-variable von Neumann inequality. We also present a more detailed study of our results when $G$ is the $d$-dimensional integers $\Z^d$ and 3-dimensional discrete Heisenberg group $\mathbb{H}_3(\Z)$. The case of the free group with two generators will be considered as a counter example of groups with exponential growth., Comment: Errors concerning Grothendieck's inequality are fixed. The related constants appearing in the results are corrected accordingly

We consider the minimal boundedly-translation-invariant Segal algebra $S_0^p(G)$ in the Fig\`{a}-Talamanca--Herz algebra $A_p(G)$ of a locally compact group $G$. In the case that $p=2$ and $G$ is abelian this is the classical Segal algebra of Feichtinger. Hence we call this the Feichtinger--Fig\`{a}-Talamanca--Herz Segal algebra of $G$. Remarkably, this space is also a Segal algebra in $L^1(G)$ and is, in fact, the minimal such algebra which is closed under pointwise multiplication by $\apg$. Even for $p=2$, this result is new for non-abelian $G$. We place a $p$-operator space structure on $S_0^p(G)$, and demonstrate the naturality of this by showing that it satisfies all natural functiorial properties: projective tensor products, restriction to subgroups and averaging over normal subgroups. However, due to complications arising within the theory of $p$-operator spaces, we are forced to work with weakly completely bounded maps in many of our results., Comment: 25 pages, some arguments simplified and improved

For a locally compact group $G$, the first-named author considered the closed subspace $a_0(G)$ which is generated by the pure positive definite functions. In many cases $a_0(G)$ is itself an algebra. We illustrate using Heisenburg groups and the $2\times 2$ real special linear group, that this is not the case in general. We examine the structures of the algebras thereby created and examine properties related to amenability., Comment: 8 pages

We show that $L^\infty(\mu)$, in its capacity as multiplication operators on $L^p(\mu)$, is minimal as a $p$-operator space for a decomposable measure $\mu$. We conclude that $L^1(\mu)$ has a certain maximal type $p$-operator space structure which facilitates computations with $L^1(\mu)$ and the projective tensor product., Comment: 10 pages, emphasis changed, since we discovered some key ideas are already known

We study, for a locally compact group $G$, the compactifications $(\pi,G^\pi)$ associated with unitary representations $\pi$, which we call {\it $\pi$-Eberlein compactifications}. We also study the Gelfand spectra $\Phi_{\mathcal{A}}(\pi)}$ of the uniformly closed algebras $\mathcal{A}(\pi)$ generated by matrix coefficients of such $\pi$. We note that $\Phi_{\mathcal{A}(\pi)}\cup\{0\}$ is itself a semigroup and show that the \v{S}ilov boundary of $\mathcal{A}(\pi)$ is $G^\pi$. We study containment relations of various uniformly closed algebras generated by matrix coefficients, and give a new characterisation of amenability: the constant function 1 can be uniformly approximated by matrix coefficients of representations weakly contained in the left regular representation if and only if $G$ is amenable. We show that for the universal representation $\omega$, the compactification $(\omega,G^\omega)$ has a certain universality property: it is universal amongst all compactifications of $G$ which may be embedded as contractions on a Hilbert space, a fact which was also recently proved by Megrelishvili. We illustrate our results with examples including various abelian and compact groups, and the $ax+b$-group. In particular, we witness algebras $\fA(\pi)$, for certain non-self-conjugate $\pi$, as being generalised algebras of analytic functions., Comment: 40 pages, some theorems improved

For a locally compact group $G$ and $p \in (1,\infty)$, we define and study the Beurling-Figa-Talamanca-Herz algebras $A_p(G,\omega)$. For $p=2$ and abelian $G$, these are precisely the Beurling algebras on the dual group $\hat{G}$. For $p =2$ and compact $G$, our approach subsumes an earlier one by H. H. Lee and E. Samei. The key to our approach is not to define Beurling algebras through weights, i.e., possibly unbounded continuous functions, but rather through their inverses, which are bounded continuous functions. We prove that a locally compact group $G$ is amenable if and only if one - and, equivalently, every - Beurling-Figa-Talamanca-Herz algebra $A_p(G,\omega)$ has a bounded approximate identity., Comment: 20 pages; some minor errors fixed

Some unfortunate errors from our paper math/0505591 are corrected., Comment: 6 pages

For a compact group $G$ we define the Beurling-Fourier algebra $A_\omega(G)$ on $G$ for weights $\omega$ defined on the dual $\what G$ and taking positive values. The classical Fourier algebra corresponds to the case $\omega$ is the constant weight 1. We study the Gelfand spectrum of the algebra realizing it as a subset of the complexification $G_{\mathbb C}$ defined by McKennon and Cartwright and McMullen. In many cases, such as for polynomial weights, the spectrum is simply $G$. We discuss the questions when the algebra $A_\omega(G)$ is symmetric and regular. We also obtain various results concerning spectral synthesis for $A_\omega(G)$., Comment: 37 pages

Let G be a locally compact group, and let A(G) and B(G) denote its Fourier and Fourier-Stieltjes algebras. These algebras are dual objects of the group and measure algebras, L^1(G) and M(G), in a sense which generalizes the Pontryagin duality theorem on abelian groups. We wish to consider the amenability properties of A(G) and B(G) and compare them to such properties for L^1(G) and M(G). For us, ``amenability properties'' refers to amenability, weak amenability, and biflatness, as well as some properties which are more suited to special settings, such as the hyper-Tauberian property for semisimple commutative Banach algebras. We wish to emphasize that the theory of operator spaces and completely bounded maps plays an indispensable role when studying A(G) and B(G). We also show some applications of amenability theory to problems of complemented ideals and homomorphisms., Comment: 19 pages, survey article, accepted for publication in Banach algebras 2009 conference proceedings

We give for a compact group G, a full characterisation of when its Fourier algebra A(G) is weakly amenable: when the connected component of the identity G_e is abelian. This condition is also equivalent to the hyper-Tauberian property for A(G), and to having the anti-diagonal D^v={(s,s^{-1}):s is in G} being a set of spectral synthesis for A(GXG). We show the relationship between amenability and weak amenability of A(G), and (operator) amenability and (operator) weak amenability of A_D(G), an algebra defined by the authors in arXiv:0705.4277. We close by extending our results to some classes of non-compact, locally compact groups, including small invariant neighbourhood groups and maximally weakly almost periodic groups., Comment: 14 pages

Let G be a locally compact group, and ZL1(G) be the centre of its group algebra. We show that when $G$ is compact ZL1(G) is not amenable when G is either nonabelian and connected, or is a product of infinitely many finite nonabelian groups. We also, study, for some non-compact groups G, some conditions which imply amenability and hyper-Tauberian property, for ZL1(G)., Comment: 20 pages

We investigate generalized amenability and biflatness properties of various (operator) Segal algebras in both the group algebra, L1(G), and the Fourier algebra, A(G), of a locally compact group, G., Comment: 26 pages

For any finite unital commutative idempotent semigroup S, a unital semilattice, we show how to compute the amenability constant of its semigroup algebra l^1(S), which is always of the form 4n+1. We then show that these give lower bounds to amenability constants of certain Banach algebras graded over semilattices. We show that there is no commutative semilattice with amenability constant between 5 and 9., Comment: 18 pages. Results generalised to non-unital semilattices. Some errors corrected

In this note we study two related questions. (1) For a compact group G, what are the ranges of the convolution maps on A(GXG) given for u,v in A(G) by $u X v |-> u*v' ($v'(s)=v(s^{-1})$) and $u X v |-> u*v$? (2) For a locally compact group G and a compact subgroup K, what are the amenability properties of the Fourier algebra of the coset space A(G/K)? The algebra A(G/K) was defined and studied by the first named author. In answering the first question, we obtain for compact groups which do not admit an abelian subgroup of finite index, some new subalgebras of A(G). Using those algebras we can find many instances in which A(G/K) fails the most rudimentary amenability property: operator weak amenability. However, using different techniques, we show that if the connected component of the identity of G is abelian, then A(G/K) always satisfies the stronger property that it is hyper-Tauberian, which is a concept developed by the second named author. We also establish a criterion which characterises operator amenability of A(G/K) for a class of groups which includes the maximally almost periodic groups., Comment: 26 pages. Some typos corrected, some new results on spectral sets added

We extend the definition, from the class of abelian groups to a general locally compact group G, of Feichtinger's remarkable Segal algebra S_0(G). In order to obtain functorial properties for non-abelain groups, in particular a tensor product formula, we endow S_0(G) with an operator space structure. With this structure S_0(G) is simultaneously an operator Segal algebra of the Fourier algebra A(G), and of the group algebra L^1(G). We show that this operator space structure is consistent with the major functorial properties: (i) S_0(G)\hat{\otimes}S_0(H)=S_0(G\times H) completely isomorphically (operator projective tensor product), if H is another locally compact group; (ii) the restriction map u\mapsto u|_H:S_0(G)\to S_0(H) is completely surjective, if H is a closed subgroup; and (iii) T_N:S_0(G)\to S_0(G/N) is completely surjective, where N is a normal subgroup and T_N u(sN)=\int_N u(sn)dn. We also show that S_0(G) is an invariant for G when it is treated simultaneously as a pointwise algebra and a convolutive algebra., Comment: 25 pages. Proof of Theorem 3.1 repaired. DOI included

Let G be a locally compact group, A(G) its Fourier algebra and L1(G) the space of Haar integrable functions on G. We study the Segal algebra SA(G)=A(G)\cap L1(G) in A(G). It admits an operator space structure which makes it a completely contractive Banach algebra. We compute the dual space of SA(G). We use it show that restriction operator u|->u|H:SA(G)->A(H), for some non-open closed subgroups H, is a surjective complete qutient map. We also show that if N is a non-compact closed subgroup, then the averaging operator tau_N:SA(G)->L1(G/N), tau_N u(sN)=\int_N u(sn)dn is a surjective complete quotient map. This puts an operator space perspective on the philosophy that SA(G) is ``locally A(G) while globally L1''. Also, using the operator space structure we can show that SA(G) is operator amenable exactly when when G is compact; and we can show that it is always operator weakly amenable. To obtain the latter fact, we use E. Samei's theory of hyper-Tauberian Banach algebras., Comment: 20 pages

We study the closed algebra B_I(G) generated by the idempotents in the Fourier-Stieltjes algebra of a locally compact group G. We show that it is a regular Banach algebra with computable spectrum G^I, which we call the idempotent compactification of G. For any locally compact groups G and H, we show that B_I(G) is completely isometrically isomorphic to B_I(H) exactly when G/G_e= H/H_e, where G_e and H_e are the connected components of the identities. We compute some examples to illustrate out results., Comment: 13 pages

We give an example of a non-compact, locally compact group $G$ such that its Fourier-Stieltjes algebra $B(G)$ is operator amenable. Furthermore, we characterize those $G$ for which $A^*(G)$ - the spine of $B(G)$ as introduced by M. Ilie and the second named author - is operator amenable and show that $A^*(G)$ is operator weakly amenable for each $G$., Comment: 12 pages; AMSLaTeX; references updated & some typos caught

We define the spine A*(G) of the Fourier-Stieltjes algebra B(G) of a locally compact group G. A*(G) is graded over a certain semi-lattice, that of non-quotient locally precompact topologies on G. We compute the spine's spectrum G*, which admits a semi-group structure. We discuss homomorphisms from A*(G) to B(H) where H is another locally compact group; and we show that A*(G) contains the image of every completely bounded homomorphism from the Fourier algebra A(H) of any amenable group H. We also show that A*(G) contains all of the idempotents in B(G). Finally, we compute examples for vector groups, abelian lattices, minimally almost periodic groups and the ax+b-group; and we explore the complexity of A*(G) for the discrete rational numbers and free groups., Comment: 33 pages, a few typos corrected

Let $G$ be a locally compact group, and let $A_\cb(G)$ denote the closure of $A(G)$, the Fourier algebra of $G$, in the space of completely bounded multipliers of $A(G)$. If $G$ is a weakly amenable, discrete group such that $\cstar(G)$ is residually finite-dimensional, we show that $A_\cb(G)$ is operator amenable. In particular, $A_\cb(F_2)$ is operator amenable even though $F_2$, the free group in two generators, is not an amenable group. Moreover, we show that, if $G$ is a discrete group such that $A_\cb(G)$ is operator amenable, a closed ideal of $A(G)$ is weakly completely complemented in $A(G)$ if and only if it has an approximate identity bounded in the cb-multiplier norm., Comment: LaTeX2e; 18 pages; cleaned up a bit

Let G be a locally compact group, M(G) denote its measure algebra and L^1(G) denote its group algebra. Also, let pi:G->U(H) be a strongly continuous unitary representation, and let CB^{sigma}(B(H)) be the space of normal completely bounded maps on B(H). We study the range of the map Gamma_pi:M(G)->CB^sigma(B(H)), Gamma_pi(mu)= int_G pi(s)\otimes pi(s)^*dmu(s) where we identify CB^sigma(B(H)) with the extended Haagerup tensor product B(H)\otimes^{eh}B(H)$. We use the fact that the C*-algebra generated by integrating pi to L^1(G) is unital exactly when pi is norm continuous to show that Gamma_pi(L^1(G))\subset B(H)\otimes^{eh}B(H) exactly when pi is norm continuous. For the case that G is abelian, we study Gamma_pi(M(G)) as a subset of the Varopoulos algebra. We also characterise positive definite elements of the Varopoulos algebra in terms of completely positive operators., Comment: 29 pages. Accepted in Indiana Univ. math J

Let G be a locally compact group L^p(G) be the usual L^p-space for 1 =< p =< infty and A(G) be the Fourier algebra of G. Our goal is to study, in a new abstract context, the completely bounded multipliers of A(G), which we denote M_{cb}A(G). We show that M_{cb}A(G) can be characterised as the ``invariant part'' of the space of (completely) bounded normal L^{infty}(G)-bimodule maps on B(L^2(G)), the space of bounded operator on L^2(G). In doing this we develop a function theoretic description of the normal L^{infty}(X,mu)-bimodule maps on B(L^2(X,mu)), which we denote by V^{infty}(X,\mu), and name the measurable Schur multipliers of (X,mu). Our approach leads to many new results, some of which generalise results hitherto known only for certain classes of groups. Those results which we develop here are a uniform approach to the functorial properties of M_{cb}A(G), and a concrete description of a standard predual of M_{cb}A(G)., Comment: 35 pages. See also http://www.math.tamu.edu/~spronk/. Accepted in Proc. London Math. Soc

We investigate if, for a locally compact group $G$, the Fourier algebra $A(G)$ is biflat in the sense of quantized Banach homology. A central role in our investigation is played by the notion of an approximate indicator of a closed subgroup of $G$: The Fourier algebra is operator biflat whenever the diagonal in $G \times G$ has an approximate indicator. Although we have been unable to settle the question of whether $A(G)$ is always operator biflat, we show that, for $G = SL(3,C)$, the diagonal in $G \times G$ fails to have an approximate indicator., Comment: 23 pages; more typos removed; references updated

The notion of operator amenability was introduced by Z.-J. Ruan in 1995. He showed that a locally compact group G is amenable if and only if its Fourier algebra A(G) is operator amenable. In this paper, we investigate the operator amenability of the Fourier-Stieltjes algebra B(G) and of the reduced Fourier-Stieltjes algebra B_r(G). The natural conjecture is that any of these algebras is operator amenable if and only if G is compact. We partially prove this conjecture with mere operator amenability replaced by operator C-amenability for some constant C < 5. In the process, we obtain a new decomposition of B(G), which can be interpreted as the non-commutative counterpart of the decomposition of M(G) into the discrete and the continuous measures. We further introduce a variant of operator amenability - called operator Connes-amenability - which also takes the dual space structure on B(G) and B_r(G) into account. We show that B_r(G) is operator Connes-amenable if and only if G is amenable. Surprisingly, B(F_2) is operator Connes-amenable although F_2, the free group in two generators, fails to be amenable., Comment: 15 pages; more typos fixed