# The classification of limits of 2⁢𝑛-cycle algebras

## 1. Introduction

In this paper, we obtain a complete classification of the locally finite algebras $`𝒜_0=\underset{}{\text{alg\hspace{0.17em}lim}}A_k`$ and the operator algebras $`𝒜=\underset{}{\text{lim}\text{g}}A_k`$ associated with towers

$$A_1A_2A_3\mathrm{}$$

consisting of $`2n`$-cycle algebras, where $`n3`$, with the inclusions of rigid type. The complete isomorphism invariant is essentially the triple

$$(K_0(𝒜),H_1(𝒜),\mathrm{\Sigma }(𝒜))$$

where $`K_0(𝒜)`$ is viewed as a scaled ordered group, $`H_1(𝒜)`$ is a partial isometry homology group and $`\mathrm{\Sigma }(𝒜)K_0(𝒜)H_1(𝒜)`$ is the $`2n`$-cycle joint scale.

Recall that a cycle algebra is a finite dimensional digraph algebra, or incidence algebra, whose reduced digraph is a cycle. For example, the basic $`6`$-cycle algebra in $`M_6`$ has the form

$$\left[\begin{array}{cccccc}& & & & & \\ & \\ & & & \\ & & & \\ & & & & & \\ & & & & & \end{array}\right]$$

and its digraph is a hexagon with alternating edge directions and a loop edge at each vertex. These algebras are of interest in that they are the simplest family of finite dimensional complex algebras with non-zero homology. We focus on the natural embeddings between cycle algebras known as rigid embeddings and which have the property that they are determined by $`K_0`$ and $`H_1`$. More precisely, a rigid embedding $`\varphi `$ is determined up to inner conjugacy by $`K_0\varphi H_1\varphi `$, where $`H_1\varphi `$ is the induced homomorphism between the first integral simplicial homology groups of the simplicial complexes affiliated to the digraphs of the algebras. For cycle algebras, the map $`H_1\varphi `$ is simply a group homomorphism $``$. This $`K_0H_1`$ uniqueness is in analogy with the fact that embeddings between finite dimensional semisimple complex algebras are determined up to inner conjugacy by $`K_0`$.

Limit homology groups for direct limits of digraph algebras were introduced in  and an intrinsic formulation as stable partial-isometry homology groups was given in . The classification of cycle algebras was first considered in \[7, Chapter 11\], in the restricted context of direct limits of 4-cycle algebras with homologically limited embeddings. These results were then extended to limits of 4-cycle algebras with general rigid embeddings in , and the classification of the operator algebras up to regular isomorphism was obtained in terms of the triple $`(K_0(𝒜),H_1(𝒜),\mathrm{\Sigma }(𝒜))`$. In , the second author showed that this classification was, in fact, up to star extendible isomorphism for all locally finite algebras and for the operator algebras arising from direct systems of 4-cycle algebras in the somewhat more tractable odd case. The current paper is concerned with higher cycles and, building on the ideas of  and , we classify, up to star-extendible isomorphism, both the locally finite algebras and the operator algebras arising from direct limits of $`2n`$-cycle algebras, $`n3`$, with rigid embeddings.

Cohomology has been considered in the context of non-selfadjoint algebras for many years; recent references include . We remark that in addition to homological augmentations of $`K_0`$ invariants one can also consider scaled Grothendieck group invariants for regular systems of digraph algebras and their operator algebras. This topic is developed in .

It is fortuitous that, in one important respect, the analysis of $`2n`$-cycle algebras for $`n3`$ is much simpler than that of $`4`$-cycle algebras: star-extendible isomorphisms between algebraic direct limits are necessarily induced by a commuting diagram of regular linking maps between the given towers. A regular morphism is a direct sum of multiplicity one embeddings. The existence of irregular morphisms between regular limit algebras was first observed in . On the other hand, the $`K_0`$-groups of towers of $`2n`$-cycle algebras are much less readily identifiable, except in some cases of independent interest, most notably, when $`𝒜𝒜^{}`$ is a direct sum of matroid algebras.

Organisation. In the next section, we study $`2n`$-cycle algebras and the rigid embeddings between them, culminating in the theorem that locally finite algebras are star-extendibly isomorphic if and only if there is an intertwining rigid diagram. In the third section, we extend this theorem from locally finite algebras to norm-closed direct limits. The last section introduces the classifying invariants and obtains the main classification theorem. Finally we illustrate this with an application to a family of limit algebras for which the only variations are ones of homology.

## 2. Towers of cycle algebras

We first set out notation and recall some terminology.

A digraph is a finite directed graph with no multiple directed edges of the same orientation. To a transitive, reflexive digraph $`G`$ on the vertices $`v_1,\mathrm{},v_n`$, we associate the complex algebra $`A(G)`$ spanned by those standard matrix units $`e_{i,j}M_n()`$ associated with edges in $`G`$ from $`v_j`$ to $`v_i`$. These subalgebras of $`M_n()`$ are precisely those which contain the diagonal algebra.

For convenience we restrict attention henceforth to those morphisms between digraph algebras $`A(G_1)A(G_2)`$ which are star-extendible, in the sense of being restrictions of star-algebra homomorphisms $`C^{}(A(G_1))C^{}(A(G_2))`$.

A $`2n`$-cycle digraph algebra is a digraph algebra $`A(G)`$ for which the reduced digraph of $`G`$, call it $`G_r`$, is isomorphic to the connected graph on $`2n`$ vertices with the $`2n`$ edges $`(i,i)`$ for $`i=1,\mathrm{},2n`$ and $`2n`$ edges between successive vertices, with alternating orientations. We may assume that the vertex labeled $`1`$ is a range vertex rather than a source vertex. Denote this directed graph by $`D_{2n}`$.

The elements of a $`2n`$-cycle algebra thus have a block matrix staircase form:

$$a=\left[\begin{array}{cccccccc}a_{11}& a_{12}& & & & & & a_{1,2n}\\ & a_{22}\\ & a_{32}& a_{33}& a_{34}\\ & & & a_{44}\\ & & & a_{54}& a_{55}& a_{56}\\ & & & & & \mathrm{}\\ & & & & & & \mathrm{}& a_{2n1,2n}\\ & & & & & & & a_{2n,2n}\end{array}\right].$$

A partial isometry is an element $`u`$ for which $`u^{}u`$ (and hence $`uu^{}`$) is a projection (a selfadjoint idempotent). A convenient consequence of the star-extendibility of an embedding $`\varphi :A_1A_2`$ between digraph algebras is that, for each partial isometry $`vA_1`$ with $`vv^{}`$ and $`v^{}v`$ in $`A_1`$, the image $`\varphi (v)`$ is a partial isometry with its initial and final projections in $`A_2`$. In $`2n`$-cycle algebras with $`n3`$, such partial isometries have a particularly clear form. We remark that the next lemma does not hold for $`4`$-cycle algebras, which complicates considerably the analysis of their limit algebras.

###### Lemma 2.1.

Suppose $`a=\left(a_{ij}\right)`$ is a block matrix in a $`2n`$-cycle algebra $`A`$, $`n3`$. If $`a`$ is a partial isometry with initial and final projections in $`A`$, then each entry $`a_{ij}`$ is a partial isometry.

###### Proof.

The $`(1,1)`$ block entry of $`a^{}a`$ is $`a_{11}^{}a_{11}`$. Thus, by hypothesis $`a_{11}^{}a_{11}`$ is a projection and so $`a_{11}`$ is a partial isometry. By symmetry, $`a_{kk}`$ is a partial isometry for all $`k`$. It follows that the block matrix

$$b=\left[\begin{array}{ccccc}a_{12}& & & & a_{1,2n}\\ a_{32}& a_{34}\\ & a_{54}& a_{56}\\ & & \mathrm{}& \mathrm{}\\ & & & a_{2n1,2n2}& a_{2n1,2n}\end{array}\right]$$

is a partial isometry, and that its initial and final projections are block diagonal. Since the $`(1,1)`$ entry of $`bb^{}`$ is zero, it follows that $`a_{12}a_{32}^{}=0`$ and hence that $`a_{12}`$ and $`a_{32}`$ have orthogonal initial projections. Similarly, the $`(1,2n)`$ entry of $`b^{}b`$ being zero implies that $`a_{12}`$ and $`a_{1,2n}`$ have orthogonal final projections. Since $`b`$ is a partial isometry, this double orthogonality forces $`a_{12}`$ to be a partial isometry. By symmetry, each $`a_{ij}`$ is a partial isometry, for all $`i`$ and $`j`$. ∎

In a general digraph algebra $`A`$, we refer to a partial isometry $`v`$ as a regular partial isometry if $`pvq`$ is a partial isometry for each pair of central projections $`p,q`$ in $`AA^{}`$. In particular, such a partial isometry can be written as a sum of rank one partial isometries in $`A`$. Note that a regular embedding sends regular partial isometries to regular partial isometries.

We call an embedding locally regular if it maps regular partial isometries to regular partial isometries. This is a strictly weaker property, as we now show.

###### Example 2.2.

Consider the upper triangular realisation of $`A(D_4)`$ spanned by the diagonal matrix units and the 4-cycle $`\{e_{13},e_{14},e_{24},e_{23}\}`$. Define $`\varphi `$ from $`A(D_4)`$ to $`A(D_4)M_4`$ by mapping this rank-one 4-cycle in $`A(D_4)`$ to the 4-cycle $`\{v_1,v_2,v_3,v_4\}`$ where, as $`2\times 2`$ block matrices, the $`v_i`$ have the following upper right blocks and are otherwise zero:

$$\left[\begin{array}{cccccccc}1& 0& & & 0& 0& & \\ 0& 0& & & 1& 0& & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ 0& 1& & & 0& 0& & \\ 0& 0& & & 0& 1& & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \end{array}\right],\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[\begin{array}{cccccccc}& & 1& 0& & & 1& 0\\ & & 1& 0& & & 1& 0\\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & 0& 1& & & 0& 1\\ & & 0& 1& & & 0& 1\\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \end{array}\right],$$

and

$$\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[\begin{array}{cccccccc}& & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & 1& 1& & & 0& 0\\ & & 0& 0& & & 1& 1\\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & 1& 1& & & 0& 0\\ & & 0& 0& & & 1& 1\end{array}\right],\left[\begin{array}{cccccccc}& & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ 1& 0& & & 0& 0& & \\ 0& 0& & & 1& 0& & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ & & & & & & & \\ 0& 1& & & 0& 0& & \\ 0& 0& & & 0& 1& & \end{array}\right].$$

Since the $`v_i`$ are regular partial isometries with orthogonal initial and final projections, $`\varphi `$ is locally regular and star-extendible. However, the product $`v_2v_1^{}`$ is easily seen to be not locally regular. It follows that $`\varphi `$ is not regular.

### 2.1. Rigid Embeddings

The digraph $`D_{2n}`$ has $`2n`$ automorphisms which induce $`2n`$ automorphisms of $`A(D_{2n})`$, denoted $`\theta _1,\theta _2,\mathrm{},\theta _{2n}`$. For definiteness, we let $`\theta _1`$ be the identity, $`\theta _2`$ be the reflection which fixes the vertex $`1`$, $`\theta _3`$ be the shift which maps each vertex $`k`$ to $`(k2)mod2m`$, $`\theta _{2k1}=\theta _3^{k1}`$, for $`1km`$, and $`\theta _{2k}=\theta _2\theta _{2k1}`$, for $`2km`$.

Suppose that $`A`$ is a $`2n`$-cycle algebra and $`i:A(D_{2n})A`$ is a multiplicity one star-extendible embedding, which is proper, in the sense that $`i(e_{jj})`$, $`1j2n`$, are inequivalent projections. Then the embeddings $`i\theta _1,i\theta _2,\mathrm{},i\theta _{2n}`$ are representatives for the $`2n`$ inner unitary equivalence classes of the proper multiplicity one injections. We say that a star-extendible embedding $`\varphi :A(D_{2n})A(D_{2n})M_n()`$ is rigid if it decomposes as direct sum of multiplicity one proper embeddings.

In general, a rigid embedding between $`2n`$-cycle algebras, $`\varphi :A_1A_2`$, is one for which $`\varphi \eta `$ is rigid whenever $`\eta :A(D_{2n})A_1`$ is proper.

We now come to the crucial lemma in the analysis of rigid embeddings. The case $`n=2`$ was proved in Lemma 3.2 of  using a similar, albeit simpler, argument.

###### Lemma 2.3.

Let $`\varphi :A_1A_2`$ and $`\psi :A_2A_3`$ be locally regular (star-extendible) embeddings between $`2n`$-cycle algebras, where $`n3`$. If $`\psi \varphi `$ is rigid, then $`\varphi `$ and $`\psi `$ are rigid.

###### Proof.

Suppose for simplicity of notation, that $`n=3`$. The following argument does not depend on the length of the cycle, and so it suffices to prove the lemma.

Let $`A_1`$, $`A_2`$, $`A_3`$ be 6-cycle algebras and let $`\varphi :A_1A_2`$ and $`\psi :A_2A_3`$ be locally regular embeddings whose composition, $`\psi \varphi `$, is rigid.

We may assume that $`\varphi `$ and $`\psi `$ are unital and that $`A_1=A(D_6)`$ as the general case follows readily from this. It is convenient to change our block matrix form for 6-cycle algebras from a staircase pattern to the following one:

$$\left[\begin{array}{cccccc}& & & & & \\ & & & & \\ & & & & & \\ & & & \\ & & & & \\ & & & & & \end{array}\right]$$

Denote the partial isometries of the usual 6-cycle in $`A(D_6)`$ by $`E_1,E_2,\mathrm{},E_6`$ where these have the positions

$$\left[\begin{array}{ccc}E_1& & E_6\\ E_2& E_3& \\ & E_4& E_5\end{array}\right]$$

in the off-diagonal block of $`A(D_6)`$. Since the composition $`\psi \varphi `$ maps each $`E_i`$ to an element supported in the off diagonal blocks of $`A_3`$, it follows that $`\varphi `$ acts similarly. Thus, with respect to the block structure of $`A_2`$, we can write

$$\varphi (E_i)=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}a_i& & f_i\\ b_i& c_i& \\ & d_i& e_i\end{array}\right]$$

for $`i=1,2,\mathrm{},6`$. By the local regularity hypothesis, each of the entries $`a_i,\mathrm{},f_i`$ is a partial isometry. Moreover, by star-extendibility, the initial projection of $`a_i`$ is orthogonal to that of $`b_i`$ and, trivially, to those of $`c_i,\mathrm{},f_i`$.

Similarly, if $`F_1,\mathrm{},F_6`$ is a rank-one six-cycle in $`A_2`$ then, with respect to the block structure of $`A_3`$, we can write

$$\psi (F_i)=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}\alpha _i& & \lambda _i\\ \beta _i& \gamma _i& \\ & \delta _i& ϵ_i\end{array}\right]$$

for $`i=1,\mathrm{},6`$. As with $`\varphi `$, local regularity implies that $`\alpha _i,\mathrm{},\lambda _i`$ are partial isometries and star-extendibility implies that, for example, $`\alpha _i`$ and $`\beta _i`$ have orthogonal initial projections.

Fix matrix unit systems $`\{e_{i,j}\},\{f_{i,j}\}`$ for $`A_1`$ and $`A_2`$, and note that we can assume that $`\varphi `$ (resp. $`\psi `$) maps matrix units in the self-adjoint algebra $`A_1A_1^{}`$ (resp. $`A_2A_2^{}`$) to sums of matrix units in $`A_2`$ (resp. $`A_3`$) and also that the restrictions $`\varphi |A_1A_1^{}`$ and $`\psi |A_2A_2^{}`$ are standard embeddings. (This may be arranged by replacing $`\varphi ,\psi `$ by inner conjugate maps.) We may assume for definiteness that $`F_1,\mathrm{}F_6`$ are the matrix units that appear in the top left position of their block. Thus $`a_1`$ can be written as

$$a_1=a_{i,j}^1f_{i,1}F_1f_{4,j}$$

where $`(i,j)`$ range over the set of indices for the block containing $`F_1`$ and so

$$\psi (a_1)=a_{i,j}^1\psi (f_{i,1})\psi (F_1)\psi (f_{4,j})$$

Since the matrix units $`f_{i,1},f_{4,j}`$ lie in the selfadjoint subalgebra $`A_1A_1^{}`$, their images under $`\psi `$ are sums of matrix units and the matrix above is identifiable, after conjugation by a permutation unitary, with

$$\left[\begin{array}{ccccccccc}\alpha _1a_1& & 0& & & & \lambda _1a_1& & 0\\ 0& 0& & & & & 0& 0& \\ & 0& 0& & & & & 0& 0\\ & & & & & & & & \\ \beta _1a_1& & 0& \gamma _1a_1& & 0& & & \\ 0& 0& & 0& 0& & & & \\ & 0& 0& & 0& 0& & & \\ & & & & & & & & \\ & & & \delta _1a_1& & 0& ϵ_1a_1& & 0\\ & & & 0& 0& & 0& 0& \\ & & & & 0& 0& & 0& 0\end{array}\right]$$

Thus, after conjugation by a permutation unitary, we can arrange $`\psi \varphi `$ so that, for each $`i`$, $`\psi \varphi (E_i)`$ has off-diagonal part

$$\left[\begin{array}{ccccccccc}\alpha _1a_i& & \alpha _6f_i& & & & \lambda _1a_i& & \lambda _6f_i\\ \alpha _2b_i& \alpha _3c_i& & & & & \lambda _2b_i& \lambda _3c_i& \\ & \alpha _4d_i& \alpha _5e_i& & & & & \lambda _4d_i& \lambda _5e_i\\ & & & & & & & & \\ \beta _1a_i& & \beta _6f_i& \gamma _1a_i& & \gamma _6f_i& & & \\ \beta _2b_i& \beta _3c_i& & \gamma _2b_i& \gamma _3c_i& & & & \\ & \beta _4d_i& \beta _5e_i& & \gamma _4d_i& \gamma _5e_i& & & \\ & & & & & & & & \\ & & & \delta _1a_i& & \delta _6f_i& ϵ_1a_i& & ϵ_6f_i\\ & & & \delta _2b_i& \delta _3c_i& & ϵ_2b_i& ϵ_3c_i& \\ & & & & \delta _4d_i& \delta _5e_i& & ϵ_4d_i& ϵ_5e_i\end{array}\right].$$

As $`(ST)^{}=S^{}T^{}`$, it follows that if $`S_i`$ and $`T_i`$ are partial isometries, $`i=1,2`$, and if $`S_1`$ and $`S_2`$ have orthogonal initial projections then so do $`S_1T_1`$ and $`S_2T_2`$. Similar statements apply for final projections and for $`T_1`$ and $`T_2`$.

In particular, consider the initial projection of $`\alpha _1a_1`$. As $`\psi \varphi `$ is rigid, the (proper) 6-cycle $`E_1,\mathrm{},E_6`$ is sent to a direct sum of (proper) rank-one 6-cycles in $`A_3`$. As $`\alpha _1a_1`$ is a restriction of $`\psi \varphi (E_1)`$, its initial projection is the initial projection of some restriction of $`\psi \varphi (E_2)`$. By the rigidity of $`\psi \varphi `$, this latter restriction must be some combination of $`\beta _1a_2,\mathrm{},\beta _6f_2`$. However, the initial projection of $`a_1`$ is orthogonal to those of $`c_2`$, $`d_2`$, $`e_2`$, and $`f_2`$, and $`\alpha _1`$ has initial projection orthogonal to that of $`\beta _1`$, so the only possibility is that this latter restriction is a subprojection of $`\beta _2b_2`$. In fact, we must have equality, since we can argue reciprocally.

Since $`\alpha _1a_1`$ and $`\beta _2b_2`$ have coincidental initial projections it follows that $`a_1`$ and $`b_2`$ have coincidental initial projections. Continuing in this way for $`\beta _2b_2`$ and $`\gamma _3c_3`$, we have that $`a_1,b_2,c_3,d_4,e_5,f_6`$ is a 6-cycle of partial isometries in $`A_2`$. This argument can be applied to each $`a_i`$ and so the $`\varphi (E_i)`$ is a direct sum of 6-cycles, showing $`\varphi `$ is rigid.

Returning to $`\alpha _1a_1`$ and $`\beta _2b_2`$, we also have that $`\alpha _1`$ and $`\beta _1`$ have the same initial projection. Repeating the argument again, it follows that $`\psi `$ is also rigid. ∎

The importance of the last two lemmas is that they immediately give the following theorem. In particular, invariants for regular isomorphisms of the towers (with rigid embeddings) are in fact invariant for the associated locally finite algebras.

###### Theorem 2.4.

Let $`n3`$. Suppose that

$$A_1A_2\mathrm{}\text{ and }A_1^{}A_2^{}\mathrm{}$$

are towers of direct sums of $`2n`$-cycle algebras, where the inclusions are rigid. Then the locally finite algebras $`𝒜_0=\underset{}{\text{alg\hspace{0.17em}lim}}A_k`$ and $`𝒜_0^{}=\underset{}{\text{alg\hspace{0.17em}lim}}A_k^{}`$ are star extendibly isomorphic by a map $`\varphi `$ with inverse $`\psi =\varphi ^1`$ if and only there is commuting diagram

$$\begin{array}{cccccccccc}A_1& & A_{m_1}& & A_{m_2}& & A_{m_3}& & \mathrm{}& 𝒜_0\\ & \varphi _1& \psi _1& \varphi _2& \psi _2& \varphi _3& \psi _3& \varphi _4& & \varphi ,\psi \\ A_1^{}& & A_{n_1}^{}& & A_{n_2}^{}& & A_{n_3}^{}& & \mathrm{}& 𝒜_0^{}\end{array}$$

where all the linking maps $`\varphi _k`$ and $`\psi _j`$ are rigid and $`\varphi =\underset{}{\text{lim}\text{g}}\varphi _k`$.

###### Proof.

One direction is clear and for the other, assume that $`\varphi :𝒜𝒜^{}`$ is given. Then, since $`A_1`$ is finitely generated, there exists $`n_1`$ and $`m_1`$ so that

$$\varphi (A_1)A_{n_1}^{}\text{ and }\psi (A_{n_1}^{})A_{m_1}.$$

The restriction embeddings, $`\varphi _1:A_1A_{n_1}^{}`$ and $`\psi _1:A_{n_1}^{}A_{m_1}`$, are star extendible and by hypothesis, have a rigid composition. Now Lemmas 2.1 and 2.3 apply, to show that $`\varphi _1`$ and $`\psi _1`$ are rigid. Continuing in this way, we obtain the required diagram. ∎

## 3. Approximate Factorisations

To classify norm-closed direct limits, we need approximate versions of Lemmas 2.1 and 2.3. The latter will be used to define homology invariants for operator algebra direct limits. Readers interested only in the classification of algebraic direct limits may go to Section 4. For clarity and convenience, we have chosen not to determine the absolute dependence of $`\delta `$ upon $`ϵ`$ and $`n`$ in the proofs below.

###### Lemma 3.1.

Suppose $`ϵ>0`$ and $`a=\left(a_{ij}\right)`$ is a block matrix in a $`2n`$-cycle algebra $`A`$, $`n3`$. There is constant $`\delta >0`$ so that if $`a`$ is $`\delta `$-close to a partial isometry with initial and final projections in $`A`$, then each entry $`a_{ij}`$ is $`ϵ`$-close to a partial isometry.

The proof is routine.

###### Lemma 3.2.

Let $`n3`$, $`A_1,A_2,A_3`$ be $`2n`$-cycle algebras, and $`ϵ>0`$. Let $`\varphi :A_1A_2`$ and $`\psi :A_2A_3`$ be linear injections which are $`\delta `$-close to star-extendible embeddings and are such that the composition $`\psi \varphi `$ is $`\delta `$-close to a rigid embedding, $`i:A_1A_3`$. Then there is a sufficiently small $`\delta `$, depending on $`ϵ`$ and $`n`$, so that $`\varphi `$ and $`\psi `$ are $`ϵ`$-close to rigid embeddings.

###### Proof.

First observe that $`A_1`$ admits a direct sum decomposition $`A_1=A_1A_1^{}+\text{rad}(A_1)`$ and $`\varphi (a_1+a_2)=\varphi _1(a_1)+\varphi _2(a_2)`$ where $`\varphi _1`$ maps $`A_1A_1^{}`$ to $`A_2`$ and $`\varphi _2`$ maps $`\text{rad}(A_1)`$ to $`A_2`$. By standard finite-dimensional C-algebra theory \[1, Chapter III\] $`\varphi _1`$ is close to a star-extendible injection, so we may replace it by a nearby C-algebra homomorphism $`\varphi _1^{}:A_1A_1^{}A_2A_2^{}`$. Similarly, we may assume the restriction of $`\psi `$ to $`A_2A_2^{}`$ is a C-algebra homomorphism.

Assume now that the sets of matrix units $`e_{ij}^k`$, $`1k3`$, have been chosen for $`A_1`$, $`A_2`$, and $`A_3`$ so that $`\varphi `$ and $`\psi `$ map matrix units of $`A_1A_1^{}`$ and $`A_2A_2^{}`$ to sums of matrix units. Since $`\varphi `$ is close to star-extendible injection, $`\varphi (e_{ij}^1)`$ is close to $`v_{ij}^1=\varphi (e_{ii}^1)\varphi (e_{ij}^1)\varphi (e_{jj}^1)`$. Let $`\varphi ^{}`$ be the linear map for which $`\varphi ^{}(e_{ij}^1)=v_{ij}^1`$. Then $`\varphi ^{}`$ agrees with $`\varphi `$ on $`A_1A_1^{}`$ and $`\varphi ^{}`$ is a $`C_1`$-bimodule map, where $`C_1`$ is the diagonal masa spanned by $`\{e_{ii}^1\}`$ in $`A_1`$. Define $`\psi ^{}`$ similarly. Since $`\varphi `$ and $`\psi `$ are close to $`\varphi ^{}`$ and $`\psi ^{}`$, we need only prove the lemma for such maps.

Assume that $`n=3`$; this simplifies the notation. The same argument applies for $`n>3`$, with a smaller $`\delta `$.

We can now write, as in the proof of Lemma 2.3,

$$\varphi (E_i)=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}a_i& & f_i\\ b_i& c_i& \\ & d_i& e_i\end{array}\right],\psi (F_i)=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}\alpha _i& & \lambda _i\\ \beta _i& \gamma _i& \\ & \delta _i& ϵ_i\end{array}\right],$$

for $`i=1,2,\mathrm{},6`$, where the $`E_i`$ and $`F_i`$ are rank-one six cycles in $`A_1`$ and $`A_2`$ respectively. These operators are close to partial isometries and, moreover, by assumption, $`\varphi `$ and $`\psi `$ are close to star-extendible homomorphisms. By Lemma 3.1, each of the entries of each $`\varphi (E_i)`$ and $`\psi (F_i)`$ is close to a partial isometry. Thus, we may assume that each of these entries is a partial isometry and that we still have $`\varphi `$, $`\psi `$ close to star-extendible homomorphisms. Since $`\beta _1\alpha _1^{}`$ has small norm (as $`\psi (F_1)`$ is close to a partial isometry) and $`\psi \varphi `$ is close to a rigid projection, it follows that the initial projection of $`\alpha _1a_1`$ is close to the initial projection of $`\beta _2b_2`$ and hence that the initial projection of $`a_1`$ is close to the initial projection of $`b_2`$.

Now redefine $`\varphi `$ to obtain a new $`\varphi `$ for which, in addition to our earlier assumptions, the initial and final projections of $`a_1,b_2,c_3,d_4,e_5`$ match up. Also, redefine $`f_6`$ as $`a_1b_2^{}c_3d_4^{}e_5`$, which is close to the original $`f_6`$ because $`\varphi `$ is close to a star-extendible embedding. The map $`\varphi `$ now has a summand, determined by the $`6`$-cycle $`a_1,\mathrm{},f_6`$, which is a rigid algebra homomorphism. Continuing in this way, we can construct a rigid algebra homomorphism which is close to the original $`\varphi `$. Performing similar constructions with $`\psi `$, it follows that $`\psi `$ is also close to a rigid embedding. ∎

###### Theorem 3.3.

Let $`n3`$. Suppose that

$$A_1A_2\mathrm{}\text{ and }A_1^{}A_2^{}\mathrm{}$$

are towers of direct sums of $`2n`$-cycle algebras, where the inclusions are rigid. Then the operator algebras $`𝒜=\underset{}{\text{lim}\text{g}}A_k`$ and $`𝒜^{}=\underset{}{\text{lim}\text{g}}A_k^{}`$ are star extendibly isomorphic if and only if there is commuting diagram

$$\begin{array}{cccccccccccc}A_1& & A_{m_1}& & A_{m_2}& & A_{m_3}& & A_{m_4}& & \mathrm{}& 𝒜\\ & \varphi _1& \psi _1& \varphi _2& \psi _2& \varphi _3& \psi _3& \varphi _4& \psi _4& \varphi _5\\ A_1^{}& & A_{n_1}^{}& & A_{n_2}^{}& & A_{n_3}^{}& & A_{n_4}^{}& & \mathrm{}& 𝒜^{}\end{array}$$

where all the linking maps $`\varphi _k`$ and $`\psi _j`$ are rigid.

###### Proof.

Let $`\mathrm{\Phi }:𝒜𝒜^{}`$ be a star-extendible isomorphism. Then the restriction $`\varphi _0=\mathrm{\Phi }|_{A_1}`$ is close to a linear injection $`\varphi :A_1A_k^{}`$, for suitably large $`k`$. Similarly, $`\psi _0=\mathrm{\Phi }^1|_{A_k^{}}`$ is close to a linear injection $`\psi :A_k^{}A_l`$ for suitably large $`l`$, and the composition, $`\psi \varphi `$ is close to the given rigid embedding $`A_1A_l`$.

We cannot immediately apply Lemma 3.2 as stated, since we only know that $`\varphi `$ is to close to a star-extendible embedding from $`A_1`$ to $`𝒜^{}`$, and not one from $`A_1`$ to $`A_k^{}`$. However, the same proof applies to this case, so we can apply the lemma. Thus, $`\varphi `$ and $`\psi `$ are close to rigid embeddings, $`\varphi _1`$ and $`\psi _1`$ say. Since $`\psi _1\varphi _1`$ is close to the given rigid embedding, it follows that they have the same induced maps on $`K_0`$ and $`H_1`$ and so by Lemma 4.2 below are inner conjugate. Adjusting $`\varphi _1`$ by a unitary in $`A_{n_1}`$, we obtain a commuting triangle. Continuing in the usual way, we can build the required diagram. ∎

The argument above shows more than we have stated, namely that each star-extendible isomorphism $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ from $`𝒜`$ to $`𝒜^{}`$ determines a star-extendible isomorphism $`\{\varphi _k,\psi _k\}`$ for the towers, which is unique up to an approximately inner automorphism, that is, to a pointwise limit of unitary automorphisms. Finally, if we define $`H_1𝒜`$ to be the limit group $`H_1𝒜_0`$ for the locally finite algebras $`𝒜_0`$, then we immediately have the following corollary.

###### Corollary 3.4.

The abelian group $`H_1𝒜`$ is well-defined and is an invariant for star-extendible isomorphisms.

## 4. Invariants and Classification

We now develop the invariants and prove the main theorem.

To each rigid embedding between $`2m`$-cycle algebras we may associate an ordered $`2m`$-tuple, $`(r_1,\mathrm{},r_{2m})`$, which we call the multiplicity signature, which is the set of multiplicities of the $`2n`$ classes of multiplicity one embeddings in the direct sum decomposition of $`\varphi `$. This signature depends on the identification of the reduced digraphs of $`A_1`$ and $`A_2`$ with $`D_{2m}`$ and the labeling of the automorphisms of $`D_{2m}`$. Plainly, embeddings $`\varphi `$, $`\varphi ^{}`$ are conjugate (inner unitarily equivalent) if and only if they have the same multiplicity signature.

For the scaled $`K_0`$-group classification of limits of finite-dimensional semisimple algebras, the cornerstone lemma is that two embeddings between such algebras are conjugate if and only if they induce the same $`K_0`$-group homomorphism. Not surprisingly, the $`K_0`$-group homomorphism does not determine the conjugacy class of embeddings between $`2m`$-cycle algebras. However, if $`H_1\varphi `$ denotes the group homomorphism $``$ given by multiplication by

$$r_1r_2+r_3\mathrm{}r_{2m}$$

then, as we see below, $`K_0\varphi `$ and $`H_1\varphi `$ together do determine the multiplicity signature of $`\varphi `$ and hence the conjugacy class of $`\varphi `$.

It is natural then to seek a complete classification of the locally finite algebras of Theorem 2.4 in terms of $`K_0A`$ and the abelian group

$$H_1A:=\underset{}{\text{lim}\text{g}}(,H_1\alpha _i)$$

That this group is indeed an invariant for star-extendible isomorphism follows from Theorem 2.4.

It has already been made clear, in the consideration of 4-cycle algebras in Donsig and Power  and in Power , that, beyond the scaled ordered group $`K_0A`$ and the abelian group $`H_1A`$, it is necessary to consider a number of other invariants. For some subfamilies of algebras, these additional invariants simplify or vanish but in the most general case, the appropriate invariant is a joint scale, $`\mathrm{\Sigma }A`$ in $`K_0AH_1A`$, which embodies these additional invariants.

###### Definition 4.1.

Let $`A`$ be a locally finite algebra, as in Theorem 2.4. Then the joint scale, $`\mathrm{\Sigma }A`$, is the subset of $`K_0AH_1A`$ given by the elements of the form

$$(K_0\varphi (e_{11}e_{22}),H_1\varphi (g))$$

where $`\varphi :A(D_{2m})A`$ is a rigid embedding and $`g`$ is a fixed generator for $`H_1(A(D_{2m}))=`$. Furthermore, we define the unital joint scale to be the subset arising from unital embeddings $`\varphi `$.

It is possible to give an intrinsic formulation of $`H_1A`$ for a digraph algebra $`A`$ and hence an intrinsic formulation of $`H_1\varphi `$, although we do not do so here.

###### Lemma 4.2.

If $`A`$ is $`2m`$-cycle algebra and $`\varphi ,\psi `$ are rigid embeddings from $`A(D_{2m})`$ to $`A`$ with

$$(K_0\varphi (e_{11}e_{22}),H_1\varphi (g))=(K_0\psi (e_{11}e_{22}),H_1\psi (g)),$$

then $`\varphi `$ and $`\psi `$ are conjugate.

This lemma has essentially the same proof as the analogous 4-cycle result \[4, Lemma 11.4\]; see also \[8, Proposition 3.4\].

It is instructive to note the possible variation in $`H_1\varphi `$ once $`K_0\varphi `$ is specified. If $`\varphi `$ has multiplicity signature $`(r_1,\mathrm{},r_{2m})`$, and $`K_0\varphi =K_0\psi `$, then for suitable integers $`k`$, $`\psi `$ has multiplicity signature

$$(r_1+k,r_2k,r_3+k,\mathrm{},r_{2m}k)$$

and $`H_1\psi =H_1\varphi +[2mk]`$. The range for $`k`$ is $`M_2kM_1`$ where $`M_1`$ and $`M_2`$ are the maximum and minimum values determining nonnegative signature. The set

$$\text{hr}(\varphi )=\{H_1\psi :\psi \text{ rigid and }K_0\psi =K_0\varphi \}$$

is called the homology range of $`\varphi `$ and is realized as an interval in the mod $`2m`$ congruence class $`M_1+2m`$. These remarks already suggest that there can be congruence class obstructions to the lifting of $`K_0H_1`$ group isomorphisms

$$\gamma _0\gamma _1:K_0AH_1AK_0A^{}H_1A^{}$$

to algebra isomorphisms. (For further discussions in the case of 4-cycle algebras see .)

###### Definition 4.3.

Let $`n3`$ and suppose that

$$A_1A_2\mathrm{}\text{ and }A_1^{}A_2^{}\mathrm{}$$

are towers of direct sums of $`2n`$-cycle algebras, where the inclusions are rigid. Letting $`𝒜=\underset{}{\text{lim}\text{g}}A_k`$ and $`𝒜^{}=\underset{}{\text{lim}\text{g}}A_k^{}`$, we say that a scaled, ordered group isomorphism

$$\gamma _0:K_0𝒜K_0𝒜^{}$$

is of rigid type if there is some rigid isomorphism $`\mathrm{\Gamma }:𝒜𝒜^{}`$ so that $`K_0\mathrm{\Gamma }=\gamma _0`$. Equivalently $`\gamma _0`$ is induced by a commuting diagram of rigid embeddings (as in Theorem 2.4).

At the finite-dimensional level, a $`K_0`$-group homomorphism, of $`6`$-cycle algebras is of rigid type if it can be realized as a sum of two integral matrices of the form:

$$\left[\begin{array}{cccccc}a& b& c& 0& 0& 0\\ c& a& b& 0& 0& 0\\ b& c& a& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& a& b& c\\ 0& 0& 0& c& a& b\\ 0& 0& 0& b& c& a\end{array}\right]+\left[\begin{array}{cccccc}d& e& f& 0& 0& 0\\ e& f& d& 0& 0& 0\\ f& d& e& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& e& f& d\\ 0& 0& 0& f& d& e\\ 0& 0& 0& d& e& f\end{array}\right]$$

Similar sums describe the inclusions for larger $`2n`$-cycle algebras.

We can now obtain the main theorem of the paper, which (but for the case of even 4-cycle systems) completes the classification of operator algebras begun in Power \[7, Chapter 11\] and continued in Donsig and Power  and in Power .

###### Theorem 4.4.

Let $`n3`$ and suppose that

$$A_1A_2\mathrm{}\text{ and }A_1^{}A_2^{}\mathrm{}$$

are towers of direct sums of $`2n`$-cycle algebras, where the inclusions are rigid. Then the following conditions are equivalent:

1. There is a commuting diagram

$$\begin{array}{cccccccccc}A_1& & A_{m_1}& & A_{m_2}& & A_{m_3}& & \mathrm{}& 𝒜\\ & \varphi _1& \psi _1& \varphi _2& \psi _2& \varphi _3& \psi _3& \varphi _4& & \varphi ,\psi \\ A_1^{}& & A_{n_1}^{}& & A_{n_2}^{}& & A_{n_3}^{}& & \mathrm{}& 𝒜^{}\end{array}$$

where all the linking maps $`\varphi _i`$ and $`\psi _j`$ are rigid.
2. The locally finite algebras $`𝒜_0=\underset{}{\text{alg\hspace{0.17em}lim}}A_k`$ and $`𝒜_0^{}=\underset{}{\text{alg\hspace{0.17em}lim}}A_k^{}`$ are star-extendibly isomorphic.
3. The operator algebras $`𝒜=\underset{}{\text{lim}\text{g}}A_k`$ and $`𝒜^{}=\underset{}{\text{lim}\text{g}}A_k^{}`$ are star extendibly isomorphic.
4. There is an abelian group isomorphism

$$\gamma _0\gamma _1:K_0𝒜H_1𝒜K_0𝒜^{}H_1𝒜^{},$$

where $`\gamma _0`$ is a scaled, ordered group isomorphism of rigid type and $`\gamma _0\gamma _1`$ preserves the joint scale. Also, in the unital case it suffices to preserve the unital joint scale.

###### Proof.

From Theorems 2.4 and 3.3, we know that the first three conditions are equivalent. Clearly, the first implies the fourth, so it remains only to show that the fourth implies the first. The argument follows a familar scheme, seen for example in \[4, Theorem 11.5\] and \[9, Theorem 5.2\], but for completeness, we outline the argument.

Consider a multiplicity one rigid embedding $`\varphi :A(D_{2n})A_1`$, which determines an element $`([\varphi (e_{11}e_{22})],\delta )`$ of the joint scale of $`A_1`$. By condition 4, there is some rigid embedding $`\eta :A(D_{2n})A_k^{}`$, for some $`k`$, so that

$$\gamma _0\gamma _1([\varphi (e_{11}e_{22})],\delta )=([\eta (e_{11}e_{22})],H_1\eta (g)).$$

We may assume that matrix units have been chosen for $`A_k^{}`$ so that $`\eta `$ maps matrix units to sums of matrix units.

We claim that $`\eta `$ has an extension $`A_1A_k^{}`$ (after possibly increasing $`k`$), which we also denote $`\eta `$. To see this first observe that since $`\gamma _0`$ is a scaled group isomorphism there is a C\*-algebra homomorphism

$$\eta _0:A_1A_1^{}A_k^{}(A_k^{})^{}$$

so that $`K_0\eta _0`$ is equal to $`\gamma _0`$ restricted to $`K_0A_1`$ and, moreover, $`\eta _0`$ maps matrix units to sums of matrix units. Since each matrix unit $`eA_1`$ admits a unique factorization $`e=e_1fe_2`$ where $`e_1,e_2A_1A_1^{}`$ and $`f`$ is in $`\varphi (A(D_{2n}))`$ it follows that there is a unique star extendible extension of $`\eta `$ and $`\eta _0`$ to a rigid embedding $`\zeta :A_1A_k^{}`$. Although $`\eta `$ depends on $`\varphi `$ and $`\eta _0`$ the inner conjugacy class of $`\eta `$ is determined.

Next, consider a multiplicity-one rigid embedding $`\psi :A(D_{2n})A_k^{}`$ which induces an element of the joint scale $`([\psi (e_{11}e_{22})],H_1\psi (g))`$. We assume for convenience that matrix units have been chosen for $`A_k^{}`$ so that $`\psi `$ maps matrix units to sums of matrix units. Again, there is some rigid embedding $`\zeta :\psi (A(D_{2n}))A_l`$, for some $`l`$, so that

$$\gamma _0^1\gamma _1^1([\psi (e_{11}e_{22})],H_1\psi (g))=([\zeta (e_{11}e_{22})],H_1\zeta (g)).$$

We may assume that matrix units have been chosen for $`A_l`$ so that $`\zeta `$ maps matrix units to sums of matrix units.

As with $`\eta `$, $`\zeta `$ has a star extendible extension $`A_k^{}A_l`$ (after possibly increasing $`l`$), which we also denote $`\zeta `$. Since $`\zeta \eta `$ and $`\alpha _{l1}\mathrm{}\alpha _1`$ induce the same $`K_0H_1`$ map, we may replace $`\zeta `$ by an inner conjugate map so that the algebra maps are equal. Continuing in this way, we can construct the required diagram. ∎

For an elementary illustration of the theorem we now consider unital limit algebras for which $`AA^{}`$ is a direct sum of two UHF C\*-algebras. We say such algebras are of matroid type. For a fixed positive integer $`d`$ consider the stationary systems of the form

$$\begin{array}{ccccccc}A(D_6)& & A(D_6)M_{3d}& & A(D_6)M_{(3d)^2}& & \mathrm{}\end{array}$$

where the $`k`$-th embedding $`\alpha _k`$ satisfies

$$K_0(\alpha _k)=d\left[\begin{array}{cccccc}1& 1& 1& 0& 0& 0\\ 1& 1& 1& 0& 0& 0\\ 1& 1& 1& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 1& 1& 1\\ 0& 0& 0& 1& 1& 1\\ 0& 0& 0& 1& 1& 1\end{array}\right],H_1(\alpha _k)=[s].$$

There are $`d+1`$ possible values of $`s`$, namely the integers that lie in the homology range

$$S=\{3d,3d+6,\mathrm{},3d6,3d\}$$

and so there are $`d+1`$ associated operator algebras $`A_s,sS`$.

The group $`K_0(A_s)`$ identifies naturally with the subgroup of $``$ corresponding to the generalised integer $`3^{\mathrm{}}d^{\mathrm{}}`$ with order unit $`11`$ whilst $`H_1(A_s)`$ identifies naturally with the subgroup determined by $`s^{\mathrm{}}`$. In the exceptional case $`s=0`$, $`H_1(A_s)=0`$ and so the joint scale then reduces to the usual scale in $`K_0(A_s)`$.

In general therefore, the unital part of the joint scale is the subset of

$$[\frac{1}{3^{\mathrm{}}d^{\mathrm{}}}][\frac{1}{3^{\mathrm{}}d^{\mathrm{}}}][\frac{1}{s^{\mathrm{}}}]$$

arising from unital rigid embeddings $`\varphi :A(D_6)A_s`$. In the case of the extreme values of $`s`$ the algebras $`A_{3d},A_{3d}`$, are isomorphic and the unital joint scale coincides with the subset of elements $`1/31/3h`$ where for some positive integer $`m`$ one has $`h=k/(3d)^m`$ where $`k(3d)^m`$ mod $`6`$ and $`(3d)^mk(3d)^m`$. In particular the homology component of the unital joint scale is a symmetric set in a symmetric finite interval of $`H_1A_s`$. In contrast, in the nonextreme case, $`s3d,3d`$, the unital joint scale is identified with the set of elements for which $`h`$ merely satisfies the congruence restriction. (In our simple example the congruence restriction has no consequence if $`d`$ is even whilst if $`d`$ is odd then the homology part of the unital joint scale corresponds to odd numerators.) Indeed, for such an element $`h`$ in $`[\frac{1}{s^{\mathrm{}}}]`$ we may choose $`t`$ large enough so that

$$h=\frac{k}{(3s)^m}=\frac{k^{}}{(3s)^t}$$

where $`k^{}(3d)^t`$. Then there is a unital embedding

$$\psi :A(D_6)A(D_6)M_{(3d)^t}$$

with $`H(\psi )=[k^{}]`$, and so $`\psi `$ determines the element $`1/31/3h`$.

The $`H_1`$ group is already a distinguishing invariant for $`A_{s_1},A_{s_2}`$ if $`s_1`$ and $`s_2`$ have different prime divisors. On the other hand if $`s_1`$ and $`s_2`$ are nonextreme and have the same prime divisors then one can verify that the unital joint scales coincide and so, by the theorem, $`A_{s_1},A_{s_2}`$ are isomorphic.

It follows from similar observations that if $`A,A^{}`$ are unital stationary limits of $`2n`$-cycle algebras, of nonextreme type, then $`A,A^{}`$ are star extendibly isomorphic if and only if $`C^{}(A)`$ and $`C^{}(A^{})`$ are isomorphic and $`H_1(A)`$ and $`H_1(A^{})`$ are isomorphic abelian groups. In fact the same conclusion is true for the more general limits of “homologically limited” systems of matroid type, that is, those for which the natural scale of $`H_1`$ is not a finite interval but, as above, coincides with $`H_1(A)`$.