The purpose of this monograph is to provide a systematic account of the theory of noncommutative integration in semi-finite von Neumann algebras. It is designed to serve as an introductory graduate level text as well as a basic reference for more established mathematicians with interests in the continually expanding areas of noncommutative analysis and probability. Its origins lie in two apparently distinct areas of mathematical analysis: the theory of operator ideals going back to von Neumann and Schatten and the general theory of rearrangement invariant Banach lattices of measurable functions which has its roots in many areas of classical analysis related to the well-known Lp-spaces. A principal aim, therefore, is to present a general theory which contains each of these motivating areas as special cases.

Mathematics for infinite dimensional objects is becoming more and more important today both in theory and application. Rings of operators, renamed von Neumann algebras by J. Dixmier, were first introduced by J. von Neumann fifty years ago, 1929, in [254] with his grand aim of giving a sound founda tion to mathematical sciences of infinite nature. J. von Neumann and his collaborator F. J. Murray laid down the foundation for this new field of mathematics, operator algebras, in a series of papers, [240], [241], [242], [257] and [259], during the period of the 1930s and early in the 1940s. In the introduction to this series of investigations, they stated Their solution 1 {to the problems of understanding rings of operators) seems to be essential for the further advance of abstract operator theory in Hilbert space under several aspects. First, the formal calculus with operator-rings leads to them. Second, our attempts to generalize the theory of unitary group-representations essentially beyond their classical frame have always been blocked by the unsolved questions connected with these problems. Third, various aspects of the quantum mechanical formalism suggest strongly the elucidation of this subject. Fourth, the knowledge obtained in these investigations gives an approach to a class of abstract algebras without a finite basis, which seems to differ essentially from all types hitherto investigated. Since then there has appeared a large volume of literature, and a great deal of progress has been achieved by many mathematicians.

Noncommutative Geometry is one of the most deep and vital research subjects of present-day Mathematics. Its development, mainly due to Alain Connes, is providing an increasing number of applications and deeper insights for instance in Foliations, K-Theory, Index Theory, Number Theory but also in Quantum Physics of elementary particles. The purpose of the Summer School in Martina Franca was to offer a fresh invitation to the subject and closely related topics; the contributions in this volume include the four main lectures, cover advanced developments and are delivered by prominent specialists.

This book illustrates several aspects of the current research activity in operator theory, operator algebras and applications in various areas of mathematics and mathematical physics. It is addressed to specialists but also to graduate students in several fields including global analysis, Schur analysis, complex analysis, C*-algebras, noncommutative geometry, operator algebras, operator theory and their applications. Contributors: F. Arici, S. Bernstein, V. Bolotnikov, J. Bourgain, P. Cerejeiras, F. Cipriani, F. Colombo, F. D'Andrea, G. Dell'Antonio, M. Elin, U. Franz, D. Guido, T. Isola, A. Kula, L.E. Labuschagne, G. Landi, W.A. Majewski, I. Sabadini, J.-L. Sauvageot, D. Shoikhet, A. Skalski, H. de Snoo, D. C. Struppa, N. Vieira, D.V. Voiculescu, and H. Woracek.

TO THE SECOND EDITION Since publication of the First Edition several excellent treatments of advanced topics in analysis have appeared. However, the concentration and penetration of these treatises naturally require much in the way of technical preliminaries and new terminology and notation. There consequently remains a need for an introduction to some of these topics which would mesh with the material of the First Edition. Such an introduction could serve to exemplify the material further, while using it to shorten and simplify its presentation. It seemed particularly important as well as practical to treat briefly but cogently some of the central parts of operator algebra and higher operator theory, as these are presently represented in book form only with a degree of specialization rather beyond the immediate needs or interests of many readers. Semigroup and perturbation theory provide connections with the theory of partial differential equations. C*-algebras are important in har monic analysis and the mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics. W*-algebras (or von Neumann rings) provide an approach to the theory of multiplicity of the spectrum and some simple but key elements of the gram mar of analysis, of use in group representation theory and elsewhere. The v vi Preface to the Second Edition theory of the trace for operators on Hilbert space is both important in itself and a natural extension of earlier integration-theoretic ideas.

Together with Theory of Operator Algebras I and III, this book presents the theory of von Neumann algebras and non-commutative integration focusing on the group of automorphisms and the structure analysis. From the reviews: "These books can be warmly recommended to every graduate student who wants to become acquainted with this exciting branch of mathematics. Furthermore, they should be on the bookshelf of every researcher of the area." --ACTA SCIENTIARUM MATHEMATICARUM