Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2018
Let G be a locally compact group and ω a normalized multiplier on G. Denote by V(G) (respectively by V(G, ω)) the von Neumann algebra generated by the regular representation (respectively co-regular representation) of G. Kaniuth [6] and Taylor [14] have characterized those G for which the maximal type I finite central projection in V(G) is non-zero (respectively the identity operator in V(G)).
In this paper we determine necessary and sufficient conditions on G and ω such that the maximal type / finite central projection in V(G, ω) is non-zero (respectively the identity operator in V(G, ω)) and construct this projection explicitly as a convolution operator on L2(G). As a consequence we prove the following statements are equivalent,
(i) V(G, ω) is type I finite,
(ii) all irreducible multiplier representations of G are finite dimensional,
(iii) Gω (the central extension of G) is a Moore group, that is all its irreducible (ordinary) representations are finite dimensional.