Free group C*-algebras associated with ℓ_p

Abstract

For every p ≥ 2, we give a characterization of positive definite functions on a free group with finitely many generators, which can be extended to positive linear functionals on the free group C*-algebra associated with the ideal ℓ p . This is a generalization of Haagerup's characterization for the case of the reduced free group C*-algebra. As a consequence, the canonical quotient map between the associated C*-algebras is not injective, and they have a unique tracial state.