Representations of relative Cohn path algebras

Abstract

We study relative Cohn path algebras, also known as Leavitt-Cohn path algebras, and we realize them as partial skew group rings (to do this we prove uniqueness theorems for relative Cohn path algebras). Furthermore, given any graph $E$ we define $E$-relative branching systems and prove how they induce representations of the associated relative Cohn path algebra. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for faithfulness of the representations associated to $E$-relative branching systems (this improves previous results known to Leavitt path algebras of row-finite graphs with no sinks). To prove this last result we show first a version, for relative Cohn-path algebras, of the reduction theorem for Leavitt path algebras.