When amenable groups have real rank zero $C^*$-algebras

Abstract

We investigate when discrete, amenable groups have $C^*$-algebras of real rank zero. While it is known that this happens when the group is locally finite, the converse in an open problem. We show that if $C^*(G)$ has real rank zero, then all normal subgroups of $G$ that are elementary amenable and have finite Hirsch length must be locally finite.