The Spectral Scale and the Numerical Range

Abstract

Suppose that c is an operator on a Hilbert Space H such that the von Neumann algebra N generated by c is finite. Suppose that tau is a faithful normal tracial state on N. Let B denote the spectal scale of c with respect to tau. We show that the boundary of the numerical range of c is exactly the set of radial complex slopes on B at the origin. Further, we show that points on this boundary that lie in the numerical range are visible as line segments in the boundary of B. Also, line segments on the boundary which lie in the numerical range show up as faces of dimension two in the boundary of B. Finally, when c is normal, we prove that the point spectrum of c is exactly the set of complex slopes of 1-dimensional faces of B.