Commutant of the corner of a von Neumann algebra

c-star-algebrasoperator-algebrasvon-neumann-algebras

Let $M$ be a von Neumann algebra and $p$ is a projection in $M$. Does there exist relationship between the commutant $(pMp)'$ of $pMp$ and $pM'p$.

I know the fact that if $p\in M'$, we have $(pMp)'=pM'p.$

Best Answer

Let $N=M'$. Then $p\in N'$. So, by the fact you know, $$ (pM'p)'=(pNp)'=pN'p=pMp. $$ Taking commutant (and here you need to be careful when taking double commutants of degenerate things), $$\tag1 pM'p+(1-p)B(H)(1-p)=(pMp)'. $$ If you want to consider $pMp\subset B(pH)$, then $$ pM'p=(pMp)'. $$