We give a complete classification of irreducible symmetric spaces for which there exist proper SL(2,R)-actions as isometries, using the criterion for proper actions by T. Kobayashi [Math. Ann. ’89] and combinatorial techniques of nilpotent orbits. In particular, we classify irreducible symmetric spaces that admit surface groups as discontinuous groups, combining this with Benoist’s theorem [Ann. Math. ’96].

No abstract uploaded!

No abstract uploaded!

No abstract uploaded!

For any unital separable simple infinite-dimensional nuclear$C$^{∗}-algebra with finitely many extremal traces, we prove that $$ \mathcal{Z} $$ -absorption, strict comparison and property (SI) are equivalent. We also show that any unital separable simple nuclear$C$^{∗}-algebra with tracial rank zero is approximately divisible, and hence is $$ \mathcal{Z} $$ -absorbing.