Let ϕ be a faithful normal semi-finite weight on a von Neumann algebra$M$. For each normal semi-finite weight ϕ on$M$, invariant under the modular automorphism group Σ of ϕ, there is a unique self-adjoint positive operator$h$, affiliated with the sub-algebra of fixed-points for Σ, such that ϕ=ϕ($h$·). Conversely, each such$h$determines a Σ-invariant normal semi-finite weight. An easy application of this non-commutative Radon-Nikodym theorem yields the result that$M$is semi-finite if and only if Σ consists of inner automorphisms.

Via a Dirichlet form extension theorem and making full use of two-sided heat kernel estimates, we establish quenched invariance principles for ran- dom walks in random environments with a boundary. In particular, we prove that the random walk on a supercritical percolation cluster or among random conductances bounded uniformly from below in a half-space, quarter-space, etc., converges when rescaled diffusively to a reflecting Brownian motion, which has been one of the important open problems in this area. We establish a similar result for the random conductance model in a box, which allows us to improve existing asymptotic estimates for the relevant mixing time. Furthermore, in the uniformly elliptic case, we present quenched invariance prin- ciples for domains with more general boundaries.

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