A NOTE ON THE OPERATOR EQUATION $\alpha+\alpha^{-1}$=$\beta+\beta^{-1}$

Let M be a von Neumann algebra and .alpha., .betha. be *-automorphisms of M satisfying the operator equation .alpha.+.alpha.$^{-1}$ =.betha.+.betha.$^{-1}$ This operator equation has been extensively studied and many important decomposition theorems have been obtained by several authors (for instance see [4], [5], [2], [1]). Originally, this operator equation arose in the paper of Van Daele on the new approach of the Tomita-Takesaki theory in the case of modular operators ([7]). In the case of one-parameter automorphism groups, this equation has produced a bounded and completely positive map which can play a role similar to the infinitesimal generator (for details see [6] and [1]). A recent and one of the most important applications of this equation has been in developing an anglogue of the Tomita-Takesaki theory for Jordan algebras by Haagerup [3]. One general result of this theory is the following.