SynopsisWe consider automorphic actions on von Neumann algebras of a locally compact group E given as a topological extension 0 → A → E → G → 0, where A is compact abelian and second countable. Motivated by the wish to describe and classify ergodic actions of E when G is finite, we classify (up to conjugacy) first the ergodic actions of locally compact groups on finite-dimensional factors and then compact abelian actions with the property that the fixed-point algebra is of type I with atomic centre. We then handle the case of ergodic actions of E with the property that the action is already ergodic when restricted to A, and then, as a generalisation, the case of (not necessarily ergodic) actions of E with the property that the restriction to A is an action with abelian atomic fixed-point algebra. Both these cases are handled for general locally compact-countable G. Finally, we combine the obtained results to classify the ergodic actions of E when G is finite, provided that either the extension is central and Hom (G, T) = 0, or G is abelian and either cyclic or of an order not divisible by a square.
On measure algebras associated to locally compact groups