The general linear group as a complete invariant for C*-algebras

Abstract: In 1955 Dye proved that two von Neumann factors not of type I_2n are isomorphic (via a linear or a conjugate linear -isomorphism) if and only if their unitary groups are isomorphic as abstract groups. We consider an analogue for C-algebras. We show that the topological general linear group is a classifying invariant for simple, unital AH-algebras of slow dimension growth and of real rank zero, and the abstract general linear group is a classifying invariant for unital Kirchberg algebras in the UCT class.