We show that the multiplier algebra of the Fourier algebra on a locally compact group $G$ can be isometrically represented on a direct sum on non-commutative $L^p$ spaces associated with the right von Neumann algebra of $G$. The resulting image is the idealiser of the image of the Fourier algebra. If these spaces are given their canonical operator space structure, then we get a completely isometric representation of the completely bounded multiplier algebra. We make a careful study of the non-commutative $L^p$ spaces we construct and show that they are completely isometric to those considered recently by Forrest, Lee, and Samei. We improve a result of theirs about module homomorphisms. We suggest a definition of a Figa-Talamanca-Herz algebra built out of these non-commutative $L^p$ spaces, say $A_p(\widehat G)$. It is shown that $A_2(\widehat G)$ is isometric to $L^1(G)$, generalising the abelian situation.

Let $(\M_i)_{i\in I}$, $(\N_j)_{j\in J}$ be families of von Neumann algebras and $\U$, $\U'$ be ultrafilters in $I$, $J$, respectively. Let $1\le p<\infty$ and $\nen$. Let $x_1$,\dots,$x_n$ in $\prod L_p(\M_i)$ and $y_1$,\dots,$y_n$ in $\prod L_p(\N_j)$ be bounded families. We show the following equality $$ \lim_{i,\U} \lim_{j,\U'} \Big\| \summ_{k=1}^n x_k(i)\otimes y_k(j)\Big\|_{L_p(\M_i\otimes \N_j)} = \lim_{j,\U'} \lim_{i,\U} \Big\| \summ_{k=1}^n x_k(i)\otimes y_k(j)\Big\|_{L_p(\M_i\otimes \N_j)} . $$ For $p=1$ this Fubini type result is related to the local reflexivity of duals of $C^*$-algebras. This fails for $p=\infty$.

The norm on a Banach space gives rise to a subharmonic function on the complex plane for which the distributional Laplacian gives a Riesz measure. This measure is calculated explicitly here for Lebesgue $L^p$ spaces and the von~Neumann-Schatten trace ideals. Banach spaces that are $q$-uniformly $\PL$-convex in the sense of Davis, Garling and Tomczak-Jaegermann are characterized in terms of the mass distribution of this measure. This gives a new proof that the trace ideals $c^p$ are $2$-uniformly $\PL$-convex for $1\leq p\leq 2$.

We prove a number of results about the stable and particularly the real ranks of tensor products of \ca s under the assumption that one of the factors is commutative. In particular, we prove the following: {\raggedright \begin{enumerate}[(5)] \item[(1)] If $X$ is any locally compact $\sm$-compact Hausdorff space and $A$ is any \ca, then\break $\RR \bigl( C_0 (X) \otimes A \bigr) \leq \dim (X) + \RR(A)$. \item[(2)] If $X$ is any locally compact Hausdorff space and $A$ is any \pisca, then $\RR \bigl( C_0 (X) \otimes A \bigr) \leq 1$. \item[(3)] $\RR \bigl( C ([0,1]) \otimes A \bigr) \geq 1$ for any nonzero \ca\ $A$, and $\sr \bigl( C ([0,1]^2) \otimes A \bigr) \geq 2$ for any unital \ca\ $A$. \item[(4)] If $A$ is a unital \ca\ such that $\RR(A) = 0$, $\sr (A) = 1$, and $K_1 (A) = 0$, then\break $\sr \bigl( C ([0,1]) \otimes A \bigr) = 1$. \item[(5)] There is a simple separable unital nuclear \ca\ $A$ such that $\RR(A) = 1$ and\break $\sr \bigl( C ([0,1]) \otimes A \bigr) = 1$. \end{enumerate}}