Proper actions, fixed-point algebras and naturality in nonabelian duality

Suppose a locally compact group G acts freely and properly on a locally compact Hausdorff space X, and let γ be the induced action on C0(X). We consider a category in which the objects are C∗-dynamical systems (A,G,α) for which there is an equivariant homomorphism of (C0(X), γ ) into the multiplier algebra M(A). Rieffel has shown that such systems are proper and saturated, and hence have a generalized fixed-point algebra Aα which is Morita equivalent to A×α,r G.We show that the assignment (A,α) →Aα is functorial, and that Rieffel’s Morita equivalence is natural in a suitable sense. We then use our results to prove a categorical version of Landstad duality which characterizes crossed products by coactions, and to prove that Mansfield imprimitivity for crossed products by homogeneous spaces is natural. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved