Probably an easy question, but here goes:


In a concrete von Neumann algebra $M \subseteq B(H)$, every element $m \in M$ has a polar decomposition $m= p|m|$ where $p$ is a partial isometry and $|m|= \sqrt{m^\*m}$. Imposing extra conditions on $p$ ensures that $p$ is unique. For example, one can ask that $\ker p = \ker m$.


Is there a way to describe the unique partial isometry $p$ without referring to the underlying Hilbert space $H$? In other words, in an abstract von Neumann algebra (= $W^\*$-algebra) $M$, how would one describe the partial isometry $p$ in the decomposition $m = p|m|?$ Ideally, I hope there is some algebraic characterisation of $p$.



Polar decomposition in abstract von Neumann algebra
I would say that the polar decomposition of $m \in M$ is the unique pair $(v,a)$ of elements in $M$ satisfying the following (algebraic) properties.


1. $m = va$.
2. $v$ is a partial isometry and $a$ is positive.
3. $a^2 = m^\* m$.
4. Whenever $p \in M$ is a projection satisfying $mp = 0$, we have $vp=0$.


