I have some -possibly- simple but broad questions: Where to begin the study of von Neumann Algebras? Which are the important questions in the field that guide current research? I'm interested in learning the basics to start working at research level in the field.


My backgroud is: some basic Functional and Real Analysis (e.g. the material covered in Gerald Teschl [Topics in Real...](http://www.mat.univie.ac.at/~gerald/ftp/book-fa/)), some Point Set and Algebraic Topology (e.g. Munkres), some Algebra (e.g. Lang's Algebra), some basic Operator Algebras (chapters 4 and 5 of Kadison & Ringrose).


Thanks.



References for von Neumann Algebras
For a rapid introduction see <http://www.math.berkeley.edu/~vfr/MATH20909/VonNeumann2009.pdf> (Von Neumann Algebras, by Vaughan F.R. Jones -- "The purpose of these notes is to provide a rapid introduction to von Neumann algebras which gets to the examples and active topics with a minimum of technical baggage. ")


A survey "Von Neumann Algebras in Mathematics and Physics" by the same author would be also helpful for a broad perspective:
<http://www.mathunion.org/ICM/ICM1990.1/Main/icm1990.1.0121.0138.ocr.pdf>


