TITLE: range projection of an unbounded idempotent affiliated to a finite von Neumann algebra
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: To be slightly more precise: let $M\subset B(H)$ be a finite von Neumann algebra equipped with a faithful normal trace $\tau$, and let $L^0(M,\tau)$ be the completion of $M$ in the measure topology; this is an algebra, whose elements can be identified with those densely-defined and closed operators on $H$ that are affiliated with $M$. (See e.g. E. Nelson, Notes on noncommutative integration, JFA 1974). Let $e$ be an idempotent in $L^0(M,\tau)$, not necessarily self-adjoint; then it is not hard to show that $R=\{ \xi\in H : e\xi=\xi\}$ is a closed subspace of $H$.
Question: is the orthogonal projection onto $R$ affiliated with $M$?
I suspect the answer is yes (and would like it to be, for some calculations I'm doing at the moment) but am having difficulties nailing the argument down. Given that this should, if true, be a pretty basic bit of operator algebra theory, and standard knowledge, I'd be grateful if someone could point me to a reference. (I currently have somewhat limited library access, but this might well be covered in Kadison & Ringrose for instance.)

Edit/update: both Martin Argerami and Jonas Meyer have given straightforward proofs of the desired result, and a quick check in Kadison & Ringrose vol. 1 has not turned up any explicit statement (probably because the result turns out to be so basic). Since I can't accept both their answers, I'm accepting Martin's on grounds of personal preference.

REPLY [4 votes]: Disclaimer: I fear I may be missing some subtlety here, as is often the case when I think about unbounded operators.  This is an attempt to generalize the result.
A closed densely defined operator $T$ on $H$ has a unique polar decomposition $T=V|T|$ with $|T|=\sqrt{T^*T}$ and $V$ a partial isometry whose initial space is the closure of the range of $|T|$ and whose final space is the closure of the range of $T$.  If $T$ is affiliated with a von Neumann algebra $M$, then $V$ is in $M$ (as stated e.g. in Nelson's paper on the bottom of page 111).  Thus $VV^*$, the projection onto the closure of the range of $T$, is in $M$.