Connes embedding problem

Connes' embedding problem, formulated by Alain Connes in the 1970s, is a major problem in von Neumann algebra theory. During that time, the problem was reformulated in several different areas of mathematics. Dan Voiculescu developing his free entropy theory found that Connes’ embedding problem is related to the existence of microstates. Some results of von Neumann algebra theory can be obtained assuming positive solution to the problem. The problem is connected to some basic questions in quantum theory, which led to the realization that it also has important implications in computer science.

The problem admits a number of equivalent formulations.[1] Notably, it is equivalent to the following long standing problems:

  • Kirchberg's QWEP conjecture in C*-algebra theory
  • Tsirelson's problem in quantum information theory
  • The predual of any (separable) von Neumann algebra is finitely representable in the trace class.

In January 2020, Ji, Natarajan, Vidick, Wright, and Yuen announced a result in quantum complexity theory[2] that implies a negative answer to Connes' embedding problem.[3][4] However, an error was discovered in September 2020 in an earlier result they used; a new proof avoiding the earlier result was published as a preprint in September,[5]. A broad outline was published in Communications of the ACM in November 2021,[6] and an article explaining the connection between MIP*=RE and the Connes Embedding Problem appeared in October 2022.[7]

Statement

Let be a free ultrafilter on the natural numbers and let R be the hyperfinite type II1 factor with trace . One can construct the ultrapower as follows: let be the von Neumann algebra of norm-bounded sequences and let . The quotient turns out to be a II1 factor with trace , where is any representative sequence of .

Connes' embedding problem asks whether every type II1 factor on a separable Hilbert space can be embedded into some .

A positive solution to the problem would imply that invariant subspaces exist for a large class of operators in type II1 factors (Uffe Haagerup); all countable discrete groups are hyperlinear. A positive solution to the problem would be implied by equality between free entropy and free entropy defined by microstates (Dan Voiculescu). In January 2020, a group of researchers[2] claimed to have resolved the problem in the negative, i.e., there exist type II1 von Neumann factors that do not embed in an ultrapower of the hyperfinite II1 factor.

The isomorphism class of is independent of the ultrafilter if and only if the continuum hypothesis is true (Ge-Hadwin and Farah-Hart-Sherman), but such an embedding property does not depend on the ultrafilter because von Neumann algebras acting on separable Hilbert spaces are, roughly speaking, very small.

The problem admits a number of equivalent formulations.[1]

Conferences dedicated to Connes' embedding problem

  • Connes' embedding problem and quantum information theory workshop; Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee; May 1–7, 2020 (postponed; TBA)
  • The many faceted Connes' Embedding Problem; BIRS, Canada; July 14–19, 2019
  • Winter school: Connes' embedding problem and quantum information theory; University of Oslo, January 7–11, 2019
  • Workshop on Sofic and Hyperlinear Groups and the Connes Embedding Conjecture; UFSC Florianopolis, Brazil; June 10–21, 2018
  • Approximation Properties in Operator Algebras and Ergodic Theory; UCLA; April 30 - May 5, 2018
  • Operator Algebras and Quantum Information Theory; Institut Henri Poincare, Paris; December 2017
  • Workshop on Operator Spaces, Harmonic Analysis and Quantum Probability; ICMAT, Madrid; May 20-June 14, 2013
  • Fields Workshop around Connes Embedding Problem University of Ottawa, May 1618, 2008

References

  1. Hadwin, Don (2001). "A Noncommutative Moment Problem". Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society. 129 (6): 1785–1791. doi:10.1090/S0002-9939-01-05772-0. JSTOR 2669132.
  2. Ji, Zhengfeng; Natarajan, Anand; Vidick, Thomas; Wright, John; Yuen, Henry (2020). "MIP*=RE". arXiv:2001.04383. Bibcode:2020arXiv200104383J. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Castelvecchi, Davide (2020). "How 'spooky' is quantum physics? The answer could be incalculable". Nature. 577 (7791): 461–462. Bibcode:2020Natur.577..461C. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-00120-6. PMID 31965099.
  4. Hartnett, Kevin (4 March 2020). "Landmark Computer Science Proof Cascades Through Physics and Math". Quanta Magazine. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  5. Ji, Zhengfeng; Natarajan, Anand; Vidick, Thomas; Wright, John; Yuen, Henry (27 September 2020). "Quantum soundness of the classical low individual degree test". arXiv:2009.12982 [quant-ph].
  6. Ji, Zhengfeng; Natarajan, Anand; Vidick, Thomas; Wright, John; Yuen, Henry (November 2021). "MIP* = RE". Communications of the ACM. 64 (11): 131–138. doi:10.1145/3485628. S2CID 210165045.
  7. Isaac Goldbring (October 2022), "The Connes Embedding Problem: A Guided Tour" (PDF), AMS Bulletin, 58 (4): 503–560, doi:10.1090/bull/1768

Further reading

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