Connes embedding problem

{{short description|Mathematical problem in von Neumann algebra theory}}

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.{{cite journal |title= A Noncommutative Moment Problem|journal=Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society|volume=129|issue=6|pages=1785–1791|jstor=2669132|last1=Hadwin|first1=Don|year=2001|doi=10.1090/S0002-9939-01-05772-0|doi-access=free}} 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{{Cite arXiv |last1=Ji |first1=Zhengfeng |last2=Natarajan |first2=Anand |last3=Vidick |first3=Thomas |last4=Wright |first4=John |last5=Yuen |first5=Henry |date=2020 |title=MIP*=RE |eprint=2001.04383 |class=quant-ph}} that implies a negative answer to Connes' embedding problem.{{Cite journal |last=Castelvecchi |first=Davide |year=2020 |title=How 'spooky' is quantum physics? The answer could be incalculable |journal=Nature |volume=577 |issue=7791 |pages=461–462 |doi=10.1038/d41586-020-00120-6|pmid=31965099 |bibcode=2020Natur.577..461C |doi-access=free }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.quantamagazine.org/landmark-computer-science-proof-cascades-through-physics-and-math-20200304/|title=Landmark Computer Science Proof Cascades Through Physics and Math|last=Hartnett|first=Kevin|website=Quanta Magazine|date=4 March 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-03-09}} 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.{{cite arXiv |last1=Ji |first1=Zhengfeng |last2=Natarajan |first2=Anand |last3=Vidick |first3=Thomas |last4=Wright |first4=John |last5=Yuen |first5=Henry |title=Quantum soundness of the classical low individual degree test |date=27 September 2020 |class=quant-ph |eprint=2009.12982}} A broad outline was published in Communications of the ACM in November 2021,{{cite journal |last1=Ji |first1=Zhengfeng |last2=Natarajan |first2=Anand |last3=Vidick |first3=Thomas |last4=Wright |first4=John |last5=Yuen |first5=Henry |title=MIP* = RE |journal=Communications of the ACM |date=November 2021 |volume=64 |issue=11 |pages=131–138 |doi=10.1145/3485628|s2cid=210165045 |doi-access=free }} and an article explaining the connection between MIP*=RE and the Connes Embedding Problem appeared in October 2022.{{citation|url=https://www.ams.org/journals/bull/2022-59-04/S0273-0979-2022-01768-5/S0273-0979-2022-01768-5.pdf|journal= Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society|title=The Connes Embedding Problem: A Guided Tour|author=Isaac Goldbring|date=October 2022|volume=58|number=4|pages=503–560|doi=10.1090/bull/1768|s2cid= 237940159}}

Statement

Let $\omega$ be a free ultrafilter on the natural numbers and let R be the hyperfinite type II₁ factor with trace $\tau$ . One can construct the ultrapower $R^\omega$ as follows: let $l^\infty(R)=\{(x_n)_n\subseteq R:\sup_n||x_n||<\infty\}$ be the von Neumann algebra of norm-bounded sequences and let $I_\omega=\{(x_n)\in l^\infty(R):\lim_{n\rightarrow\omega}\tau(x_n^*x_n)^{\frac{1}{2}}=0\}$ . The quotient $R^\omega = l^\infty(R)/I_\omega$ turns out to be a II₁ factor with trace $\tau_{R^\omega}(x)=\lim_{n\rightarrow\omega}\tau(x_n+I_\omega)$ , where $(x_n)_n$ is any representative sequence of $x$ .

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

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 $\chi^*$ and free entropy defined by microstates (Dan Voiculescu). In January 2020, a group of researchers 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 $R^\omega$ of the hyperfinite II₁ factor.

The isomorphism class of $R^\omega$ 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.

Conferences dedicated to Connes' embedding problem

Connes' embedding problem and quantum information theory workshop; Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee; May 1–7, 2020 ([https://my.vanderbilt.edu/ncgoa20/ 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 16–18, 2008

Connes embedding problem

Statement

Conferences dedicated to Connes' embedding problem

References

Further reading