Unshaded planar algebras and their associated II\(_{1}\) factors (Q418704)

In [Invent. Math. 120, No. 3, 427--445 (1995; Zbl 0831.46069)], \textit{S. Popa} axiomatized the standard invariant of a finite index subfactor as a \(\lambda\)-lattice, and he showed that each \(\lambda\)-lattice arises as the standard invariant of some subfactor. \textit{S. Popa} and \textit{D. Shlyakhtenko} showed in [Acta Math. 191, No. 2, 225--257 (2003; Zbl 1079.46043)] that every \(\lambda\)-lattice arises as the standard invariant of a subfactor \(N\subset M\), where \(N,M\) are isomorphic to the free group factor \(L(\mathbb{F}_\infty)\). In [Clay Mathematics Proceedings 11, 201--239 (2010; Zbl 1219.46057)], \textit{A. Guionnet, V. F. R. Jones} and \textit{D. Shlyakhtenko} gave a diagrammatic proof of Popa's theorem using planar algebras. The same authors showed in [J. Funct. Anal. 261, No. 5, 1345--1360 (2011; Zbl 1230.46054)] that each finite depth subfactor planar algebra \(P\) arises as the standard invariant of a subfactor \(L(\mathbb{F}_s)\subset L(\mathbb{F}_t)\), where \(s,t\) depend on the loop parameter \(\delta\) and the global index \(I\) of \(P\). In this article, the author proves results similar to those of Guionnet-Jones-Shlyakhtenko for unshaded planar algebras. He starts with an evaluable, finite-dimensional, spherical, unitary unshaded planar algebra \(P\), forms a graded algebra \(Gr(P)\) which acts on itself by bounded operators, and constructs a canonical von Neumann algebra \(M_P=Gr(P)''\subset B(L^2(Gr(P)))\). To show that \(M_P\) is a factor, he looks at the \(A-A\) bimodule decomposition of \(L^2(M_P)\), where \(A\) is the abelian von Neumann subalgebra generated by the cup element. The main difficulty is when the 1-box space \(P_1\neq \{0\}\). (This case is particular to the unshaded case, since elements in the \(n\)-box space of a subfactor planar algebra have \(2n\) strands.) The author carefully deals with this technical case, giving the bimodule decomposition \[ _{A}L^2(M_P)_A\cong _{A}L^2(A)_A \oplus \left( _{A}L^2(A)\otimes \ell^2 \otimes L^2(A)_A\right). \] This fact not only shows that \(M_P\) is a factor and \(A\subset M_P\) is a maximally abelian self-adjoint subalgebra (a MASA), but also that \(A\) is singular, Takesaki simple, and has Pukanszky invariant equal to the singleton \(\{\infty\}\). In the case that \(P\) is the unshaded planar algebra of non-commutative polynomials on \(n\) generators, \(M_P\cong L(\mathbb{F}_n)\), and \(A\) shares the same properties as both the radial and the generator MASAs of \(L(\mathbb{F}_n)\). (It is an open question whether these two MASAs are isomorphic.) The author asks whether \(A\) is isomorphic to either of these MASAs.