On certain free product factors via an extended matrix model (Q1207139)

In a series of papers \textit{D. Voiculescu} [J. Funct. Anal. 66, 323-346 (1986; Zbl 0651.46063), Invent. Math. 104, No. 1, 201-220 (1991; Zbl 0736.60007) and references cited there] introduced free products of random variables on noncommutative probability spaces as well as free products of von Neumann algebras with specified traces. In this setting, \(L(G_ 1)* L(G_ 2)=L(G_ 1*G_ 2)\) holds, \(L(G)\) being the finite von Neumann algebra associated with the discrete group \(G\). Now let \(R\) be the hyperfinite factor, and \(F_ k\) the free group on \(k\) generators. A main result of this paper is that \(L(F_ k)* M_ N(\mathbb{C})\simeq L(F_{N^ 2 k})\otimes M_ N(\mathbb{C})\) and \(L(F_ k)* R\simeq L(F_{k+1})\) hold for all \(1\leq k\leq\infty\) and \(N\geq 2\). This together with a result of Connes implies that \(L(\mathbb{Z}*G)\simeq L(F_ 2)\) for all amenable i.c.c. groups \(G\). The proofs of these facts are based on central limit theorems with the semicircle law as limit and freeness properties of random \(n\times n\) matrices over noncommutative probability spaces for \(n\to\infty\). The results on this subject contained in this paper generalize Wigner's semicircle law and related results of Voiculescu considerably. In particular, it is not required that the entries of the random matrices are Gaussian, and Voiculescu's constant diagonal matrices may be replaced by constant block diagonal matrices having slowly growing size.