Normal intermediate subfactors (Q1127678)

Let \(N\subset M\) be an irreducible inclusion of type \(\Pi_1\) factors with finite Jones index. We shall introduce the notion of normality for intermediate subfactors of the inclusion \(N\subset M\). If the depth of \(N\subset M\) is 2, then an intermediate subfactor \(K\) for \(N\subset M\) is normal in \(N\subset M\) if and only if the depths of \(N\subset K\) and \(K\subset M\) are both 2. In particular, if \(M\) is the crossed product \(N\rtimes G\) by a finite group \(G\), then \(K= N\rtimes H\) is normal in \(N\subset M\) if and only if \(H\) is a normal subgroup of \(G\). If the depth of \(N\subset M\) is 2, then all maximal chains of normal intermediate subfactors have the same length.