Central sequences in the factor associated with Thomson's group \(F\) (Q1271454)

The group \(F\), discovered by Richard Thompson in 1965, is the set of all piecewise linear homeomorphisms of the interval \([0,1]\) that are differentiable everywhere except at finitely many dyadic rational numbers and such that on intervals of differentiability the derivatives are integer powers of 2. [For a recent review of this group see \textit{J. W. Cannon}, \textit{W. J. Floyd} and \textit{W. R. Parry}, Enseign. Math., II. Sér. 42, No. 3-4, 215-256 (1996; Zbl 0880.20027).] It is still unknown whether \(F\) is amenable or not. In a recent paper the author proved that \(F\) is inner amenable [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I, Math. 325, No. 1, 61-64 (1997; Zbl 0883.43003)]. The present paper shows the existence of pairs of non commuting, non trivial central sequences in the factors associated with \(F\) and some of its subgroups. In view of A. Connes' classification of injective factors, the author interprets this result as another weak form of amenability of \(F\).