Generalized Longo-Rehren subfactors and \(\alpha\)-induction (Q1598126)

Subfactor theory was initiated by \textit{V. F. R. Jones} [Invent. Math. 72, 1--25 (1983; Zbl 0508.46040)], and it has several applications, e.g., in algebraic QFT (quantum field theory) in the framework of Haag, Araki and Kastler. Especially, the study of CFT (conformal QFT) was motivated by Jones' suggestion that there might be an operator algebraic explanation of the coincidence between certain unitary representations of the infinite braid group that had turned up independently in the theory of subfactors, exactly solvable models in statistical mechanics and CFT. Along these lines remember that in CFT the conformal group, which contains the Poincaré group as a subgroup, is used as a symmetry group, and in space-time dimension \(d=2\) conformal field theories are described by a net of von Neumann algebras \({\mathcal A}(I)\), indexed by a set \({\mathcal I}\) of proper intervals \(I\subset S^1\) (unit sphere in \({\mathbb R}^2\)), and satisfying the corresponding axioms such as isotony, locality, conformal symmetry and conformal covariance. A construction of subfactors in the setting of sector theory of algebraic QFT was given by Longo and Rehren, and a generalization of that Longo-Rehren subfactor to generalized Longo-Rehren subfactor is contained in \textit{K.-H. Rehren} [Commun. Math. Phys. 211, 395--406 (2000; Zbl 1021.46046)]. This construction is analysed in detail in the paper under review, and as a corollary a problem on existence of braiding raised by Rehren is answered negatively. Furthermore, multi-interval subfactors arising from a completely rational conformal net of factors on \(S^1\) to a net of subfactors are considered, and the role of (generalized) Longo-Rehren subfactors is explained.