A complete set of numerical invariants for a subfactor (Q1883214)

\textit{V. F. R. Jones} [``Planar algebras. I'' (preprint) (1999; arXiv:math.QA/9909027)] introduced planar algebras. Their definition was motivated by the intricate algebraic-combinatorial structure emerging from the lattice of higher relative commutants of \(II_1\) factors, which was abstractly characterized by \textit{S. Popa} [Invent. Math. 120, No.~3, 427--445 (1995; Zbl 0831.46069)]. Loosely speaking, a planar algebra \(P\) is an algebra over a coloured planar operad. The primary ingredients in the definition are provided by a countable family \(\{ P_k\}_k\) of finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces (\(k\) is called the colour of \(P_k\)) and a collection of ``planar tangles'' \(T\). Each tangle \(T\) is given by an external disc of colour \(k_0\) and internal discs of colour \(k_1,\ldots,k_b\), plus additional data leading to a chequerboard shading of its geometric image. A linear map \(Z_T^P:P_{k_1}\otimes\cdots\otimes P_{k_b}\rightarrow P_{k_0}\) is associated with each tangle \(T\) of this type. The paper under review investigates the problem of isomorphism between two subfactor planar algebras. For any pair \((S,T)\) of planar tangles of the same type (as above) in a planar algebra \(P\), the linear map \(Z_S^P (Z_T^P)^*\) defines an endomorphism of \(P_{k_0}\). Its usual trace is a complex number denoted by \(\chi_{S,T}^P\). The collection of all these numbers is called the character of the planar algebra. The main result of this paper is that two subfactor planar algebras \(P\) and \(Q\) are isomorphic if and only if they have the same character, i.e., \(\chi_{S,T}^P=\chi_{S,T}^Q\) for all pairs \((S,T)\) of planar tangles of the same type.