The Effros-Maréchal topology in the space of von Neumann algebras. II (Q1975486)

Let \(vN(H)\) be the set of all von Neumann algebras acting on a separable Hilbert space \(H\). The Effros-Maréchal topology is the weakest topology on \(vN(H)\) making all functions \(N\to \|\varphi|{N}\|\) continuous, where \(\varphi\) runs through the set of all normal functionals on the algebra \(B(H)\) of all bounded operators on \(H\). The authors continue the study of this topology initiated in part I [Am. J. Math. 120, No. 3, 567-617 (1998; Zbl 0918.46054)]. It is proved that the set of all type \(\text{II}_1\) factors, type \(\text{II}_\infty\) factors, type \(\text{III}_\lambda\) (\(\lambda\in [0,1)\)) factors, as well as the set of all standard von Neumann algebras, are dense in \(vN(H)\). Moreover, it is shown that density of type I factors is equivalent to density of injective factors. The densities of these sets are shown to be equivalent to well known conjectures in operator algebra theory. Namely, it is proved that type I factors are dense in \(vN(H)\) if and only if the maximal and minimal norms coincide on the tensor product \(C^\ast(F_\infty) \otimes C^\ast(F_\infty) \), where \(C^\ast(F_\infty) \) is the full \(C^\ast\)-algebra generated by the free group of infinitely many generators [conjecture of Kirchberg -- (K)]. Also, it is proved that injective factors are dense in \(vN(H)\) exactly when any separable type \(\text{II}_1\) factor can be embedded into the factor \(R^\omega\), where \(R^\omega\) denotes the ultraproduct factor along a free ultrafilter on natural numbers associated to type \(\text{II}_1\) factor \(R\) [conjecture of Connes -- (C)]. This provides an alternative proof of earlier result of Kirchberg on equivalence of (K) and (C).