Prime \(\mathrm{II}_1\) factors arising from irreducible lattices in products of rank one simple Lie groups (Q2009897)

The authors provide the first examples of prime II\(_1\) factors arising from lattices in higher rank semisimple Lie groups. Specifically, they prove that if \(\Gamma\) is an icc irreducible lattice in a product of connected non-compact rank one simple Lie groups with finite center, then the II\(_1\) factor \(L(\Gamma)\) is prime. In particular, they deduce that the II\(_1\) factors associated to the arithmetic groups PSL\(_2\)(\({\mathbb Z}[\sqrt{2}\)] and PSL\(_2\)(\({\mathbb Z}[{S^{-1})}\)] are prime for any square-free integer \(d\geq 2\) with \(d\not\equiv 1\) (mod 4) and any finite non-empty set of primes \(S\). Moreover, they describe all tensor product decompositions of \(L(\Gamma)\) for icc countable groups \(\Gamma\) that are measure equivalent to a product of non-elementary hyperbolic groups. In particular, they show that \(L(\Gamma)\) is prime, unless \(\Gamma\) is a product of infinite groups, in which case they prove a unique prime factorization result for \(L(\Gamma)\).