Rigidity results for von Neumann algebras arising from mixing extensions of profinite actions of groups on probability spaces (Q2205561)

The present article proves several von Neumann algebraic rigidity results by exploiting the tension between compactness and mixing in probability measure preserving dynamical systems. Three different types of results are obtained. First, a Neshveyev-Størmer rigidity result is obtained, recovering an action of an icc group \(\Gamma \curvearrowright X\) from the inclusion into the group measure space construction \(\mathrm{L} \Gamma \subset \mathrm{L}^\infty(X) \rtimes \Gamma\) and, moreover, describing the automorphism group of this inclusion. This result is proven for a class of actions containing, in particular, mixing extensions of profinite actions. Second, the authors obtain a description of intermediate von Neumann algebras \(\mathrm{L}^\infty(X_0) \rtimes \Gamma \subset N \subset \mathrm{L}^\infty(X) \rtimes \Gamma\), where \(\Gamma\) is an icc group and \(\Gamma \curvearrowright X\) is a compact ergodic extension of the probability measure preserving action \(\Gamma \curvearrowright X_0\). In this case, \(N = \mathrm{L}^\infty(Z) \rtimes \Gamma\) for some intermediate extension \(\Gamma \curvearrowright Z\). Third, the authors provide a new proof of Ioana's OE-rigidity result for profinite actions of property (T) groups, which is derived from their new result that von Neumann equivalence preserves the class of free ergodic profinite actions of (possibly different) icc property (T) groups. Note that Ioana's OE-rigidity result applies to arbitrary property (T) groups.