On MASAs in \(q\)-deformed von Neumann algebras (Q2305363)

The paper under review studies maximal abelian subalgebras (masas) in certain \(\mathrm{II}_{1}\)-factors that can be viewed as deformations of free group factors \(\mathrm{VN}(\mathbb{F}_{n})\). The work focuses mainly on two particular types of such algebras: the radial subalgebras of Hecke deformed von Neumann algebras of the free product group \((\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})^{*k}\), and the generator subalgebras of \(q\)-deformed Gaussian von Neumann algebras of Bożejko and Speicher [\textit{M. Bożejko} and \textit{R. Speicher}, Commun. Math. Phys. 137, No. 3, 519--531 (1991; Zbl 0722.60033)]. The Hecke deformed von Neumann algebras of right-angled Coxeter groups were introduced by \textit{J. Dymara} [Geom. Topol. 10, 667--694 (2006; Zbl 1166.20301)] and \textit{M. W. Davis} et al. [Geom. Topol. 11, 47--138 (2007; Zbl 1173.20029)]. The authors consider the particular case where the Coxeter group is given by the free product \((\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})^{*k}\). They first prove that the elements in this algebra that are radial with respect to the natural length functions generate an abelian subalgebra. Based on some technical computations of certain analogues of Radulescu's basis, the authors determine the corresponding Pukánszky invariant. According to [\textit{S. Popa}, Math. Scand. 57, 171--188 (1985; Zbl 0641.46034)], this immediately implies that the aforementioned radial subalgebra is a singular masa. The situation for \(q\)-deformed Gaussian von Neumann algebras of Bożejko and Speicher turns out to be different, and the radial subalgebra is in fact obviously isomorphic to the generator one. However, the authors prove that the different generator masas in this algebra are never unitarily conjugate. Indeed, they prove the stronger result that two such generator masas are never intertwinable in the sense of [\textit{S. Popa}, Kyoto J. Math. 59, No. 2, 367--397 (2019; Zbl 1430.46044)].