Continuous model theories for von Neumann algebras (Q2326499)

This paper is in continuous model theory, a branch of mathematics concerned with the application of model theory to metric structures (such as Banach spaces or operator algebras), with recent connections to ergodic theory, representation theory, and dynamical systems. Sparse, but various and interesting, attempts to generalise model theoretic intuition to the nondiscrete setting have been present all over the second half of the 20th century, but the modern development of the model theoretic techniques to continuous structures is due to Ben Yaacov and his collaborators, who in [\textit{I. Ben Yaacov} et al., Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 350, 315--427 (2008; Zbl 1233.03045)] described the current approach to metric structures. Later, a~series of three influential papers of Farah, Hart, and Sherman [\textit{I. Farah} et al., Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 45, No. 4, 825--838 (2013; Zbl 1295.03019); Isr. J. Math. 201, Part A, 477--505 (2014; Zbl 1301.03037); Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 46, No. 3, 609--628 (2014; Zbl 1303.46049)] developed the model theory of operator algebras, by giving a formal description of the theory of \(C^*\)-algebras and of II\(_1\) factors. (A factor is a von Neumann algebra of trivial center. These objects are crucial in the classification of von Neumann algebras, since every von Neumann algebras can be viewed as a direct integral of factors.) The development of the appropriate model theory for larger classes of von Neumann algebras seemed to be difficult at first, especially without the presence of a normal tracial state. In this paper, the author goes beyond the class of II\(_1\) factors, by introducing (and studying the applications of) model theory for \(\sigma\)-finite von Neumann algebras. The author shows that the ultrapower of metric structures designed to catch the behaviour of von Neumann algebras coincides with the one of Ocneanu and Groh (and therefore recovers the Ando-Haagerup approach to III\(_\lambda\)-factors, see, e.g., [\textit{H.~Ando} and \textit{U.~Haagerup}, J. Funct. Anal. 266, No.~12, 6842--6913 (2014; Zbl 1305.46049)]). The author shows, among other things, that the following classes are axiomatizable in the language of metric structures (often, if not always, in a multi-sorted setting). \begin{itemize} \item[--] \(\sigma\)-finite \(W^*\)-probability spaces (i.e., a pair \((M,\phi)\) where \(M\) is a von Neumann algebra and \(\phi\) a faithful normal state on \(M\)). \item[--] Preduals of von Neumann algebras. \item[--] III\(_{\lambda}\) factors (for a fixed \(\lambda\in(0,1)\). \end{itemize} The main result of the paper is Theorem~1.1. This result can be viewed as a `Keisler-Shelah' theorem in this setting. First, the author shows that Groh's ultrapower and Ocneanu's one have the right of being ultrapowers from a model theoretic point view, by proving that, if the continuum hypothesis is assumed, then the isomorphism class of the ultrapower of a `separable' infinite-dimensional object does not depend on the choice of the nonprincipal ultrafilter on \(\omega\). Secondly, the author proves the converse direction of the Keisler-Shelah theorem: that if all ultrapowers are isomorphic, then one has the continuum hypothesis.