Non-inner amenability of the Thompson groups \(T\) and \(V\) (Q524264)

The main results obtained in the present paper are stated as follows. The Thompson groups \(T\) and \(V\) are not inner amenable (Theorem 4.4). More generally, every subgroup of \(V\) containing \(\Lambda\) is not inner amenable, where \(\Lambda\) is a copy of \(\mathrm{PSL}_2(\mathbb Z)\) written as the free product of two cyclic groups of order two and three (Proposition 4.4). If the reduced \(C^*\)-algebra of \(T\) is simple, then the Thompson group \(F\) is not amenable (Theorem 5.5). Remarks. The Thompson group \(V\) is defined to be the group of all piecewise linear bijections of the half open interval \([0, 1)\), with right continuity and non-differentiability at finitely many dyadic rational points and with derivatives as powers of \(2\) for points of differentiability. The Thompson group \(T\) is the subgroup of \(V\) of homeomorphisms of \([0, 1)\) identified with \(\mathbb R/ \mathbb Z\). The Thompson group \(F\) is the subgroup of \(T\) whose elements send zero to zero. (It looks like in the product \([0, 1)^2\) (plane) that each element of \(V\) as a graph is written as a finite union of negative or positive such slopes, each of \(V\) is such a partially continuous union of only positive (or negative) slopes, and each of \(F\) is such a continuous union of only positive slopes, fixing the origin.) The group \(T\) is isomorphic to a group of piecewise fractional linear transformations, and is realized as Möbius transformations of the interval \([0, 1]\), by Thurston [see \textit{J. W. Cannon} et al., Enseign. Math. (2) 42, No. 3--4, 215--256 (1996; Zbl 0880.20027)], and of the one-point compactification of \(\mathbb R\), by \textit{M. Imbert} [Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 243, 313--324 (1997; Zbl 0911.20031)]. The three Thompson groups are discrete ICC groups, so that their von Neumann algebras are factors of type \(\mathrm {II}_1\). For a discrete ICC group \(G\), the property \(\Gamma\) of the von Neumann algebra of \(G\) implies that \(G\) is inner amenable, by \textit{E. G. Effros} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 47, 483--486 (1975; Zbl 0321.22011)]. A counterexample for the converse was provided by \textit{S. Vaes} [Acta Math. 208, No. 2, 389--394 (2012; Zbl 1250.46041)]. (Hence non-inner amenability implies non-\(\Gamma\).) Being inner amenable of a discrete group \(G\) is defined as that there is a state on the algebra of all bounded functions on \(G\), invariant under inner automorphisms of \(G\). The group \(F\) is inner amenable, by \textit{P. Jolissaint} [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I, Math. 325, No. 1, 61--64 (1997; Zbl 0883.43003)]. As well, the von Neumann algebra of \(F\) is McDuff, and hence of \(\Gamma\). Well known is that the groups \(V\) and \(T\) are non-amenable. Also well known is that \(F\) is amenable if and only if the reduced \(C^*\)-algebra of \(F\) has a unique tracial state (UTrS). The reduced \(C^*\)-algebra of a group being simple implies UTrS, by \textit{E. Breuillard} et al. [Publ. Math., Inst. Hautes Étud. Sci. 126, 35--71 (2017; Zbl 1391.46071)]. A counterexample for the converse was first given by \textit{A. Le Boudec} [Invent. Math. 209, No. 1, 159--174 (2017; Zbl 1383.46043)], also provided by \textit{N. A. Ivanov} and \textit{T. Omland} [J. Funct. Anal. 272, No. 9, 3712--3741 (2017; Zbl 1373.46047)].