Operator-algebraic superridigity for SL_n( Z), n 3

For \(\Gamma:=\text{SL}_n({\mathbb Z})\) with \(n\geq 3\), let \(L(\Gamma)\subseteq B(\ell^2(\Gamma))\) be the von Neumann algebra generated by the left regular representation of \(\Gamma\). Let \(M\) be a finite factor and \(U(M)\) be its unitary group. The author proves the following rigidity result: If \(\pi\colon \Gamma\to U(M)\) is a homomorphism whose image has bicommutant \(\pi(\Gamma)=M\), then either (i) \(M\) is finite-dimensional or (ii) there exists a subgroup \(\Lambda\leq \Gamma\) of finite index such that \(\pi| _\Lambda\) extends to a homomorphism \(U(L(\Lambda))\to U(M)\). This answers, in the special case of \(\text{SL}_n({\mathbb Z})\), a question of A. Connes concerning homomorphisms to unit groups of type \(II_1\) factors from lattices in simple real Lie groups \(G\) with finite centre and real rank \(\geq 2\) (cf.\ page 86 in [\textit{V. F. R. Jones}, Ten problems, Mathematics: Frontiers and perspectives. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS). 79--91 (2000; Zbl 0969.57001)]). In the situation of (i), the author also obtains information on the finite-dimensional representation. And in (ii), he even obtains an extension of \(\pi\) to a normal homomorphism \(L(\Lambda)\to M\) of von Neumann algebras (Theorem 1). The proof of Theorem 1 hinges on a classification of the characters of \(\Gamma\), i.e., of the extreme points of the convex set of all normalized positive definite functions \(\phi\colon \Gamma\to {\mathbb C}\) which are central in the sense that \(\phi(yxy^{-1})=\phi(x)\) for all \(x,y\in \Gamma\). It is shown that every character of \(\text{SL}_n({\mathbb Z})\) (with \(n\geq 3\)) either is the character of an irreducible finite-dimensional representation of some congruence quotient \(\text{SL}_n({\mathbb Z}/ N{\mathbb Z})\), or the trivial extension (via \(0\)) of a character of the centre of \(\text{SL}_n({\mathbb Z})\) (Theorem 3). The preceding classification also implies a negative answer to a question by \textit{E. Kirchberg} raised in Remark 8.2 of [Invent.\ Math.\ 112, 449--489 (1993; Zbl 0803.46071)]: For \(n\geq 3\), the full \(C^*\)-algebra of \(\text{SL}_n({\mathbb Z})\) (i.e., the universal enveloping \(C^*\)-algebra) does not have a faithful tracial state (Corollary 5).

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