English

A random matrix approach to the Peterson-Thom conjecture

Operator Algebras 2022-03-15 v2 Functional Analysis Probability

Abstract

The Peterson-Thom conjecture asserts that any diffuse, amenable subalgebra of a free group factor is contained in a unique maximal amenable subalgebra. This conjecture is motivated by related results in Popa's deformation/rigidity theory and Peterson-Thom's results on L^{2}-Betti numbers. We present an approach to this conjecture in terms of so-called strong convergence of random matrices by formulating a conjecture which is a natural generalization of the Haagerup-Thorbjornsen theorem whose validity would imply the Peterson-Thom conjecture. This random matrix conjecture is related to recent work of Collins-Guionnet-Parraud.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2008.12287,
  title  = {A random matrix approach to the Peterson-Thom conjecture},
  author = {Ben Hayes},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2008.12287},
  year   = {2022}
}

Comments

46 pages. This is the final version, and will appear as such in the Indiana University Mathematics Journal

R2 v1 2026-06-23T18:08:56.465Z