On ultraproduct approximations and property (T) factors

We introduce a framework allowing for key aspects of deformation/rigidity theory to be used in the study of continuous model theory of II$_1$ factors. Using this framework, we solve several well-known open problems in the area. For example, we show that the group von Neumann algebras $L(SL_3(\mathbb Z))$ and $L \mathbb F_2$ are not elementarily equivalent, and we show that the group von Neumann algebra $L\mathbb F_2$ is not pseudomatricial. We also show a Bass-Serre type strong rigidity result in the setting of ultraproducts to provide an infinite family of pairwise non-elementarily equivalent full factors, each of which embeds into an ultraproduct of the hyperfinite II$_1$ factor. Building on previous work of Boutonnet, Chifan and Ioana, we also provide a continuum of pairwise non-elementarily equivalent full factors, which we can take to be group von Neumann algebras or group-measure space constructions.