text:
# A note on group actions on subfactors

## 1 Introduction

In the theory of subfactors initiated by V. F. R. Jones in , the analysis of automorphisms and group actions on subfactors has been done by many people. We refer to , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Also see \[8, Chapter 15\].

In , we classified approximately inner actions of discrete amenable groups on strongly amenable subfactors of type II1 by the characteristic invariant and the $`\nu `$ invariant under some assumptions. Among these assumptions, the most important one is the triviality of the algebraic $`\kappa `$ invariant. When the algebraic $`\kappa `$ invariant is trivial, we can classify approximately inner actions completely. Hence we have to investigate the case when the algebraic $`\kappa `$ invariant is not trivial. In this case, we do not know whether there exist actions with given invariants or not. Hence what we should do first is to find a systematic way to construct actions with given invariants. Note that if the algebraic $`\kappa `$ invariant is trivial, our characteristic invariant is exactly same as original one in , but if the algebraic $`\kappa `$ invariant is not trivial, our characteristic invariant may be different from the usual one, and this makes classification more difficult.

In this paper, we construct actions of discrete amenable groups on strongly amenable subfactors of type II1 with given invariants, and classify actions under an extra assumption on the $`\nu `$ invariant. (We emphasis that we never assume the triviality of the algebraic $`\kappa `$ invariant.) The most essential assumption in our theory is that extensibility of the $`\nu `$ invariant to a homomorphism from a whole group. This assumption is similar to that of \[20, Theorem 20\]. In , Kawahigashi, Sutherland and Takesaki have classified the actions of a discrete abelian group $`G`$ on the injective type III1 factor. The modular invariant $`\nu `$ appears as the cocycle conjugacy invariant, and this is a homomorphism from a subgroup of $`G`$ to $`𝐑`$. Essential fact in their proof is that $`\nu `$ can be extended to a homomorphism of $`G`$ due to the divisibility of $`𝐑`$. (Originally this idea was due to Connes. See \[3, pp.466\].)

In subfactor case, we can not expect such property for the $`\nu `$ invariant generally. But if we assume the extensibility of the $`\nu `$ invariant, our proof goes well as in the proof of \[20, Theorem 20\]. We remark that our results can be viewed as the generalization of \[19, Theorem 4.1\].

In appendix, we discuss the lifting of $`\chi _a(M,N)`$ since we fix one lifting of $`\chi _a(M,N)`$ to define characteristic invariant.
Acknowledgements. The author is grateful to Professor M. Izumi for informing about \[29, Proposition 3.2\], Professor Y. Kawahigashi for various comments on this paper. The author is supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Ministry of Education (Japan).

## 2 Main results

We use notations in  freely.

First we recall the definition of cocycle conjugacy invariants for actions considered in . Let $`NM`$ be a subfactor of type II1 with finite index, $`G`$ a discrete group, and $`\alpha `$ an action of $`G`$ on $`NM`$. Throughout this paper, we always make the following assumptions on $`NM`$.
(A1) $`NM`$ is extremal,
(A2) $`NM`$ and $`MM_1`$ have the trivial normalizer,
(A3) $`\mathrm{Ker}\mathrm{\Phi }=\mathrm{Aut}(M,N)`$,
(A4) $`\chi _a(M,N)`$ is a finite group,
(A5) there exists a lifting $`\sigma `$ of $`\chi _a(M,N)`$ to $`\mathrm{Aut}(M,N)`$.

By (A3), every action has trivial Loi invariant. Note that we have many classes of subfactors satisfying the above assumptions, e.g, Jones subfactor with principal graph $`A_{2n+1}`$ in , or subfactors coming from Hecke algebras in . (Also see  and . )

By \[25, Theorem 3.1\], we have a Connes-Radon-Nikodym type cocycle $`u_{\alpha ,\sigma }U(N)`$ for every $`\alpha \mathrm{Ker}\mathrm{\Phi }`$ and $`\sigma \mathrm{Cnt}_\mathrm{r}(M,N)`$. The algebraic $`\kappa `$ invariant $`\kappa _a`$ is defined by $`\kappa _a(h,k)=u_{\sigma _k,\sigma _h}^{}`$ for $`h,k\chi _a(M,N)`$. We can easily verify that $`\kappa _a`$ is a bicharacter of $`\chi _a(M,N)`$.

For an action $`\alpha `$ of $`G`$, we get cocycle conjugacy invariants in the following way. The first invariant is a normal subgroup $`H_\alpha G`$, which is a non-strongly outer part of $`\alpha `$. Then we get a $`G`$-equivariant homomorphism $`\nu _\alpha `$ from $`H_\alpha `$ to $`\chi _a(M,N)`$ by $`\nu _\alpha (h)=[\alpha _h]`$. This $`\nu _\alpha `$ is the second cocycle conjugacy invariant, and we call this the $`\nu `$ invariant. By (A5) $`\alpha _h`$ has the form $`\alpha _h=\mathrm{Ad}v_h\sigma _{\nu _\alpha (h)}`$ for some unitary $`v_hU(N)`$. Then we get a characteristic invariant $`\mathrm{\Lambda }(\alpha )=[\lambda _\alpha ,\mu _\alpha ]\mathrm{\Lambda }(G,H_\alpha |\kappa _a)`$ by the following equations for $`gG`$, $`h,kH_\alpha `$.

$$\alpha _g(v_{g^1hg})u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _{\nu _\alpha (h)}}=\lambda _\alpha (g,h)v_h,v_h\sigma _{\nu _\alpha (h)}(v_k)=\mu _\alpha (h,k)v_{hk}.$$

The pair $`\lambda (g,h)`$ and $`\mu (h,k)`$ satisfy the following relations for $`h,k,lH`$ and $`g,g_1,g_2G`$.
(1) $`\mu (h,k)\mu (hk,l)=\mu (k,l)\mu (h,kl),`$
(2) $`\lambda (g_1g_2,h)=\lambda (g_1,h)\lambda (g_2,g_1^1hg_1),`$
(3) $`\lambda (g,hk)\overline{\lambda (g,h)\lambda (g,l)}=\mu (h,k)\overline{\mu (g^1hg,g^1kg)}`$
(4) $`\lambda (h,k)=\mu (h,h^1kh)\overline{\mu (k,h)\kappa _a(\nu (k),\nu (h))},`$
(5) $`\lambda (e,h)=\lambda (g,e)=\mu (e,k)=\mu (h,e)=1.`$

Equation (4) shows the difference between the usual characteristic invariant and our characteristic invariant. This definition of $`\lambda `$ and $`\mu `$ depends on the choice of $`v_h`$. To get rid of this dependence we have to define suitable equivalence relation for $`(\lambda ,\mu )`$. On this point see .

Conversely for a given normal subgroup $`HG`$, $`[\lambda ,\mu ]\mathrm{\Lambda }(G,H|\kappa _a)`$ and $`\nu \mathrm{Hom}_G(H,\chi _a(M,N))`$, we will construct an action $`\alpha `$ with $`H_\alpha =H`$, $`\mathrm{\Lambda }(\alpha )=[\lambda ,\mu ]`$ and $`\nu _\alpha =\nu `$ in the following proposition.

###### Proposition 2.1

Let $`NM`$ be a strongly amenable subfactor of type II1, $`G`$ a discrete amenable group. Assume that $`\nu `$ can be extended to the homomorphism from $`G`$. Then for every $`[\lambda ,\mu ]\mathrm{\Lambda }(G,H|\kappa _a)`$ and $`\nu `$, there exists an action $`\alpha `$ of $`G`$ with $`H_\alpha =H`$, $`\mathrm{\Lambda }(\alpha )=[\lambda ,\mu ]`$ and $`\nu _\alpha =\nu `$.

Proof. By assumptions, we have an extension of $`\nu `$ from $`G`$ to $`\chi _a(M,N)`$, which we denote $`\nu `$ again. Hence $`g\sigma _{\nu (g)}`$ is an action of $`G`$ on $`NM`$. Let $`\kappa _a`$ be the algebraic $`\kappa `$ invariant for $`NM`$, and set $`\lambda ^{}(g,n):=\kappa _a(\nu (n),\nu (g))\lambda (g,n)`$. Then it is easy to verify that $`[\lambda ^{},\mu ]`$ is in $`\mathrm{\Lambda }(G,H)`$, that is, $`[\lambda ^{},\mu ]`$ is a usual characteristic invariant. Let $`m`$ be an action of $`G`$ on the injective type II1 factor $`R_0`$ with the characteristic invariant $`[\lambda ^{},\mu ]`$. Define an action $`\alpha `$ of $`G`$ by $`\alpha _g:=\sigma _{\nu (g)}m_g`$. Then this $`\alpha `$ is a desired one. $`\mathrm{}`$

On classification of actions, we have the following result.

###### Theorem 2.2

Let $`NM`$, $`G`$ be as in the previous proposition. Let $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ be approximately inner actions of $`G`$. Assume $`\nu _\alpha `$ can be extended to a homomorphism from G. Then $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ are stably conjugate if $`H_\alpha =H_\beta `$, $`\mathrm{\Lambda }(\alpha )=\mathrm{\Lambda }(\beta )`$ and $`\nu _\alpha =\nu _\beta `$ hold.

Proof. Set $`K:=\chi _a(M,N)`$. Let $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }`$ be an extension of $`\alpha `$ on $`N_\sigma KM_\sigma K`$ defined in , and $`\stackrel{~}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }}`$ be a natural extension of $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }`$ on $`\stackrel{~}{\stackrel{~}{N}}\stackrel{~}{\stackrel{~}{M}}:=N_\sigma K_{\widehat{\sigma }}\widehat{K}M_\sigma K_{\widehat{\sigma }}\widehat{K}`$. Let $`w_k`$ be an implementing unitary of $`\sigma `$ in $`M_\sigma K`$, and $`v_p`$ be an implementing unitary of $`\widehat{\sigma }`$ in $`M_\sigma K_{\widehat{\sigma }}\widehat{K}`$. Then by the definition of $`\stackrel{~}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }}`$, we have $`\stackrel{~}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }}_g(x)=\alpha _g(x)`$, $`\stackrel{~}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }}_g(w_k)=u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _k}w_k`$ and $`\stackrel{~}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }}_g(v_p)=v_p`$ for $`xM`$, $`kK`$ and $`p\widehat{K}`$. On the other hand, the second dual action $`\widehat{\widehat{\sigma }}`$ of $`\sigma `$ satisfies $`\widehat{\widehat{\sigma }}_k=\mathrm{id}`$ on $`M_\sigma K`$ and $`\widehat{\widehat{\sigma }}_k(v_p)=\overline{k,p}v_p`$ for $`p\widehat{K}`$.

Takesaki duality theorem says that $`\stackrel{~}{\stackrel{~}{N}}\stackrel{~}{\stackrel{~}{M}}`$ is isomorphic to $`NB(l^2(K))MB(l^2(K))`$ via an isomorphism $`\mathrm{\Psi }`$ satisfying the following.

$`(1)`$ $`(\mathrm{\Psi }(\pi _{\widehat{\sigma }}\pi _\sigma (a))\xi )(k)=\sigma _k^1(a)\xi (k),`$
$`(2)`$ $`(\mathrm{\Psi }(\pi _{\widehat{\sigma }}(w_l))\xi )(k)=\xi (l^1k),`$
$`(3)`$ $`(\mathrm{\Psi }(v_p)\xi )(k)=\overline{k,p}\xi (k),`$
where $`\pi _\sigma `$ is an embedding of $`M`$ into $`M_\sigma K`$, and $`\pi _{\widehat{\sigma }}`$ is an embedding of $`M_\sigma K`$ into $`M_\sigma K_{\widehat{\sigma }}\widehat{K}`$.

Define a unitary $`c_gNB(l^2(K))`$ by $`(c_g\xi )(k):=u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _k^1}^{}\xi (k)`$. Since $`c_g`$ commutes with elements in $`N^{}𝐂1`$, $`c_g`$ is indeed in $`NB(l^2(K))`$. Moreover since we have

$`(c_g\alpha _gid(c_h)\xi )(k)`$ $`=`$ $`u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _k^1}^{}\alpha _g(u_{\alpha _h,\sigma _k^1}^{})\xi (k)`$
$`=`$ $`u_{\alpha _{gh},\sigma _k^1}^{}\xi (k)`$
$`=`$ $`(c_{gh}\xi )(k),`$
$`c_g`$ is an $`\alpha \mathrm{id}`$ cocycle. Then as in the argument in \[22, Section 5\], it is shown that $`\mathrm{\Psi }\stackrel{~}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }}_g\mathrm{\Psi }^1=\mathrm{Ad}c_g(\alpha _g\mathrm{id})`$ holds.

On the other hand we have $`\mathrm{\Psi }\widehat{\widehat{\sigma }}_k\mathrm{\Psi }^1=\sigma _k\mathrm{Ad}\rho _k^1`$, where $`\rho `$ is a left regular representation of $`K`$.

Here we consider the Connes-Radon-Nikodym type cocycle for $`\mathrm{Ad}c_g\alpha _g\mathrm{id}`$ and $`\sigma _k\mathrm{Ad}\rho _k^1`$. Take $`0aM_n`$ with $`\sigma _k(x)a=ax`$ for every $`xM`$. By \[25, Theorem 3.1\], $`\alpha _g(a)=u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _k}a`$ holds. It is obvious that $`\sigma _k\mathrm{Ad}\rho _k^1(x)(a\rho _k^1)=(a\rho _k^1)x`$ holds for every $`MB(l^2(K))`$. Here we have the following.

$`(\mathrm{Ad}c_g(\alpha _g\mathrm{id})(a\rho _k^1)\xi )(l)`$ $`=`$ $`(c_g(\alpha _g(a)\rho _k^1)c_g^{}\xi )(l)`$
$`=`$ $`u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _l^1}^{}\alpha _g(a)(c_g^{}\xi )(kl)`$
$`=`$ $`u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _l^1}^{}u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _k}au_{\alpha _g,\sigma _{kl}^1}\xi (kl)`$
$`=`$ $`u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _l^1}^{}u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _k}\sigma _k(u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _{kl}^1})a\xi (kl)`$
$`=`$ $`u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _l^1}^{}u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _l^1}a\xi (kl)`$
$`=`$ $`(a\rho _k^1\xi )(l).`$
By \[25, Theorem 3.1\], the above equality implies $`u_{\mathrm{Ad}c_g(\alpha \mathrm{id}),\sigma _k\mathrm{Ad}\rho _k^1}=1`$ holds for every $`gG`$ and $`kK`$. Hence by replacing $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ if necessary, we may assume that $`u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _k}=1`$ and $`u_{\beta _g,\sigma _k}=1`$ hold for every $`gG`$ and $`kK`$. This especially implies $`\alpha _g\sigma _k=\sigma _k\alpha _g`$ and $`\beta _g\sigma _k=\sigma _k\beta _g`$.

Define two new actions $`\overline{\alpha }`$ and $`\overline{\beta }`$ by $`\overline{\alpha }_g:=\alpha _g\sigma _{\nu (g)}^1`$ and $`\overline{\beta }_g:=\beta _g\sigma _{\nu (g)}^1`$. Since $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ commute with $`\sigma `$, $`\overline{\alpha }`$ and $`\overline{\beta }`$ are indeed actions of $`G`$. By construction of $`\overline{\alpha }`$ and $`\overline{\beta }`$, it is easy to see $`H_\alpha =\overline{\alpha }^1(\mathrm{Cnt}(M,N))=\overline{\alpha }^1(\mathrm{Int}(M,N))=\overline{\beta }^1(\mathrm{Cnt}(M,N))=\overline{\beta }^1(\mathrm{Int}(M,N))`$.

Next we compute $`\mathrm{\Lambda }(\overline{\alpha })`$. Take $`mH`$ and $`v_mU(N)`$ with $`\alpha _m=\mathrm{Ad}v_m\sigma _{\nu (m)}`$. In this case, we have $`\mathrm{Ad}\overline{\alpha }_m=\mathrm{Ad}v_m`$ for $`mH`$. Moreover since

$`1`$ $`=`$ $`u_{\alpha _h,\sigma _k}`$
$`=`$ $`u_{\mathrm{Ad}v_m\sigma _{\nu (m)},\sigma _k}`$
$`=`$ $`\mathrm{Ad}v_m(u_{\sigma _{\nu (m)},\sigma _k})u_{\mathrm{Ad}v_m,\sigma _k}`$
$`=`$ $`\overline{\kappa _a(k,\nu (m))}v_m\sigma _k(v_m^{})`$
holds, we have $`\sigma _k(v_m)=\overline{\kappa _a(k,\nu (m))}v_m`$.

First we compute $`\lambda _{\overline{\alpha }}`$. Since we have $`u_{\alpha _g,\sigma _k}=1`$, $`\alpha _g(v_{g^1ng})=\lambda _\alpha (g,n)v_n`$ holds by the definition of $`\lambda _\alpha `$. Then we get

$`\overline{\alpha }_g(v_{g^1ng})`$ $`=`$ $`\alpha _g\sigma _{\nu (g)}^1(v_{g^1ng})`$
$`=`$ $`\overline{\kappa _a(\nu (g)^1,\nu (n))}\alpha _g(v_{g^1ng})`$
$`=`$ $`\kappa _a(\nu (g),\nu (n))\lambda _\alpha (g,n)v_n,`$
and $`\lambda _{\overline{\alpha }}(g,n)=\kappa _a(\nu (g),\nu (n))\lambda _\alpha (g,n)`$ holds. Next we compute $`\mu _{\overline{\alpha }}`$. By the definition of $`\mu _\alpha `$, we have $`v_m\sigma _{\nu (m)}(v_n)=\mu _\alpha (m,n)v_{mn}`$, $`m,nH`$. Hence we get $`v_mv_n=\kappa _a(\nu (m),\nu (n))\mu _\alpha (m,n)v_{mn}`$ and consequently $`\mu _{\overline{\alpha }}(m,n)=\kappa _a(\nu (m),\nu (n))\mu _\alpha (m,n)`$.

Similar computation holds for $`\overline{\beta }`$, and by the assumption $`\mathrm{\Lambda }(\alpha )=\mathrm{\Lambda }(\beta )`$, we get $`\mathrm{\Lambda }(\overline{\alpha })=\mathrm{\Lambda }(\overline{\beta })`$. Hence $`\overline{\alpha }`$ and $`\overline{\beta }`$ are cocycle conjugate by \[25, Theorem 5.1\]. Then $`\overline{\alpha }`$ and $`\overline{\beta }`$ are stably conjugate, hence there exists an automorphism $`\theta \mathrm{Aut}(MB(l^2(G)),NB(l^2(G)))`$ with $`\theta (\overline{\beta }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g)\theta ^1=\overline{\alpha }_g`$, where $`\varrho `$ is a right regular representation of $`G`$.

To prove the main theorem, we need the following proposition. In the following proposition, $`NM`$ can be an arbitrary subfactor of finite index.

###### Proposition 2.3

Let $`\sigma `$ be a non-strongly outer automorphism. Take $`0aM_n`$ such that $`\sigma (x)a=ax`$ holds for every $`xM`$. Then $`vM`$ is in $`M^\sigma `$ if and only if $`va=av`$ holds.

Proof. First assume that $`vM^\sigma `$. Then we have $`va=\sigma (v)a=av`$. Conversely assume that $`va=av`$ holds. Then $`\sigma (v)a=av=va`$ holds. Hence we have $`\sigma (v)aa^{}=vaa^{}`$. Here $`aa^{}`$ is in $`M^{}M_n`$. Let $`E`$ be the minimal conditional expectation from $`M_n`$ onto $`M`$. Then we get $`\sigma (v)E(aa^{})=E(\sigma (v)aa^{})=E(vaa^{})=vE(aa^{})`$, and $`E(aa^{})MM^{}=𝐂`$. Since $`a`$ is not zero, $`E(aa^{})`$ is a non-zero scalar. Hence $`v`$ is in $`M^\sigma `$. $`\mathrm{}`$
Remark. The above proposition can be regarded as a subfactor-analogue of the characterization of the centralizer of type III factors. Namely let $`M`$ be a type III factor, $`\varphi `$ a faithful normal state of $`M`$. Then $`a`$ is in $`M_\varphi `$ if and only if $`[\varphi ,a]=0`$.

We continue the proof of Theorem 2.2. Since an outer action of a finite group is stable, we can find a unitary $`wNB(l^2(G))`$ such that $`w^{}\sigma _k\mathrm{id}(w)=u_{\theta ,\sigma _k\mathrm{id}}`$. Hence $`\theta \sigma _k\mathrm{id}\theta ^1=\mathrm{Ad}u_{\theta ,\sigma _k\mathrm{id}}\sigma _k\mathrm{id}=\mathrm{Ad}w^{}\sigma _k\mathrm{id}\mathrm{Ad}w`$ holds. If we can prove that $`w\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g(w^{})`$ is in $`(MB(l^2(G)))^K`$, then $`w\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g(w^{})`$ is an $`\alpha \mathrm{Ad}\varrho =\overline{\alpha }\sigma \mathrm{Ad}\varrho `$ cocycle and

$`\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g\theta \sigma _{\nu (g)}\mathrm{id}\theta ^1`$ $`=`$ $`\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g\mathrm{Ad}w^{}\sigma _{\nu (g)}\mathrm{id}\mathrm{Ad}w`$
$`=`$ $`\mathrm{Ad}(\overline{\alpha }\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g(w^{}))\overline{\alpha }_g\sigma _{\nu (g)}\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g\mathrm{Ad}w`$
$`=`$ $`\mathrm{Ad}w^{}\mathrm{Ad}(w\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g(w^{}))\alpha _g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g\mathrm{Ad}w`$
holds and we have the following.

$`\alpha \mathrm{Ad}\varrho `$ $`=`$ $`\overline{\alpha }\mathrm{Ad}\varrho \sigma \mathrm{id}`$
$``$ $`\overline{\alpha }\mathrm{Ad}\varrho \theta \sigma \mathrm{id}\theta ^1`$
$`=`$ $`\theta \overline{\beta }\mathrm{Ad}\varrho \theta ^1\theta \sigma \mathrm{id}\theta ^1`$
$`=`$ $`\theta \overline{\beta }\sigma \mathrm{Ad}\varrho \theta `$
$`=`$ $`\theta \beta \mathrm{Ad}\varrho \theta ^1.`$
Hence $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ are stably conjugate. So we only have to prove that $`w\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g(w^{})`$ is in $`(MB(l^2(G)))^K`$.

It is easy to see $`u_{\alpha _g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g,\sigma _k\mathrm{id}}=1`$, hence $`u_{\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g,\sigma _k\mathrm{id}}=u_{\alpha _g\sigma _{\nu (g)}^1\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g,\sigma _k\mathrm{id}}=\kappa _a(k,\nu (g))`$ holds. In the same way, we can see $`u_{\overline{\beta }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g,\sigma _k\mathrm{id}}=\kappa _a(k,\nu (g))`$. Hence

$`u_{\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g,\mathrm{Ad}w^{}\sigma _k\mathrm{id}\mathrm{Ad}w}`$ $`=`$ $`u_{\theta \overline{\beta }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g\theta ^1,\theta \sigma _k\mathrm{id}\theta ^1}`$
$`=`$ $`\theta (u_{\overline{\beta }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g,\sigma _k\mathrm{id}})`$
$`=`$ $`\kappa _a(k,\nu (g))`$
holds. Take $`0aM_nB(l^2(G))`$ such that $`\sigma _k\mathrm{id}(x)a=ax`$ holds for every $`xMB(l^2(G))`$. Then $`\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g(a)=\kappa _a(k,\nu (g))a`$ holds by \[25, Theorem 3.1\]. Since $`\mathrm{Ad}w^{}\sigma _k\mathrm{id}\mathrm{Ad}w(x)w^{}aw=w^{}awx`$, we also have $`\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g(w^{}aw)=\kappa _a(k,\nu (g))w^{}aw`$. From these two equalities, we get $`\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g(w^{})a\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g(w)=w^{}aw`$. Hence $`w\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g(w^{})`$ satisfies the condition in Proposition 2.3, $`w\overline{\alpha }_g\mathrm{Ad}\varrho _g(w^{})`$ is in a fixed point algebra $`(MB(l^2(G)))^K`$. $`\mathrm{}`$

###### Corollary 2.4

If $`G`$ is a finite group in Theorem 2.2, then $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ are cocycle conjugate if and only if $`H_\alpha =H_\beta `$, $`\mathrm{\Lambda }(\alpha )=\mathrm{\Lambda }(\beta )`$ and $`\nu _\alpha =\nu _\beta `$ hold.

Proof. By Theorem 2.2, $`\alpha \mathrm{Ad}\varrho `$ and $`\beta \mathrm{Ad}\varrho `$ are conjugate. But in the same way as in the proof of \[15, Lemma 6.5\], we can prove that $`\alpha `$ is cocycle conjugate to $`\alpha m`$, where $`m`$ is an outer action of $`G/H`$ on the injective type II1 factor $`R_0`$ and we regard $`m`$ as an action of $`G`$ in the natural way. Hence $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ are cocycle conjugate since $`m`$ and $`m\mathrm{Ad}\varrho `$ are cocycle conjugate. $`\mathrm{}`$

In the rest of this paper, we treat examples which satisfy the assumption in Theorem 2.2. The first example is taken from \[19, Theorem 4.1\].

###### Example 2.5

We consider the case $`G=𝐙`$. Take $`\alpha \mathrm{Aut}(M,N)`$. Let $`p`$ be a strongly outer period of $`\alpha `$. Set $`\sigma :=\alpha ^p`$. Then $`\nu _\alpha `$ is given by $`\nu _\alpha (pm)=[\sigma ^m]`$. Let $`n`$ be an outer period of $`\sigma `$. Here assume $`(p,n)=1`$. Then we can find $`k,l𝐙`$ such that $`pk+nl=1`$. Set $`\nu (g):=[\sigma ^{gk}]`$. Then we have $`\nu (p)=[\sigma ^{pk}]=[\sigma ^{nl+1}]=[\sigma ]`$, hence $`\nu _\alpha `$ can be extended to a homomorphism from $`𝐙`$.

###### Example 2.6

Assume that $`G`$ is of the form $`G=H_\alpha K`$. For $`(h,k)G=H_\alpha K`$, define $`\nu (h,k):=\nu _\alpha (h)`$. Then by using the fact $`\nu _\alpha (knk^1)=\nu _\alpha (n)`$, we get

$`\nu ((h_1,k_1)(h_2,k_2))`$ $`=`$ $`\nu (h_1k_1h_2k_1^1,k_1k_2)`$
$`=`$ $`\nu _\alpha (h_1k_1h_2k_1^1)`$
$`=`$ $`\nu _\alpha (h_1)\nu _\alpha (k_1h_2k_1^1)`$
$`=`$ $`\nu (h_1,k_1)\nu (h_2,k_2).`$
Hence we can extend $`\nu _\alpha `$ to the homomorphism from $`G`$, and we can apply main theorem.

## Appendix A On liftings of the relative $`\chi `$ group

In  and this paper, we fixed a lifting of $`\chi _a(M,N)`$ to $`\mathrm{Aut}(M,N)`$ for classification of group actions on subfactors. But it seems that there are no way to choose the natural lifting. In this appendix, we show that there exists a natural choice of a lifting by using the algebraic $`\kappa `$ invariant.

Take a lifting $`\sigma `$. Then the algebraic $`\kappa `$ invariant $`\kappa _a(h,k)`$ is defined as $`\kappa _a(h,k):=u_{\sigma _k,\sigma _h}^{}`$. To specify $`\sigma `$, we denote this $`\kappa _a`$ by $`\kappa _a^\sigma (h,k)`$.

Fix $`\sigma `$ and take another lifting $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }`$. Then we can find a unitary $`u_hU(N)`$ with $`\mathrm{Ad}u_h\sigma _h=\stackrel{~}{\sigma }_h`$. Since $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }`$ is a lifting, there exists a 2-cocycle $`\mu (h,k)Z^2(\chi _a(M,N),𝐓)`$ with $`u_h\sigma _h(u_k)=\mu (h,k)u_{hk}`$. Here we compute $`\kappa _a^{\stackrel{~}{\sigma }}`$. Then

$`\overline{\kappa _a^{\stackrel{~}{\sigma }}(h,k)}`$ $`=`$ $`u_{\stackrel{~}{\sigma }_k,\stackrel{~}{\sigma }_h}`$
$`=`$ $`u_{\mathrm{Ad}u_k\sigma _k,\mathrm{Ad}u_h\sigma _h}`$
$`=`$ $`u_{\mathrm{Ad}u_k\sigma _k,\mathrm{Ad}u_h}\mathrm{Ad}u_h(u_{\mathrm{Ad}u_k\sigma _k,\sigma _h})`$
$`=`$ $`u_k\sigma _k(u_h)u_k^{}u_h^{}\mathrm{Ad}u_h(\mathrm{Ad}u_k(u_{\sigma _k,\sigma _h})u_{\mathrm{Ad}u_k,\sigma _h})`$
$`=`$ $`u_k\sigma _k(u_h)u_k^{}u_{\sigma _k,\sigma _h}u_k\sigma _h(u_k^{})u_h^{}`$
$`=`$ $`\overline{\kappa _a^\sigma (h,k)}\overline{\mu (h,k)}\mu (k,h)`$
holds, hence we get $`\kappa _a^{\stackrel{~}{\sigma }}(h,k)=\kappa _a^\sigma (h,k)\mu (h,k)\overline{\mu (k,h)}`$.

Here assume $`\kappa _a^{\stackrel{~}{\sigma }}=\kappa _a^\sigma `$. Then we get $`\mu (h,k)=\mu (k,h)`$. By \[29, Proposition 3.2 \], $`\mu `$ is a coboundary, so we can choose $`u_h`$ as a $`\sigma `$-cocycle. Hence we get the following proposition.

###### Proposition A.1

Let $`\sigma `$ and $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }`$ be liftings of $`\chi _a(M,N)`$ to $`\mathrm{Aut}(M,N)`$. If $`\kappa _a^\sigma =\kappa _a^{\stackrel{~}{\sigma }}`$ holds, then $`\stackrel{~}{\sigma }`$ is a cocycle perturbation of $`\sigma `$.

By Proposition A.1, we can find a lifting $`\sigma `$ up to cocycle perturbation once we fix the algebraic $`\kappa `$ invariant.

In the next proposition, we do not assume $`\mathrm{Ker}\mathrm{\Phi }=\mathrm{Aut}(M,N)`$. Every $`\theta \mathrm{Aut}(M,N)`$ induces an automorphism $`\chi _a(\theta )`$ of $`\chi _a(M,N)`$ by $`\chi _a(\theta )([\sigma ]):=[\theta \sigma \theta ^1]`$.

###### Proposition A.2

Let $`\sigma `$ be a lifting of $`\chi _a(M,N)`$ to $`\mathrm{Aut}(M,N)`$. Assume that $`\kappa _a^\sigma (h,k)=\kappa _a^\sigma (\chi _a(\theta )(h),\chi _a(\theta )(k))`$ holds for every $`\theta \mathrm{Aut}(M,N)`$. Then there exists a $`\sigma _{\chi _a(\theta )()}`$-cocycle $`w_h`$ such that $`\theta \sigma _h\theta ^1=\mathrm{Ad}w_h\sigma _{\chi _a^\sigma (\theta )(h)}`$ holds.

Proof. Take a unitary $`w_h`$ with $`\mathrm{Ad}w_h\sigma _{\chi _a(\theta )(h)}=\theta \sigma _h\theta ^1`$. Then there exists a 2-cocycle $`\mu (h,k)`$ satisfying $`w_h\sigma _{\chi _a(\theta )(h)}(w_k)=\mu (h,k)w_{hk}`$. On one hand, we have $`u_{\theta \sigma _h\theta ^1,\theta \sigma _k\theta ^1}^{}=\theta (u_{\sigma _h,\sigma _k})^{}=\kappa _a^\sigma (k,h)`$. On the other hand, we have

$`u_{\theta \sigma _h\theta ^1,\theta \sigma _k\theta ^1}^{}`$ $`=`$ $`u_{\mathrm{Ad}w_h\sigma _{\chi _a(\theta )(h)},\mathrm{Ad}w_k\sigma _{\chi _a(\theta )(k)}}^{}`$
$`=`$ $`\kappa _a^\sigma (\chi _a(\theta )(k),\chi _a(\theta )(h))\mu (k,h)\overline{\mu (h,k)}.`$
By assumption on $`\kappa _a^\sigma `$, we can choose $`w_h`$ as a cocycle as the same reason in the proof of Proposition A.1. $`\mathrm{}`$

The assumption on $`\kappa _a`$ in the above proposition is satisfied when (1) $`\kappa _a`$ is trivial, (2) $`\chi _a(M,N)`$ is a cyclic group. The former is obvious. The reason of latter is following. It is easy to see $`\kappa _a^\sigma (h,h)=\kappa _a^\sigma (\chi _a(\theta )(h),\chi _a(\theta )(h))`$ holds from the above computation. If $`\chi _a(M,N)`$ is cyclic and $`g`$ is a generator of $`\chi _a(M,N)`$, then

$`\kappa _a^\sigma (g^m,g^n)`$ $`=`$ $`\kappa _a^\sigma (g,g)^{mn}`$
$`=`$ $`\kappa _a^\sigma (\chi _a(\theta )(g),\chi _a(\theta )(g))^{mn}`$
$`=`$ $`\kappa _a^\sigma (\chi _a(\theta )(g^m),\chi _a(\theta )(g^n))`$
holds.


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# High Frequency Conductivity in the Quantum Hall Effect

## Abstract

We present high frequency measurements of the diagonal conductivity $`\sigma _{xx}`$ of a two dimensional electron system in the integer quantum Hall regime. The width of the $`\sigma _{xx}`$ peaks between QHE minima is analyzed within the framework of scaling theory using both temperature ($`T=100700`$ mK) and frequency ($`f6`$ GHz) in a two parameter scaling ansatz. For the plateau transition width $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu `$ we find scaling behaviour for both its temperature dependence as well as its frequency dependence. However, the corresponding scaling exponent for temperature ($`\kappa =0.42`$) significantly differs from the one deduced for frequency scaling ($`c=0.6`$). Additionally we use the high frequency experiments to suppress the contact resistances that strongly influences DC measurements. We find an intrinsic critical conductivity $`\sigma _c=0.17e^2/h`$, virtually independent of temperature and filling factor, and deviating significantly from the proposed universal value $`0.5e^2/h`$.

Fundamental progress in the understanding of the properties of a two-dimensional electron system (2DES) in high magnetic fields was brought by the application of scaling theory to the transition between quantum Hall plateaus (review huckestein95  and references therein). Within this theoretical picture the step in the Hall conductivity $`\sigma _{xy}`$ between quantized values and the corresponding maximum of the longitudinal conductivity $`\sigma _{xx}`$ are governed by a diverging localization length $`\xi |\nu \nu _c|^\gamma `$ with filling factor $`\nu `$ and critical point $`\nu _c`$ near half integer filling. The exponent $`\gamma `$ is believed to be universal with a value of $`\gamma =2.3`$ found in numerical studies and size scaling experiments. The conductivities are given by scaling functions $`\sigma _{\alpha \beta }\left(L_{\text{eff}}/\xi \right)`$. $`L_{\text{eff}}`$ is an effective length scale governed by sample size, temperature or frequency. The natural temperature dependent length scale is determined by the phase coherence length $`L_\mathrm{\Phi }T^{p/2}`$ with $`p=2`$ deduced from experiment. Applying a high frequency to the system introduces an additional length scale, the dynamic length $`L_ff^{1/z}`$ with dynamic exponent $`z=1`$ found from numerical studies huckestein99 . As a consequence of the length scales defined above the width $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu `$ of the conductivity peak around $`\nu _c`$ is predicted to follow power laws, $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu (T)T^\kappa `$ with $`\kappa =p/2\gamma `$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu (f)f^c`$ with $`c=1/z\gamma `$. The temperature dependence has been subject to many experiments, mostly with the result of $`\kappa 0.43`$ from which follows $`p=2`$. Only few experiments engel93 ; balaban98 ; kuchar00  addressed the frequency dependence and yielded contradicting results: While Engel et al. engel93  measured scaling behaviour with $`c0.43`$ consistent with $`z=1`$, an experiment of Balaban et al. balaban98  contradicts scaling.

Right at the critical point $`\sigma _{xx}`$ has its maximum value and is named critical conductivity $`\sigma _c`$. Following scaling theory this value should be independent of temperature, frequency and of the viewed transition identified by $`\nu _c`$. Even further there are analytical arguments and numerical calculations for a sample independent universal critical conductivity value of $`\sigma _c=0.5e^2/h`$ (references in huckestein95 ), but most experiments do not even follow the first prediction.

In this paper we report frequency and temperature dependent measurements with $`f=100\text{kHz}6\text{GHz}`$ and $`T=100700`$ mK which are analyzed within the framework of scaling theory. The measured transition widths follow scaling behaviour and are analyzed using a two parameter scaling ansatz. We find different exponents $`\kappa =0.42\pm 0.05`$ and $`c=0.6\pm 0.1`$ for frequency and temperature dependence.

The critical conductivities $`\sigma _c`$ at low frequencies $`f<1`$ GHz are temperature, frequency and transition dependent which can be understood by contact effects. At high frequency contact effects are negligible and we measure a transition independent non-universal value $`\sigma _c=0.17e^2/h`$.

The sample used in the present work is an AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure grown by molecular-beam epitaxy containing a 2DES with a moderate electron mobility $`\mu _e=35`$ m2/Vs and an electron density $`n_e=3.310^{15}`$ m-2. The sample was patterned in a Corbino geometry with ohmic contacts fabricated by standard Ni/Au/Ge alloy annealing (see inset in Fig. 1). The Corbino geometry allows a two-point measurement of the diagonal conductivity $`\sigma _{xx}`$ which will be referred to as $`\sigma `$ throughout this paper. The two-point measurement is the only possible type of measurement at microwave frequencies. The relation between the conductance $`G=I/U`$ with current $`I`$ and voltage $`U`$ and the conductivity $`\sigma `$ is given by $`\sigma =\frac{G}{2\pi }\mathrm{ln}(\frac{r_2}{r_1})`$ where $`r_2=820`$ $`\mu `$m is the outer radius of the Corbino ring and $`r_1=800`$ $`\mu `$m is its inner radius.

The sample was used as termination of a standard coaxial line with impedance $`Z_0=50\mathrm{\Omega }`$. The deviation of the sample impedance $`Z=1/G`$ from $`Z_0`$ leads to reflection of a microwave signal fed into the line. The reflection coefficient at the end of the line is given by $`_p=\frac{ZZ_0}{Z+Z_0}`$. By measuring this reflection coefficient we are able to deduce the conductivity $`\sigma `$. The setup would be most sensitive to changes in $`\sigma `$ if the sample impedance $`Z=1/G`$ was close to the line impedance $`Z_0=50\mathrm{\Omega }`$. This is the reason why we chose such extreme aspect ratio of the Corbino disc yielding $`Z1\text{k}\mathrm{\Omega }`$ for the expected conductivity $`\sigma 0.5e^2/h`$. We are still far away from $`Z=Z_0`$, but a smaller ring width would lead to size effects. Sample and coaxial line were fitted into a dilution refrigerator with base temperature $`T_S<50`$ mK. Great care was taken on the thermal sinking of the coaxial line. An important point is a careful characterization of the frequency dependent losses, phase shifts and connector reflections of the coaxial line. With this information we are able to extract the frequency dependent sample reflection coefficient $`_p`$ from the total reflection $``$ of the line measured with a network analyzer with frequency range $`100`$ kHz to $`6`$ GHz. The result of such a measurement of the sample conductivity as a function of the magnetic field is shown in figure 1. Our measurement technique naturally gives access to real and imaginary part of $`\sigma `$.

The measured amplitude of the Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations of the real part of the conductivity $`\text{Re}(\sigma )`$ strongly rises from 100 kHz to 300 MHz (figure 2). The magnetic field dependence of the imaginary part $`\text{Im}(\sigma )`$ in this low frequency range is also distinct from the high frequency behaviour and shows SdH oscillation in phase with the real part. This contradicts scaling theory where frequency effects should be negligible for $`hfk_BT`$. With an electron temperature $`T_e100`$ mK a marginal frequency dependence for $`f<1`$ GHz would follow.

The reason for this disagreement lies in the sample geometry: The two point Corbino geometry is sensitive to contact effects. An accumulation or depletion zone along the ohmic contacts leads to edge modes not expected for ideal contacts. Such effects were observed e.g. in sachrajda96 , and in recent work direct imaging of an edge structure in a Corbino geometry was performed ahlswede00 . This edge structure leads to an additional resistance in series with the 2DES and therefore a reduced total DC-conductance of the sample. The DC-transport mechanism from the contacts into the edge structure and further into the undisturbed 2DES is probably governed by tunneling processes. This explains the low values of the critical conductivity, which also depend on the filling factor, measured in most experiments using Corbino geometry.

For AC-transport an additional transport mechanism from contact to undisturbed (bulk) 2DES is opened. This might be capacitive coupling as hinted by $`\text{Im}(\sigma )`$ in an intermediate frequency range represented by $`f=300`$ MHz in figure 1. At sufficiently high frequencies the additional edge series resistance becomes small compared to the resistance of the bulk 2DES and the conductance measurement yields the true conductivity of the electron system. For our measurement this is true for $`f>2`$ GHz. Since we got rid of the disadvantages of Corbino geometry, namely the contact resistance, by applying high frequency, we are left with an advantage in comparison to Hall geometry: Using Corbino geometry we have direct access to the longitudinal conductivity, while for Hall geometries it is necessary to invert the resistivity tensor with possible errors due to geometry and inhomogeneities.

For high frequencies $`\sigma _c`$ scatters around $`\sigma _c0.17e^2/h`$ and shows no further systematic frequency or filling factor dependence (figure 2). Also the temperature dependence of $`\sigma _c`$ at these high frequencies is found to be negligible, whereas $`\sigma _c`$ shows a strong decrease with decreasing temperature at low frequencies. Again this behaviour can be modeled by a strongly temperature dependent edge resistance in series with the intrinsic 2DES resistance.

At high frequencies the critical conductivity $`\sigma _c`$ follows the predictions of scaling theory, but is still significantly lower than the proposed universal value $`\sigma _c=0.5e^2/h`$. It is of the same order of magnitude as the values found by Rokhinson et al. rokhinson95  in one of the few experiments without apparent filling factor dependence. Believing in universality one possible explanation for our experimental findings was given by Ruzin, Cooper and Halperin ruzin96 . They showed that macroscopic inhomogeneities of the carrier density would lead to a critical conductivity deviating from its universal microscopic value.

Leaving the critical point the next step is an analysis of the transition width $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu `$ between quantum Hall plateaus. Before heading to frequency scaling the first step is to test for temperature scaling. Figure 3a) shows the temperature dependence of the plateau transition width $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu `$ plotted on logarithmic scale. The plot is representative for all transitions in the filling factor range $`\nu =2`$ to $`\nu =6`$. The low frequency curves are well described by a power law $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu T^\kappa `$ with best fit results $`0.39<\kappa <0.45`$ for different transitions. This result was tested at different frequencies (100 kHz and 300 MHz) and fits the commonly measured exponent $`\kappa =p/2\gamma =0.43`$ which is expected for $`\gamma =2.3`$ and $`p=2`$. Our data does not fit the linear dependence found in an experiment of Balaban et al. balaban98 . Using the scaling behaviour of the transition width as low temperature thermometry for the electron system we estimate an electron temperature $`T_e`$ for a base temperature $`T_s<50`$ mK between 100 mK and 150 mK, slightly dependent on magnetic field.

A second confirmation of scaling behaviour is given by the voltage dependence of $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu `$ shown in figure 3b): It follows a power law $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu U^b`$. Interpretation due to a voltage dependent effective temperature $`T_eU^a`$ with $`a=b/\kappa `$ leads to $`a=2/(2+p)`$. An exponent $`a=0.5`$ equivalent to $`p=2`$ leads to $`b=0.22`$ which fits our data.

The second data set in figure 3a) with $`f=3`$ GHz represents the situation at high frequencies with $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu `$ defined as the FWHM of the real conductivity $`\text{Re}(\sigma )`$: At low temperatures the transition width is no longer temperature dependent, but is determined by the frequency.

In figure 4 the frequency dependence of $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu `$ is plotted for plateau transition $`\nu =23`$. As shown in the previous section the frequency governs the transition width for $`f3`$ GHz while for $`f1`$ GHz the electron temperature leads to saturation. This restricts a conventional scaling analysis to a frequency range $`f=36`$ GHz. A power law fit $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu f^c`$ in this range is shown as straight line and leads to an exponent $`c=1/z\gamma =0.6\pm 0.1`$, which is higher than the expected 0.43 for $`z=1`$ and $`\gamma 2.3`$. For comparison a power law with this exponent is plotted as dashed line. It is clearly less favourable than the higher exponent. To overcome the unsatisfactory small fitting range it is necessary to incorporate both frequency and temperature into the scaling analysis. We chose as an ansatz $`L_{\text{eff}}^2=L_\mathrm{\Phi }^2+L_f^2`$. The motivation is an addition of scattering rates: The power law of the phase coherence length $`L_\mathrm{\Phi }T^{p/2}`$ follows from $`L_\mathrm{\Phi }=\sqrt{D/\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mathrm{\Phi }}`$ with the inelastic scattering rate $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mathrm{\Phi }`$ and diffusion constant $`D`$. Interpreting in analogous way $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_f=D/L_f^2`$ as frequency scattering rate the Mathiessen rule $`\mathrm{\Gamma }=\mathrm{\Gamma }_i`$ leads to the proposed ansatz. The resulting transition width is

$$\mathrm{\Delta }\nu =\mathrm{\Delta }\nu _0\left(\left(\frac{T}{T_0}\right)^p+\left(\frac{f}{f_0}\right)^{2/z}\right)^{1/(2\gamma )}.$$

One of the parameters $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu _0`$, $`T_0`$ and $`f_0`$ can be chosen arbitrarily. Here we choose $`T_0=1`$ K and use $`\mathrm{\Delta }\nu _0`$, $`p=2`$ and $`\gamma =2.3`$ from temperature and voltage scaling. A least square fit with remaining parameters $`f_0`$ and $`z`$ for transitions in the filling factor range $`\nu =2`$ to $`\nu =6`$ leads to $`z=0.75\pm 0.1`$ compatible with an exponent $`c0.6`$ for pure frequency scaling and deviating from the expected dynamical exponent $`z=1`$. The fit is shown as grey line in figure 4.

In conclusion we were able to measure the frequency dependent complex conductivity of a 2DES at quantizing magnetic fields and temperatures $`T100`$ mK up to 6 GHz. This allows us to overcome contact effects and to measure the critical conductivity at the quantum Hall plateau transition which deviates from the proposed universal value. Second we performed a scaling analysis of the plateau transition width and incorporated a two parameter ansatz, taking into account both temperature and frequency. We find significantly different scaling exponents for these two parameters which are so far not understood theoretically.


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# Transition to resonance-rich matter in heavy ion collisions at RHIC energies

## 1 Introduction

The assumption that strongly interacting matter, produced in nucleus-nucleus collisions at high energy, can reach the state of local equilibrium (LE)  is one of the most important topics in the relativistic heavy ion programme . The degree of equilibration can be checked by fitting the measured particle yields and transverse momentum spectra to that of the thermal model in order to extract the conditions of the fireball at the chemical and thermal freeze-out . Here the equilibrium particle abundances, which correspond to a certain temperature $`T`$, baryon chemical potential $`\mu _\mathrm{B}`$, and strangeness chemical potential $`\mu _\mathrm{S}`$, can be determined. However, the analysis is complicated, e.g., by the presence of collective flow and the non-homogeneity of the baryon charge distribution in the reaction volume. The volume of the fireball is also taken as a free parameter in the thermal model. Various non-equilibrium microscopic transport models have been applied to verify the appearance of at least local equilibrium in the course of heavy ion collisions at relativistic and ultra-relativistic energies . To reduce the number of unknown parameters and simplify the analysis it has been suggested  to examine the equilibrium conditions in the central cell of relativistic heavy ion collisions. For this purpose the microscopic transport model UrQMD  is employed. Previous studies at energies from 10.7A GeV (AGS) to 160A GeV (SPS)  have shown that the cubic cell with volume $`V=125`$ fm3 is well suited for the analysis. The aim of the present paper is to study the relaxation of hot nuclear matter, simulated within the microscopic model, in the central cell in Au+Au interactions at $`\sqrt{s}=200`$A GeV.

## 2 Relaxation to thermal and chemical equilibrium

First, the kinetic equilibrium has to be verified. The collective flow in the cell should be isotropic and small, so it cannot significantly distort the momentum distributions of particles. Microscopic simulations show that the longitudinal flow rapidly drops and converges to the developing transverse flow . Isotropy of the velocity distributions results in the pressure isotropy. Pressure in longitudinal direction in the cell, calculated according to the virial theorem, is compared in figure 1(a) with the transverse pressure. The time of convergence of longitudinal pressure to the transverse one decreases from 10 fm/$`c`$ to 5 fm/$`c`$ with rising incident energy from AGS to RHIC, respectively. Thus, the kinetic equilibrium in the central cell in Au+Au collisions at RHIC energy is reached at $`t5`$ fm/$`c`$.

To verify that the matter in the cell is in thermal and chemical equilibrium one has to compare the snapshot of hadron yields and energy spectra in the cell with the equilibrium spectra of hadrons obtained in the statistical model (SM) of an ideal hadron gas. The description of the SM employed in our calculations can be found elsewhere . The values of energy density $`\epsilon `$, baryon density $`\rho _\mathrm{B}`$, and strangeness density $`\rho _\mathrm{S}`$, extracted from the microscopic calculations in the cell, are used as an input to the system of nonlinear equations of the SM  to determine the temperature $`T`$, baryon chemical potential $`\mu _\mathrm{B}`$, and strangeness chemical potential $`\mu _\mathrm{S}`$. This enables one to calculate the particle yields $`N_i^{\mathrm{SM}}`$, total energy $`E_i^{\mathrm{SM}}`$, pressure $`P^{\mathrm{SM}}`$, and entropy density $`s`$. The thermal and chemical equilibrium is assumed to occur in the cell when the microscopic spectra of hadrons become close to the spectra predicted by the SM.

At the isotropic stage the total microscopic pressure is close to the grand canonical pressure, $`P^{\mathrm{SM}}`$, as shown in figure 1(a). Therefore, the time $`t=5`$ fm/$`c`$ is chosen as a starting point for the comparison with the SM. The final time of the calculations, defined from the conventional freeze-out conditions $`\epsilon 0.1`$ GeV/fm3 or $`\rho _{\mathrm{tot}}0.5\rho _0`$ , corresponds to $`t21`$ fm/$`c`$. The hadron-string matter in the central cell expands nearly isentropically, see figure 1(b), with $`s/\rho _\mathrm{B}S/A12`$ (AGS), 32 (SPS), and 150 (RHIC). The results of the simulations at AGS and SPS energies are intriguingly close to the entropy per baryon values extracted from the thermal model fits to experimental data, namely, $`(S/A)^{\mathrm{AGS}}14`$ and $`(S/A)^{\mathrm{SPS}}36`$ . It is most interesting to compare the predicted value $`(s/\rho _\mathrm{B})^{\mathrm{RHIC}}=150170`$ to the upcoming RHIC data.

The evolution of the pressure with the energy density is depicted in figure 1(c). The pressure drops linearly with the decreasing energy density for all three energies in question. Thus, the equation of state in the $`(P,\epsilon )`$-plane has a very simple form: $`P=0.12\epsilon `$ at AGS, and $`P=0.15\epsilon `$ at SPS and RHIC, i.e. the ratio $`P/\epsilon `$ in the central cell is saturated already at SPS energies.

Figure 1(d) presents the evolution of the EOS in the $`(T,\mu _B)`$-plane. In accordance with general estimates  the baryon chemical potential at RHIC energies is small while the temperatures are well above the anticipated temperature of the QCD phase transition, $`T150`$ MeV. Note that the evolution of temperature as a function of $`\epsilon /\rho _\mathrm{B}`$ and $`\mu _\mathrm{B}`$ is mainly determined by the change of energy per baryon, which drops to $`8090`$% of its initial value, but not by changing of the baryon chemical potential.

The slopes of energy spectra of particles in the cell are steeper compared to the predictions of the statistical model . This means that the apparent temperatures of hadrons, especially pions, are lower than the temperature given by the SM. Since the energy density $`\epsilon `$ is the same in both models, one might expect that the fractions of mesons and resonances in the UrQMD cell are overpopulated. These extra-particles consume significant part of the total energy and effectively “cool” the hadron cocktail.

Figure 2 depicts the yields of the main hadron species in the cell within the time interval 5 fm/$`c`$ $`t`$ 19 fm/$`c`$. It is interesting that microscopic spectra of pions, which are underestimated by the SM in the central cell at lower energies , converge to the SM predictions at $`t15`$ fm/$`c`$. Also, the statistical model overestimates yields of nucleons, lambdas, and kaons, while the yields of both baryon and meson resonances are reproduced quite well. Since the baryon number and the strangeness are conserved in strong interactions, where is the rest of the hypercharge, $`Y=\mathrm{B}+\mathrm{S}`$, in the UrQMD calculations in the cell? As a matter of fact, the total yields of baryons and antibaryons in the SM are larger than those of the UrQMD. For instance, at $`t=10`$ fm/$`c`$ the values of partial baryon and antibaryon density in the microscopic model are $`R_\mathrm{B}^{\mathrm{mic}}=0.05`$ fm-3 and $`R_{\overline{\mathrm{B}}}^{\mathrm{mic}}=0.02`$ fm-3, respectively, while the SM predicts the values $`R_\mathrm{B}^{\mathrm{SM}}=0.08`$ fm-3 and $`R_{\overline{\mathrm{B}}}^{\mathrm{SM}}=0.05`$ fm-3. The hadron-resonance-string matter in the cell is not in chemical equilibrium; that is why the density of antibaryons is 2-3 times smaller than the equilibrium values. Similarly, the SM predicts significantly larger abundances of both strange baryons and strange antibaryons at $`5t11`$ fm/$`c`$ in the cell, while the densities of strange mesons are nearly the same.

To check the relevance of the central cell results for a larger reaction volume at RHIC energies the rapidity distributions of baryon resonances are presented in figure 3 (other global observables have been studied in ). Here only those resonances that decay directly into groundstate hadrons (no final state interactions) are accounted for. These distributions are remarkably flat within the interval $`|y|3.5`$. More than 80% of the baryon non-strange resonances are $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$’s (1232). The fraction of resonances reconstructible from the experimental data is quite large and, therefore, the formation of resonance-abundant state can be traced experimentally.

## 3 Conclusions

In summary, the following conclusions can be drawn. The expansion of matter in central Au+Au collisions at $`\sqrt{s}=200`$A GeV proceeds with constant entropy per baryon ratio in the central cell, $`S/A=s/\rho _\mathrm{B}150`$. Since the $`S/A`$ ratios for the central cell in A+A collisions, calculated at AGS and SPS energies, are very close to the ratios extracted from the analysis of the experimental data, the expected value of the entropy per baryon ratio at RHIC lies within the range $`150s/\rho _\mathrm{B}170`$. The microscopic pressure in the cell is close to the SM pressure. It shows a linear dependence on the energy density in the cell, $`P=0.15\epsilon `$. The obtained result is in accord with the EOS $`P0.2\epsilon `$, derived for an ideal gas of hadrons and hadron resonances . The temperature $`T^{\mathrm{SM}}`$ in the cell at RHIC energies is shown to be nearly independent on the baryon chemical potential $`\mu _\mathrm{B}50`$ MeV.

The comparison of the energy spectra and yields of hadrons with those of the SM shows that the times $`t20`$ fm/$`c`$ may be too short to reach full thermal and chemical equilibrium. Particularly, the deceleration of the relaxation to equilibrium is attributed to the creation of the long-lived resonance-abundant matter. The yields of resonances are in accord with the SM spectra from the very early times $`t5`$ fm/$`c`$, while the densities of strange and non-strange baryons and their antiparticles are lower than the equilibrium values. (However, the fitting temperature of the thermal model is higher than the temperatures of hadron species in the cell.) According to microscopic calculations, the resonance-rich matter survives until the thermal freeze-out. It remains a challenging task to verify the formation of long-lived resonance-abundant matter in heavy ion collisions at $`\sqrt{s}=200`$A GeV experimentally.

## References