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It it well-known in the von Neumann algebra theory that for $\Gamma$ a non-trivial countable group, the von Neumann algebra $L(\Gamma)$ generating by $\Gamma$ acting by left multiplication on $l^2(\Gamma)$, is a ${\rm II}_1$ factor iff $\Gamma$ is an ICC group.

Now let $(G \subset \Gamma)$ be an inclusion of a finite group $G$ in a countable group $\Gamma$, Let $\mathbb{C}(G \backslash \Gamma / G) $ be the (Hecke) double coset algebra: the subalgebra of $\mathbb{C}G $, generated by the elements $a_{\gamma} = \sum_{\alpha \in G \gamma G} \alpha$ (well-defined because $G$ finite) with $\gamma \in \Gamma$. Let $L(\Gamma,G)$ be the von Neumann algebra generated by $\mathbb{C}(G \backslash \Gamma / G) $ acting by left multiplication on $l^2(G \backslash \Gamma)$.

Question: What's the necessary and sufficient condition on $(G \subset \Gamma)$ for $L(\Gamma,G)$ to be a ${\rm II}_1$ factor?

In the case that there are inclusions $(G \subset \Gamma)$ with $\Gamma$ ICC, $G \neq \{ e \}$ and $L(\Gamma,G)$ ${\rm II}_1$ factor:
Optional question 1: Is it true that $L(\Gamma,G) \simeq L(\Gamma)$?

Optional question 2: How to generalize the construction above for $G$ infinite?

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    $\begingroup$ Are the tags 'hypergroups' and 'harmonic-analysis' really relevant to this question? $\endgroup$
    – Ricardo Andrade
    Commented Jun 8, 2015 at 9:43
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    $\begingroup$ @RicardoAndrade: The double coset algebra $\mathbb{C}(G \backslash \Gamma / G) $ is an example of hypergroup. All the objects of the post are close to noncommutative harmonic analysis, so an harmonic analyst could answer such questions or at least being interested in. $\endgroup$
    – Sebastien Palcoux
    Commented Jun 8, 2015 at 10:06

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$L(\Gamma,G)$ is the algebra of endomorphisms of the representation $l^2( \Gamma/G)$ (with $\Gamma$ acting by left multiplication). This answer your second optional question. Also, by classical results on $W^*$-categories, the category of normal representations of $L(\Gamma,G)$ will be equivalent to the category of unitary representations of $G$ that are retract of sums of copies of $l^2(\Gamma /G)$, which generally allow to determine the type in concrete situations but I don't know what a general criterion would be. In fact, in the general case this algebra can also be of type $III$ which make me think there is no simple criterion.

In the special case where $G$ is finite, $l^2(\Gamma /G)$ is a retract of $l^2(\Gamma)$ hence $L(\Gamma,G)$ is a corner of $L(\Gamma)$. If in addition $\Gamma$ is ICC, then $L(\Gamma)$ is a factor and hence any non trivial corner will be Morita equivalent to $L(\Gamma)$. So $L(\Gamma,G)$ will be Morita equivalent to $L(\Gamma)$ and hence of the same type.

Also note that in this situation $L(\Gamma)$ and $L(\Gamma,G)$ will often be isomorphic, but by a "non natural" isomorphism which will not going to be compatible with the natural Morita equivalence...

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  • $\begingroup$ By the same type, I meant type $II$, but it is also easy to check that it is type $II_1$ either because $l^2(\Gamma/G)$ is finitely generated as a $L^2(G)$ module or by constructing a trace explicitely. $\endgroup$
    – Simon Henry
    Commented Jun 8, 2015 at 14:43
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    $\begingroup$ Thank you! I note the typo that sometimes you have written $L^2(\Gamma)$ instead of $L(\Gamma)$. $\endgroup$
    – Sebastien Palcoux
    Commented Jun 8, 2015 at 15:40
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    $\begingroup$ What's your type ${\rm III}$ examples? $\endgroup$
    – Sebastien Palcoux
    Commented Jun 8, 2015 at 15:59
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    $\begingroup$ That's corrected thanks ^^ For the type III exemple you have the original construction of Bost-Connes system as a Hecke algebra which if I remeber correctly gives a type III von Neuman algebra if one takes the completion (see the 1994 paper of Bost & Connes). But maybe there is simpler exemple. $\endgroup$
    – Simon Henry
    Commented Jun 8, 2015 at 22:25

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