L-homology for Von Neumann Algebras

The aim of this paper is to introduce a notion of L-homology in the context of von Neumann algebras. Finding a suitable (co)homology theory for von Neumann algebras has been a dream for several generations (see [KR71a, KR71b, JKR72, SS95] and references therein). One’s hope is to have a powerful invariant to distinguish von Neumann algebras. Unfortunately, little positive is known about the Kadison-Ringrose cohomology H∗ b (M,M), except that it vanishes in many cases. Furthermore, there does not seem to be a good connection between the bounded cohomology theory of a group and of the bounded cohomology of its von Neumann algebra. Our interest in developing an L-cohomology theory was revived by the introduction of Lcohomology invariants in the field of ergodic equivalence relations in the paper of Gaboriau [Gab02]. His results in particular imply that L-Betti numbers β (2) i (Γ) of a discrete group are the same for measure-equivalent groups (i.e., for groups that can generate isomorphic ergodic measure-preserving equivalence relations). Parallels between the “worlds” of von Neumann algebras and measurable equivalence relations have been noted for a long time (starting with the parallel between the work of Murray and von Neumann [MvN] and that of H. Dye [Dy]). Thus there is hope that an invariant of a group that “survives” measure equivalence will survive also “von Neumann algebra equivalence”, i.e., will be an invariant of the von Neumann algebra of the group. The original motivation for our construction comes from the well understood analogy between the theory of II1-factors and that of discrete groups, based on the theory of correspondences [Con, Con94]. This analogy has been remarkably efficient to transpose analytic properties such as “amenability” or “property T” from the group context to the factor context [Con80] [CJ] and more recently in the breakthrough work of Popa [Popa] [Con03]. We use the theory of correspondences together with the algebraic description of L-Betti numbers given by Luck. His definition involves the computation of the algebraic group homology with coefficients in the group von Neumann algebra. Following the guiding idea that the category of bimodules over a von Neumann algebra is the analogue of the category of modules over a group, we are led to the following algebraic definition of L-homology of a von Neumann algebra M :