The classification problem for von Neumann factors

Abstract

We prove that it is not possible to classify separable von Neumann factors of types $\II_1$, $\II_\infty$ or $\III_λ$, $0\le \lambda \le 1$, up to isomorphism by a Borel measurable assignment of "countable structures" as invariants. In particular the isomorphism relation of type $\II_1$ factors is not smooth. We also prove that the isomorphism relation for von Neumann $\II_1$ factors is analytic, but is not Borel.

To appear in the Journal of Functional Analysis