Introduction to Subfactors (London Mathematical Society Lecture Note Series, Series Number 234)

Subfactors, a subject of considerable research activity for about fifteen years, are known to have significant relations with other fields such as low dimensional topology and algebraic quantum field theory. The authors present a new pictorial approach to subfactors in addition to discussions of basic principles. This book provides an important introduction to the subject and is aimed at students with only a little familiarity with the theory of Hilbert space and other newcomers to the field.

Subfactors have been a subject of considerable research activity for about 15 years and are known to have significant relations with other fields such as low dimensional topology and algebraic quantum field theory. These notes give an introduction to the subject suitable for a student who has only a little familiarity with the theory of Hilbert space. A new pictorial approach to subfactors is presented in a late ch apter.