On the fundamental group of II_1 factors and equivalence relations arising from group actions

Abstract

Given a countable group G, we consider the sets S_factor(G), S_eqrel(G), of subgroups F of the positive real line for which there exists a free ergodic probability measure preserving action G on X such that the fundamental group of the associated II_1 factor, respectively orbit equivalence relation, equals F. We prove that if G is the free product of Z and infinitely many copies of a non-trivial group Γ, then S_factor(G) and S_eqrel(G) contain R_+ itself, all of its countable subgroups, as well as uncountable subgroups whose log can have any Hausdorff dimension in the interval (0,1). We then prove that if G=Γ*Λ, with Γ, Λfinitely generated ICC groups, one of which has property (T), then S_factor(G)=S_eqrel(G)={1}. We also show that there exist II_1 factors M such that the fundamental group of M is R_+, but the associated II_\infty factor M tensor B(l^2) admits no continuous trace scaling action of R_+.