Relative position between a pair of spin model subfactors

Abstract: Jones proposed the study of two subfactors of a $II_1$ factor as a quantization of two closed subspaces in a Hilbert space. The Pimsner-Popa probabilistic constant, Sano-Watatani angle, interior and exterior angle, and Connes-St{\o}rmer relative entropy (along with a slight variant of it) are a few key invariants for pair of subfactors that analyze their relative position. In practice, however, the explicit computation of these invariants is often difficult. In this article, we provide an in-depth analysis of a special class of two subfactors, namely a pair of spin model subfactors of the hyperfinite type $II_1$ factor $R$. We first characterize when two distinct $n\times n$ complex Hadamard matrices give rise to distinct spin model subfactors. Then, a detailed investigation has been carried out for pairs of (Hadamard equivalent) complex Hadamard matrices of order $2\times 2$ as well as Hadamard inequivalent complex Hadamard matrices of order $4\times 4$. To the best of our knowledge, this article is the first instance in the literature where the exact value of the Pimsner-Popa probabilistic constant and the noncommutative relative entropy for pairs of (non-trivial) subfactors have been obtained. Furthermore, we prove the factoriality of the intersection of the corresponding pair of subfactors using the `commuting square technique'. En route, we construct an infinite family of potentially new subfactors of $R$. All these subfactors are irreducible with Jones index $4n,n\geq 2$. As a consequence, the rigidity of the interior angle between the spin model subfactors is established. Last but not least, we explicitly compute the Sano-Watatani angle between the spin model subfactors.