Chirality and principal graph obstructions

Abstract

Determining which bipartite graphs can be principal graphs of subfactors is an important and difficult question in subfactor theory. Using only planar algebra techniques, we prove a triple point obstruction which generalizes all known initial triple point obstructions to possible principal graphs. We also prove a similar quadruple point obstruction with the same technique. Using our obstructions, we eliminate some infinite families of possible principal graphs with initial triple and quadruple points which were a major hurdle in extending subfactor classification results above index 5.

27 pages, many figures