Selfless W$^*$-probability spaces and Connes' bicentralizer problem

Abstract

We introduce the notion of selfless W$^*$-probability space and study its connection with Connes' bicentralizer problem. In particular, we show that if $M$ is a separable type ${\rm III_1}$ factor with trivial bicentralizer, then $(M, \varphi)$ is selfless for every faithful normal state $\varphi \in M_\ast$.