arXiv2026
We investigate the relative position of von Neumann subalgebras through the Mashood--Taylor ($\mathrm{d}_{\mathrm{MT}}$) and Kadison--Kastler ($\mathrm{d}_{\mathrm{KK}}$) distances and the interior angle. For each $n\in\mathbb{N}$, we show that the hyperfinite $\mathrm{II}_1$-factor $\mathscr{R}$ contains an uncountable family of pairwise distinct regular $n\times n$ spin model subfactors. In particular, this yields a continuous family $(\mathscr{R}_{\mathsf{H}_α})_{α\in[0,π)}$ of $2\times2$ spin model subfactors which, equipped with $\mathrm{d}_{\mathrm{MT}}$, is homeomorphic to the circle group $\mathbb{T}$ and admits a natural topological group structure. We further establish \[ \mathrm{d}_{\mathrm{MT}}(\mathscr{R}_{\mathsf{H}_α},\mathscr{R}_{\mathsf{H}_β}) =\vert\sin(α-β)\vert. \] We prove that two such spin model subfactors form a commuting square over their intersection if and only if they are maximally distant. More generally, commuting squares of $\mathrm{II}_1$-factors, under natural index conditions, force maximal distance, yielding $\mathrm{d}_{\mathrm{KK}}=1=\mathrm{d}_{\mathrm{MT}}$. We also show that diffuse subalgebras which are orthogonal in the sense of Popa are maximally distant. In contrast, no two members of the above spin model family are Popa-orthogonal. Nevertheless, maximal distance between two such subfactors implies that their interior angle over the intersection is $π/2$, highlighting the distinction between angle orthogonality and Popa orthogonality. Finally, in $L(\mathbb{F}_2)=L(\langle a,b\rangle)$, for $u\in L(\langle b\rangle)$, we obtain \[ \mathrm{d}_{\mathrm{MT}}(L(\langle a\rangle),uL(\langle a\rangle)u^*) =\sqrt{1-\vertτ(u)\vert^4}, \] and construct maximally distant masas not arising from subgroups of $\mathbb{F}_2$.