A computability-theoretic reformulation of the Connes Embedding Problem

The Connes Embedding Problem (CEP) asks whether every separable II_1 factor embeds into an ultrapower of the hyperfinite II_1 factor. We show that the CEP is equivalent to the computability of the universal theory of every type II_1 von Neumann algebra. We also derive some further computability-theoretic consequences of the CEP.