We define a planar para algebra, which arises naturally from combining planar algebras with the idea of \mathbb{Z}_N para symmetry in physics. A subfactor planar para algebra is a Hilbert space representation of planar tangles with parafermionic defects that are invariant under para isotopy. For each \mathbb{Z}_N, we construct a family of subfactor planar para algebras that play the role of Temperley–Lieb–Jones planar algebras. The first example in this family is the parafermion planar para algebra (PAPPA). Based on this example, we introduce parafermion Pauli matrices, quaternion relations, and braided relations for parafermion algebras, which one can use in the study of quantum information. An important ingredient in planar para algebra theory is the string Fourier transform (SFT), which we use on the matrix algebra generated by the Pauli matrices. Two different reflections play an important role in the theory of planar para algebras. One is the adjoint operator; the other is the modular conjugation in Tomita–Takesaki theory. We use the latter one to define the double algebra and to introduce reflection positivity. We give a new and geometric proof of reflection positivity by relating the two reflections through the string Fourier transform.

The main purpose of this paper is to classify exchange relation planar algebras with 4 dimensional 2-boxes. Besides its skein theory, we emphasize the positivity of subfactor planar algebras based on the Schur product theorem. We will discuss the lattice of projections of 2-boxes, specifically the rank of the projections. From this point, several results about biprojections are obtained. The key break of the classification is to show the existence of a biprojection. By this method, we also classify another two families of subfactor planar algebras: subfactor planar algebras generated by 2-boxes with 4 dimensional 2-boxes and at most 23 dimensional 3-boxes; subfactor planar algebras generated by 2-boxes, such that the quotient of 3-boxes by the basic construction ideal is abelian. They extend the classification of singly generated planar algebras obtained by Bisch, Jones and the author.

An irreducible II_1-subfactor A⊂B is exactly 1-supertransitive if B⊖A is reducible as an A − A bimodule. We classify exactly 1-supertransitive subfactors with index at most 6+1/5, leaving aside the composite subfactors at index exactly 6 where there are severe difficulties. Previously, such subfactors were only known up to index 3+\sqrt{5} ≈ 5.23. Our work is a significant extension, and also shows that index 6 is not an insurmountable barrier.There are exactly three such subfactors with index in (3+\sqrt{5},6+1/5], all with index 3+2\sqrt{2}. One of these comes from SO(3)_q at a root of unity, while the other two appear to be closely related, and are ‘braided up to a sign’.