Spectra of ergodic group actions

LetG be a locally compact second countable abelian group, (X, μ) aσ-finite Lebesgue space, and (g, x) →gx a non-singular, properly ergodic action ofG on (X, μ). Let furthermore Γ be the character group ofG and let Sp(G, X) ⊂ Γ denote theL ^∞-spectrum ofG on (X, μ). It has been shown in [5] that Sp(G, X) is a Borel subgroup of Γ and thatσ (Sp(G, X))<1 for every probability measureσ on Γ with lim sup_g→∞Re (g)<1, where is the Fourier transform ofσ. In this note we prove the following converse: ifσ is a probability measure on Γ with lim sup_g→∞Re (g)<1 (g)=1 then there exists a non-singular, properly ergodic action ofG on (X, μ) withσ(Sp(G, X))=1.     

Strongly meager sets can be quite big

AssumeCH. There exists a strongly meager setX⊆2^ω and a continuous functionF: 2^ω → 2^ω such thatF″ (X)=2^ω. The analogous statement for the strong measure zero, the notion dual to strongly meager, is false. The first author was partially supported by NSF grant DMS 9971282 and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The second author was partially supported by grant BW 5100-5-0231-2.     

The rectifiability threshold in abelian groups

For any abelian group G and integer t ≥ 2 we determine precisely the smallest possible size of a non-t-rectifiable subset of G. Specifically, assuming that G is not torsion-free, denote by p the smallest order of a non-zero element of G. We show that if a subset S ⊆ G satisfies |S| ≤ ⌌log _t p⌍, then S is t-isomorphic (in the sense of Freiman) to a set of integers; on the other hand, we present an example of a subset S ⊆ G with |S| = ⌌log _t p⌍ + 1 which is not t-isomorphic to a set of integers.     

Balleans of topological groups

A subset S of a topological group G is called bounded if, for every neighborhood U of the identity of G, there exists a finite subset F such that S ⊆ FU, S ⊆ UF. The family of all bounded subsets of G determines two structures on G, namely the left and right balleans B _l (G) and B _r (G), which are counterparts of the left and right uniformities of G. We study the relationships between the uniform and ballean structures on G, describe all topological groups admitting a metric compatible both with uniform and ballean structures, and construct a group analogue of Higson’s compactification of a proper metric space.     

On compactification of metric spaces

Iff:X →X* is a homeomorphism of a metric separable spaceX into a compact metric spaceX* such thatf(X)=X*, then the pair (f,X*) is called a metric compactification ofX. An absoluteG _δ-space (F _σ-space)X is said to be of the first kind, if there exists a metric compactification (f,X*) ofX such that , whereG _i are sets open inX* and dim[Fr(G _i)]<dimX. (Fr(G _i) being the boundary ofG _i and dimX — the dimension ofX). An absoluteG _δ-space (F _σ-space), which is not of the first kind, is said to be of the second kind. In the present paper spaces which are both absoluteG _δ andF _σ-spaces of the second kind are constructed for any positive finite dimension, a problem related to one of A. Lelek in [11] is solved, and a sufficient condition onX is given under which dim [X* −f(X)]≧k, for any metric compactification (f,X*) ofX, wherek≦dimX is a given number. This research has been sponsored by the U.S. Navy through the Office of Naval Research under contract No. 62558-3315.     

Invariant Cocycles Have Abelian Ranges

 Let R be a discrete nonsingular equivalence relation on a standard probability space , and let V be an ergodic strongly asymptotically central automorphism of R. We prove that every V-invariant cocycle with values in a Polish group G takes values in an abelian subgroup of G. The hypotheses of this result are satisfied, for example, if A is a finite set, a closed, shift-invariant subset, V is the shift, μ a shift-invariant and ergodic probability measure on X, the two-sided tail-equivalence relation on X, a shift-invariant subrelation which is μ-nonsingular, and a shift-invariant cocycle. (Received 15 September 2001)     

Packing cycles with modularity constraints

We prove that for all positive integers k, there exists an integer N =N(k) such that the following holds. Let G be a graph and let Γ an abelian group with no element of order two. Let γ: E(G)→Γ be a function from the edges of G to the elements of Γ. A non-zero cycle is a cycle C such that Σ _e∈E(C) γ(e) ≠ 0 where 0 is the identity element of Γ. Then G either contains k vertex disjoint non-zero cycles or there exists a set X ⊆ V (G) with |X| ≤N(k) such that G−X contains no non-zero cycle.     

Invariant Cocycles Have Abelian Ranges

 Let R be a discrete nonsingular equivalence relation on a standard probability space , and let V be an ergodic strongly asymptotically central automorphism of R. We prove that every V-invariant cocycle with values in a Polish group G takes values in an abelian subgroup of G. The hypotheses of this result are satisfied, for example, if A is a finite set, a closed, shift-invariant subset, V is the shift, μ a shift-invariant and ergodic probability measure on X, the two-sided tail-equivalence relation on X, a shift-invariant subrelation which is μ-nonsingular, and a shift-invariant cocycle.     

Linearly ordered compact sets and co-Namioka spaces

We prove that, for an arbitrary Baire space X, a linearly ordered compact set Y, and a separately continuous mapping ƒ: X × Y → R, there exists a G _δ-set A ⊆ X dense in X and such that the function ƒ is jointly continuous at every point of the set A × Y, i.e., any linearly ordered compact set is a co-Namioka space. __________ Translated from Ukrains’kyi Matematychnyi Zhurnal, Vol. 59, No. 7, pp. 1001–1004, July, 2007.     

On nonmeasurable images

Let (X, ⫿) be a Polish ideal space and let T be any set. We show that under some conditions on a relation R ⊆ T ² × X it is possible to find a set A ⊆ T such that R(A ²) is completely ⫿-nonmeasurable, i.e, it is ⫿-nonmeasurable in every positive Borel set. We also obtain such a set A ⊆ T simultaneously for continuum many relations (R_a )_{a < 2^w} {({R_\alpha })_{\alpha < {2^\omega }}}. Our results generalize those from the papers of K. Ciesielski, H. Fejzić, C. Freiling and M. Kysiak.     

Subcontinuity

We give interesting characterizations using subcontinuity. Let X, Y be topological spaces. We study subcontinuity of multifunctions from X to Y and its relations to local compactness, local total boundedness and upper semicontinuity. If Y is regular, then F is subcontinuous iff [`(F)]\bar F is USCO. A uniform space Y is complete iff for every topological space X and for every net {F _a }, F _a ⊂ X × Y, of multifunctions subcontinuous at x ∈ X, uniformly convergent to F, F is subcontinuous at x. A Tychonoff space Y is Čech-complete (resp. G _m-space) iff for every topological space X and every multifunction F ⊂ X × Y the set of points of subcontinuity of F is a G _δ -subset (resp. G _m-subset) of X.     

Some embeddings of infinite-dimensional spaces

It is shown that ifA is a weakly infinite-dimensional subset of a metric spaceR then aG _δ setB ofR exists such thatA⊆B andB is weakly infinite-dimensional. A similar result holds for a set having strong transfinite inductive dimension. As a consequence each weakly infinite-dimensional metric space possesses a weakly infinite-dimensional complete metric extension. A similar result holds also for a space having strong transfinite inductive dimension.     

Sums of lengtht in Abelian groups

LetG be an Abelian group written additively,B a finite subset ofG, and lett be a positive integer. Fort≦|B|, letB _t denote the set of sums oft distinct elements overB. Furthermore, letK be a subgroup ofG and let σ denote the canonical homomorphism σ:G→G/K. WriteB _t (modB _t) forB _tσ and writeB _t (modK) forBσ. The following addition theorem in groups is proved. LetG be an Abelian group with no 2-torsion and letB a be finite subset ofG. Ift is a positive integer such thatt<|B| then |B _t (modK)|≧|B (modK)| for any finite subgroupK ofG.     

Approximation of analytic by Borel sets and definable countable chain conditions

LetI be a σ-ideal on a Polish space such that each set fromI is contained in a Borel set fromI. We say thatI fails to fulfil theΣ ₁ ¹ countable chain condition if there is aΣ ₁ ¹ equivalence relation with uncountably many equivalence classes none of which is inI. Assuming definable determinacy, we show that if the family of Borel sets fromI is definable in the codes of Borel sets, then eachΣ ₁ ¹ set is equal to a Borel set modulo a set fromI iffI fulfils theΣ ₁ ¹ countable chain condition. Further we characterize the σ-idealsI generated by closed sets that satisfy the countable chain condition or, equivalently in this case, the approximation property forΣ ₁ ¹ sets mentioned above. It turns out that they are exactly of the formMGR(F)={A : ∀F ∈ F A ∩F is meager inF} for a countable family F of closed sets. In particular, we verify partially a conjecture of Kunen by showing that the σ-ideal of meager sets is the unique σ-ideal onR, or any Polish group, generated by closed sets which is invariant under translations and satisfies the countable chain condition. Research partially supported by NSF grant DMS-9317509.     

Hereditary properties of the class of closed sets of uniqueness for trigonometric series

It is shown that theσ-idealU ₀ of closed sets of extended uniqueness inT is hereditarily non-Borel, i.e. every “non-trivial”σ-ideal of closed setsI⊆U ₀ is non-Borel. This implies both the result of Solovay, Kaufman that bothU ₀ andU (theσ-ideal of closed sets of uniqueness) are not Borel as well as the theorem of Debs-Saint Raymond that every Borel subset ofT of extended uniqueness is of the first category. A further extension to ideals contained inU ₀ is given. Research partially supported by NSF Grant DMS-8718847.     

Semigroups of transformations restricted by an equivalence

Suppose σ is an equivalence on a set X and let E(X, σ) denote the semigroup (under composition) of all α: X → X such that σ ⊆ α ∘ α ⁻¹. Here we characterise Green’s relations and ideals in E(X, σ). This is analogous to recent work by Sullivan on K(V, W), the semigroup (under composition) of all linear transformations β of a vector space V such that W ⊆ ker β, where W is a fixed subspace of V.     

On spectral characterizations of amenability

We show that a measuredG-space (X, μ), whereG is a locally compact group, is amenable in the sense of Zimmer if and only if the following two conditions are satisfied: the associated unitary representationπ _X ofG intoL ²(X, μ) is weakly contained into the regular representationλ _G and there exists aG-equivariant norm one projection fromL∞(X×X) ontoL∞(X). We give examples of ergodic discrete group actions which are not amenable, althoughπ _X is weakly contained intoλ _G.     

A new characterization of frobenius complements

LetH, G be finite groups such thatH acts onG and each non-trivial element ofH fixes at mostf elements ofG. It is shown that, ifG is sufficiently large, thenH has the structure of a Frobenius complement. This result depends on the classification of finite simple groups. We conclude that, ifG is a finite group andA ⊆G is any non-cyclic abelian subgroup, then the order ofG is bounded above in terms of the maximal order of a centralizerC _G(a) for 1≠a ∈A.     

Characterization of the sets of discontinuity points of separately continuous functions of many variables on the products of metrizable spaces

We show that a subset of the product ofn metrizable spaces is the set of discontinuity points of some separately continuous function if and only if this subset can be represented in the form of the union of a sequence ofF _σ-sets each, of which is locally projectively a set of the first category. Chernovsty University, Chernovtsy. Translated from Ukrainskii Matematicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 52, No. 6, pp. 740–747, June, 2000.     

Acyclic resolutions for arbitrary groups

We prove that for every abelian groupG and every compactumX with dim _G X ≤n ≥ 2 there is aG-acyclic resolutionr:Z→X from a compactumZ with dim _G Z≤n and dimZ≤n+1 ontoX.