The aim of this paper is to prove ergodic decomposition theorems for probability measures quasi-invariant under Borel actions of inductively compact groups (Theorem 1) as well as for sigma-finite invariant measures (Corollary 1). For infinite measures the ergodic decomposition is not unique, but the measure class of the decomposing measure on the space of projective measures is uniquely defined by the initial invariant measure (Theorem 2).
We obtain a partial converse of Vershik's description of ergodic probability measures on a compact metric space with respect to an isometric action by an inductively compact group. This allows us to identify, in this setting, the set of ergodic probability measures with the set of weak limit points of orbital measures.
This survey is focused on the results related to topologies on the groups of transformations in ergodic theory, Borel, and Cantor dynamics. Various topological properties (density, connectedness, genericity) of these groups and their subsets (subgroups) are studied.
A Borel system $(X,S)$ is `almost Borel universal' if any free Borel dynamical system $(Y,T)$ of strictly lower entropy is isomorphic to a Borel subsystem of $(X,S)$, after removing a null set. We obtain and exploit a new sufficient condition for a topological dynamical system to be almost Borel universal. We use our main result to deduce various conclusions and answer a number of questions. Along with additional results, we prove that a `generic' homeomorphism of a compact manifold of topological dimension at least two can model any ergodic transformation, that non-uniform specification impli…
Suppose $L$ is a semisimple Levi subgroup of a connected Lie group~$G$, $X$ is a Borel $G$-space with finite invariant measure, and $α\colon X \times G \to \GL_n(\real)$ is a Borel cocycle. Assume $L$ has finite center, and that the real rank of every simple factor of~$L$ is at least two. We show that if $L$ is ergodic on~$X$, and the restriction of~$α$ to~$X \times L$ is cohomologous to a homomorphism (modulo a compact group), then, after passing to a finite cover of~$X$, the cocycle $α$ itself is cohomologous to a homomorphism (modulo a compact group).
Let $O(\infty)$ and $U(\infty)$ be the inductively compact infinite orthogonal group and infinite unitary group respectively. The classifications of ergodic probability measures with respect to the natural group action of $O(\infty)\times O(m)$ on $\mathrm{Mat}(\mathbb{N}\times m, \mathbb{R})$ and that of $U(\infty)\times U(m)$ on $\mathrm{Mat}(\mathbb{N}\times m, \mathbb{C})$ are due to Olshanski. The original proofs for these results are based on the asymptotic representation theory. In this note, by applying the Vershik-Kerov method, we propose a simple method for obtaining these two classi…
The main result of this note, Theorem 2, is the following: a Borel measure on the space of infinite Hermitian matrices, that is invariant under the action of the infinite unitary group and that admits well-defined projections onto the quotient space of "corners" of finite size, must be finite. A similar result, Theorem 1, is also established for unitarily invariant measures on the space of all infinite complex matrices. These results, combined with the ergodic decomposition theorem of [3], imply that the infinite Hua-Pickrell measures of Borodin and Olshanski [2] have finite ergodic components…
Given any amenable group $G$ (with a left Haar measure $|\cdot|$ or $dg$), we can select out a \textit{Følner subnet} $\{F_θ,θ\inΘ\}$ from any left Følner net in $G$, which is \textit{$L^\infty$-admissible}, namely, for any Borel $G$-space $(X,\mathscr{X})$ and any $φ\in L^\infty(X,\mathscr{X})$, \begin{gather*} \lim_{θ\inΘ}\frac{1}{|F_θ|}\int_{F_θ}φ(gx)dg=φ^*(x)\ \forall x\in X\quad {\textrm{and}}\quad φ^*=(gφ)^*\ \forall g\in G. \end{gather*} Moreover, if $G$ is $σ$-compact such as a locally compact second countable Hausdorff amenable group, then $φ^*\in L^\infty(X,\mathscr{X})$, $φ^*(gx)=φ^…
This paper proves various results concerning non-ergodic actions of locally compact groups and particularly Borel cocycles defined over such actions. The general philosophy is to reduce the study of the cocycle to the study of its restriction to each ergodic component of the action, while being careful to show that all objects arising in the analysis depend measurably on the ergodic component. This allows us to prove a version of the superrigidity theorems for cocycles defined over non-ergodic actions.
The main result of the paper is classification of free multidimensional Borel flows up to Lebesgue Orbit Equivalence, by which we understand an orbit equivalence that preserves the Lebesgue measure on each orbit. Two non smooth Euclidean flows are shown to be Lebesgue Orbit Equivalence if and only if they admit the same number of invariant ergodic probability measures.
We present some twisted compactness conditions for almost everywhere convergence of one-parameter entangled ergodic averages of Dunford-Schwartz operators $T_0,\ldots, T_a$ on a Borel probability space of the form $$ \sum_{n=1}^N T_a^n A_{a-1}T_{a-1}^nA_{a-1}\cdot \ldots \cdot A_0 T_0^nf$$ for $f\in L^p(X,μ)$, $p\geq 1$. We also discuss examples and present a continuous version of the result.
Ergodic optimization aims to single out dynamically invariant Borel probability measures which maximize the integral of a given "performance" function. For a continuous self-map of a compact metric space and a dense set of continuous performance functions, we show that the existence of uncountably many ergodic maximizing measures. We also show that, for a topologically mixing subshift of finite type and a dense set of continuous functions there exist uncountably many ergodic maximizing measures which are fully supported and have positive entropy.
Ergodic systems, being indecomposable are important part of the study of dynamical systems but if a system is not ergodic, it is natural to ask the following question: Is it possible to split it into ergodic systems in such a way that the study of the former reduces to the study of latter ones? Also, it will be interesting to see if the latter ones inherit some properties of the former one. This document answers this question for measurable maps defined on complete separable metric spaces with Borel probability measure, using the Rokhlin Disintegration Theorem.
Let $F$ be a non-discrete non-Archimedean locally compact field such that the characteristic $\mathrm{ch}(F)\ne 2$ and let $\mathcal{O}_F$ be the ring of integers in $F$. The main results of this paper are Theorem 1.2 that classifies ergodic probability measures on the space $\mathrm{Skew}(\mathbb{N}, F)$ of infinite skew-symmetric matrices with respect to the natural action of the group $\mathrm{GL}(\infty,\mathcal{O}_F)$ and Theorem 1.4, that gives an unexpected natural correspondence between the set of $\mathrm{GL}(\infty,\mathcal{O}_F)$-invariant Borel probability measures on $\mathrm{Sym}…
Suppose that $X$ is a Polish space, $E$ is a countable Borel equivalence relation on $X$, and $μ$ is an $E$-invariant Borel probability measure on $X$. We consider the circumstances under which for every countable non-abelian free group $Γ$, there is a Borel sequence $(\cdot_r)_{r \in \mathbb{R}}$ of free actions of $Γ$ on $X$, generating subequivalence relations $E_r$ of $E$ with respect to which $μ$ is ergodic, with the further property that $(E_r)_{r \in \mathbb{R}}$ is an increasing sequence of relations which are pairwise incomparable under $μ$-reducibility. In particular, we show that if…
Let $m\in\mathbb{N}$ and $\textbf{X}=(X,\mathcal{X},μ,(T_α)_{α\in\mathbb{R}^{m}})$ be a measure preserving system with an $\mathbb{R}^{m}$-action. We say that a Borel measure $ν$ on $\mathbb{R}^{m}$ is weakly equidistributed for $\textbf{X}$ if there exists $A\subseteq\mathbb{R}$ of density 1 such that for all $f\in L^{\infty}(μ)$, we have $$\lim_{t\in A,t\to\infty}\int_{\mathbb{R}^{m}}f(T_{t α}x)\,dν(α)=\int_{X}f\,dμ$$ for $μ$-a.e. $x\in X$. Let $W(\textbf{X})$ denote the collection of all $α\in\mathbb{R}^{m}$ such that the $\mathbb{R}$-action $(T_{tα})_{t\in\mathbb{R}}$ is not ergodic. Under…
In the first part of this paper, we formulate a general setting in which to study the ergodic theory of differentiable $\mathbb{Z}^d$-actions preserving a Borel probability measure. This framework includes actions by $C^{1+\text{Hölder}}$ diffeomorphisms of compact manifolds. We construct intermediate and coarse unstable manifolds for the action and establish controls on their local geometry. In the second part we consider the relationship between entropy, Lyapunov exponents, and the geometry of conditional measures for rank-1 systems given by a number of generalizations of the Ledrappier--You…
We use edge slidings and saturated disjoint Borel families to give a conceptually simple proof of Hjorth's theorem on cost attained: if a countable p.m.p. ergodic equivalence relation $E$ is treeable and has cost $n \in \mathbb{N} \cup \{\infty\}$ then it is induced by an a.e. free p.m.p. action of the free group $\mathbb{F}_n$ on $n$ generators. More importantly, our techniques give a significant strengthening of this theorem: the action of $\mathbb{F}_n$ can be arranged so that each of the $n$ generators alone acts ergodically. The existence of an ergodic action for the first generator immed…
We prove that for a countable discrete group $Γ$ containing a copy of the free group $\F_n$, for some $2\leq n\leq\infty$, as a normal subgroup, the equivalence relations of conjugacy, orbit equivalence and von Neumann equivalence of the ergodic a.e. free actions of $Γ$ are analytic non-Borel equivalence relations in the Polish space of probability measure preserving $Γ$ actions. As a consequence we obtain that the isomorphism relation in the spaces of separably acting factors of type $\II_1$, $\II_\infty$ and $\III_λ$, $0\leqλ\leq 1$, are analytic and not Borel when these spaces are given the…
Extending work of Hochman, we study the almost-Borel structure, i.e., the nonatomic invariant probability measures, of symbolic systems and surface diffeomorphisms. We first classify Markov shifts and characterize them as strictly universal with respect to a natural family of classes of Borel systems. We then study their continuous factors showing that a low entropy part is almost-Borel isomorphic to a Markov shift but that the remaining part is much more diverse, even for finite-to-one factors. However, we exhibit a new condition which we call "Bowen type" which gives complete control of thos…
The paper is devoted to the study of topologies on the group Aut(X,B) of all Borel automorphisms of a standard Borel space $(X, B)$. Several topologies are introduced and all possible relations between them are found. One of these topologies, $τ$, is a direct analogue of the uniform topology widely used in ergodic theory. We consider the most natural subsets of $Aut(X, B)$ and find their closures. In particular, we describe closures of subsets formed by odometers, periodic, aperiodic, incompressible, and smooth automorphisms with respect to the defined topologies. It is proved that the set of …
Let $α: G\curvearrowright X$ be a minimal free continuous action of an infinite countable amenable group on an infinite compact metrizable space. In this paper, under the hypothesis that the invariant ergodic probability Borel measure space $E_G(X)$ is compact and zero-dimensional, we show that the action $α$ has the small boundary property. This partially answers an open problem in dynamical systems that asks whether a minimal free action of an amenable group has the small boundary property if its space $M_G(X)$ of invariant Borel probability measures forms a Bauer simplex. In addition, under…
We investigate pointwise convergence of entangled ergodic averages of Dunford-Schwartz operators $T_0,T_1,\ldots, T_m$ on a Borel probability space. These averages take the form \[ \frac{1}{N^k}\sum_{1\leq n_1,\ldots, n_k\leq N} T_m^{n_{α(m)}}A_{m-1}T^{n_{α(m-1)}}_{m-1}\ldots A_2T_2^{n_{α(2)}}A_1T_1^{n_{α(1)}} f, \] where $f\in L^p(X,μ)$ for some $1\leq p<\infty$, and $α:\left\{1,\ldots,m\right\}\to\left\{1,\ldots,k\right\}$ encodes the entanglement. We prove that under some joint boundedness and twisted compactness conditions on the pairs $(A_i,T_i)$, almost everywhere convergence holds for a…
Motivated by reformulating Furstenberg's $\times p,\times q$ conjecture via representations of a crossed product $C^*$-algebra, we show that in a discrete $C^*$-dynamical system $(A,Γ)$, the space of (ergodic) $Γ$-invariant states on $A$ is homeomorphic to a subspace of (pure) state space of $A\rtimesΓ$. Various applications of this in topological dynamical systems and representation theory are obtained. In particular, we prove that the classification of ergodic $Γ$-invariant regular Borel probability measures on a compact Hausdorff space $X$ is equivalent to the classification a special type …
We study equivalence relations $\mathcal R(Γ\curvearrowright G)$ that arise from left translation actions of countable groups on their profinite completions. Under the assumption that the action $Γ\curvearrowright G$ is free and has spectral gap, we describe precisely when $\mathcal R(Γ\curvearrowright G)$ is orbit equivalent or Borel reducible to another such equivalence relation $\mathcal R(Λ\curvearrowright H)$. As a consequence, we provide explicit uncountable families of free ergodic probability measure preserving (p.m.p.) profinite actions of $SL_2(\mathbb Z)$ and its non-amenable subgro…
Let R a be countable ergodic equivalence relation of type II_1 on a standard probability space (X,m). The group Out(R) of outer automorphisms of R consists of all invertible Borel measure preserving maps of the space which map R-classes to R-classes modulo those which preserve almost every R-class. We analyze the group Out(R) for relations R generated by actions of higher rank lattices, providing general conditions on finiteness and triviality of Out(R) and explicitly computing this group for the standard actions. The method is based on Zimmer's superrigidity for measurable cocycles, Ratner's …
Building on work of Popa, Ioana, and Epstein--Törnquist, we show that, for every nonamenable countable discrete group $Γ$, the relations of conjugacy, orbit equivalence, and von Neumann equivalence of free ergodic (or weak mixing) measure preserving actions of $Γ$ on the standard atomless probability space are not Borel, thus answering questions of Kechris. This is an optimal and definitive result, which establishes a neat dichotomy with the amenable case, since any two free ergodic actions of an amenable group on the standard atomless probability space are orbit equivalent by classical result…
Given a compact metric space $X$ and a probability measure in the $σ-$algebra of Borel subsets of $X$, we will establish a dominated convergence theorem for ultralimits of sequences of integrable maps and apply it to deduce a non-standard ergodic-like theorem for any probability measure.
Let $σ:\boldsymbolΣ\to\boldsymbolΣ$ be the left shift acting on $ \boldsymbolΣ $, a one-sided Markov subshift on a countable alphabet. Our intention is to guarantee the existence of $σ$-invariant Borel probabilities that maximize the integral of a given locally Hölder continuous potential $ A : \boldsymbolΣ \to \mathbb R $. Under certain conditions, we are able to show not only that $A$-maximizing probabilities do exist, but also that they are characterized by the fact their support lies actually in a particular Markov subshift on a finite alphabet. To that end, we make use of objects dual to …
We prove that if a Borel probability measure (μ) on (\T) is invariant under the action of a "large" multiplicative semigroup (lower logarithmic density is positive) and the action of the whole semigroup is ergodic then (μ) is either Lebesgue or has finite support.
The trivial proof of the ergodic theorem for a finite set $Y$ and a permutation $T:Y\to Y$ shows that for an arbitrary function $f:Y\to{\mathbb R}$ the sequence of ergodic means $A_n(f,T)$ stabilizes for $n \gg |T|$. We show that if $|Y|$ is very large and $|f(y)| \ll |Y|$ for almost all $y$, then $A_n(f,T)$ stabilizes for significantly long segments of very large numbers $n$ that are, however, $\ll |T|$. This statement has a natural rigorous formulation in the setting of nonstandard analysis, which is, in fact, equivalent to the ergodic theorem for infinite probability spaces. Its standard fo…
We analyze several problems of Optimal Transport Theory in the setting of Ergodic Theory. In a certain class of problems we consider questions in Ergodic Transport which are generalizations of the ones in Ergodic Optimization. Another class of problems is the following: suppose $σ$ is the shift acting on Bernoulli space $X=\{0,1\}^\mathbb{N}$, and, consider a fixed continuous cost function $c:X \times X\to \mathbb{R}$. Denote by $Π$ the set of all Borel probabilities $π$ on $X\times X$, such that, both its $x$ and $y$ marginal are $σ$-invariant probabilities. We are interested in the optimal p…
The isomorphism problem in ergodic theory was formulated by von Neumann in 1932 in his pioneering paper Zur Operatorenmethode in der klassischen Mechanik (Ann. of Math. (2), 33(3):587--642, 1932). The problem has been solved for some classes of transformations that have special properties, such as the collection of transformations with discrete spectrum or Bernoulli shifts. This paper shows that a general classification is impossible (even in concrete settings) by showing that the collection $E$ of pairs of ergodic, Lebesgue measure preserving diffeomorphisms $(S,T)$ of the 2-torus that are is…
We consider the geodesic flow on a complete connected negatively curved manifold. We show that the set of invariant borel probability measures contains a dense $G_δ$-subset consisting of ergodic measures fully supported on the non-wandering set. We also trat the case of non-positively curved manifolds and provide general tools to deal with hyperbolic systems defined on non-compact spaces.
Let $\Om$ be a Borel subset of $S^\Bbb N$ where $S$ is countable. A measure is called exchangeable on $\Om$, if it is supported on $\Om$ and is invariant under every Borel automorphism of $\Om$ which permutes at most finitely many coordinates. De-Finetti's theorem characterizes these measures when $\Om=S^\Bbb N$. We apply the ergodic theory of equivalence relations to study the case $\Om\neq S^\Bbb N$, and obtain versions of this theorem when $\Om$ is a countable state Markov shift, and when $\Om$ is the collection of beta expansions of real numbers in $[0,1]$ (a non-Markovian constraint).
Packing topological entropy is a dynamical analogy of the packing dimension, which can be viewed as a counterpart of Bowen topological entropy. In the present paper, we will give a systematically study to the packing topological entropy for a continuous $G$-action dynamical system $(X,G)$, where $X$ is a compact metric space and $G$ is a countable discrete amenable group. We first prove a variational principle for amenable packing topological entropy: for any Borel subset $Z$ of $X$, the packing topological entropy of $Z$ equals the supremum of upper local entropy over all Borel probability me…
In this paper, we explore a topological system $f:M\rightarrow M$ with average shadowing property. We extend Sigmund's results and show that every non-empty, compact and connected subset $V\subseteq\mathcal {M}_{inv}(f)$ coincides with $V_f(y)$, where $\mathcal {M}_{inv}(f)$ denotes the space of invariant Borel probability measures on M, and $V_f(y)$ denotes the accumulation set of time average of Dirac measures supported at the orbit of $y$. We also show that the set $M_{V}=\{y\in M\,\,|\,\,V_{f}(y)=V\}$ is dense in $Δ_{V}=\bigcup_{ν\in V}supp(ν)$. In particular, if $Δ_{max}=\bigcup_{ν\in\mat…
In this paper, we consider a Borel measurable map of a compact metric space which admits an inducing scheme. Under the finite weighted complexity condition, we establish a thermodynamic formalism for a parameter family of potentials $φ+tψ$ in an interval containing $t=0$. Furthermore, if there is a generating partition compatible to the inducing scheme, we show that all ergodic invariant measures with sufficiently large pressure are liftable.
Classical ergodic theory deals with measure (or measure class) preserving actions of locally compact groups on Lebesgue spaces. An important tool in this setting is a theorem of Mackey which provides spatial models for Boolean G-actions. We show that in full generality this theorem does not hold for actions of Polish groups. In particular there is no Borel model for the Polish automorphism group of a Gaussian measure. In fact, we show that this group as well as many other Polish groups do not admit any nontrivial Borel measure preserving actions.
