Questions tagged [ergodic-theory]
Dynamical systems on measure spaces, invariant measures, ergodic averages, mixing properties.
263
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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Alternating colors on a line: infinitely often or converge?
Suppose we have intervals of alternating color on $\mathbb{R}$ (say, red / blue / red / blue / …). All intervals have independent length, with all red intervals distributed as $\mathbb{P}_{R}$, all ...
27
votes
0
answers
807
views
Blocking light with mirrored convex objects
There is a long-unsolved problem posed by Janos Pach,
sometimes known as the enchanted forest problem,
which asks if it is possible to block a point light source
in the plane
from reaching
infinity by ...
18
votes
0
answers
472
views
Trapping lightrays with segment mirrors
Q. Is it possible to trap all the light from one point source by a finite collection of two-sided disjoint segment mirrors?
I posed this question in several forums before (e.g., here
and in an ...
12
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0
answers
279
views
Statistics for rational points on curves of genus $g$ over $\mathbb{F}_q$, $g\gg q$
Consider the distribution of the number of $\mathbb{F}_q$ points as I range over smooth projective curves of genus $g$ (defined over $\mathbb{F}_q$). If $q\gg g,$ the Hasse-Weil bounds give me a lot ...
12
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0
answers
2k
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Weak$^*$ convergence of measures vs. convergence of supports
Let $X$ be a compact metric space and let $\mathcal M(X)$ denote the set of probability measures on $X$. For $\mu\in\mathcal M(X)$ we write $\text{supp} \mu$ for the support of $\mu$. It is easy to ...
11
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0
answers
189
views
Factor map between subshifts preserving topological pressure (or measure-theoretic entropy)
Let $G$ be a countable amenable group and let $X,Y$ be subshifts with finite alphabet over $G$. Suppose that $h(X) = h(Y)$ (equal topological entropy). I am interested in continuous factor maps $\pi: ...
10
votes
0
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289
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Mackey's Program on Algebraic Ergodic Theory
I knew about Mackey's Program from Arnold's book Random Dynamical Systems and it referred to K. Schmidt's book Algebraic Ideas in Ergodic Theory, which was published in 1990. However, that is the ...
10
votes
0
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532
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Poincaré recurrence and symplectic packings
Question. Is there any example of a path connected symplectic manifold $(M,\omega)$ that has infinite volume, but which cannot be packed by an infinite number of symplectic balls of a fixed radius $r$,...
10
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0
answers
968
views
Centralizers of group actions
Let a locally compact group $G$ act on a probability space $(X,\mu)$. Define the centralizer by $C(G)=\{\Delta\in Aut(X,\mu)\mid \Delta(gx)=g\Delta(x)\text{ almost everywhere}\}$. $Aut(X,\mu)$ denotes ...
9
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0
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184
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For measure-preserving systems, is countable generatability of the invariant $\sigma$-algebra equivalent to almost all points being periodic?
Let $X$ be a second countable Hausdorff topological space, let $T \colon X \to X$ be a Borel-measurable map, define the $\sigma$-algebra $\mathcal{I}=\{A \in \mathcal{B}(X) : T^{-1}(A)=A\}$, and for ...
7
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273
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Possible Birkhoff spectra for irrational rotations
Let $\mathbb{T}=\mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z}$ be the unit circle (think of it as of the interval $[0,1)$ with endpoints identified). Assume that $\alpha$ is irrational and consider the rotation by $\alpha$, ...
7
votes
0
answers
305
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Generator of a $\bigoplus_{n=0}^\infty \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$-action
Let $T$ be a measure-preserving action of a group $G$ on a Lebesgue space $X$. That means that $T$ associates an automorphism (i.e. an invertible measure-preserving transformation) $T^g$ of $X$ to ...
7
votes
0
answers
699
views
Is there a continuous-time version of Kingman's subadditive decomposition theorem?
Kingman's subadditive ergodic theorem (see this article) states that if $x_{m,n}$ is a real valued process indexed on the set of pairs of non-negative integers $m < n$ satisfying:
$x_{l,n} \le x_{...
6
votes
0
answers
68
views
Countable companions for Polish locally compact groups and their orbit equivalence relations
In "Countable sections for locally compact group actions" (Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys., 1992), Kechris proved that if $G$ is a Polish locally compact group acting in a Borel way on a ...
6
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0
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237
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Direct proof that $g_t=\text{diag}(e^{t/m}I_m,e^{-t/n}I_n)$'s action on $\operatorname{SL}(d,\mathbb R)/{\operatorname{SL}(d,\mathbb Z)}$ is ergodic
I wonder if there are any direct proof that $g_t=\operatorname{diag}(e^{t/m}I_m,e^{-t/n}I_n)$'s action on $\operatorname{SL}(d,\mathbb R)/{\operatorname{SL}(d,\mathbb Z)}$ is ergodic (or even stronger,...
6
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0
answers
152
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Construction of minimal zero entropy measure-theoretically strong mixing subshift?
Does anyone know of a construction of a subshift (over $\mathbb{Z}$) which is
(1) minimal
(2) zero (topological) entropy
(3) measure-theoretically strong mixing (for some measure)?
I am in particular ...
6
votes
0
answers
254
views
A density result for arithmetic progressions
Note: By upper/lower density, we shall mean the upper/lower asymptotic density as given here.
Question:
For any subset $S \subset \mathbb N$ with positive upper density, does there exists a $\...
6
votes
0
answers
123
views
Countable-to-one factors of measure preserving systems do not change entropy
It is known that if $\psi$ is a factor map between probability measure preserving systems $(X,\mathscr{X},\mu,T)$ and $(Y,\mathscr{Y},\nu,S)$ is countable-to-one almost everywhere, then $h(\mu,T)=h(\...
6
votes
0
answers
145
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Quantitive and computational improvement of the Oseledets multiplicative ergodic theorem for irrational rotation
Consider irrational rotation $T:S^1\to S^1, T(x) = x + \alpha$ where $\alpha\notin \mathbb{Q}$ (you may assume additional number theoretic properties of $\alpha$, say $\alpha = \sqrt{2}$ is already ...
6
votes
0
answers
342
views
$C^{1+\epsilon}$ conjugacy of expanding map on circle
A continuously differentiable map $f:S^{1}\rightarrow S^{1}$ is called expanding if $|f^{'}(x)|>1$ for all $x\in S^{1}$.
We can define the degree of f, def(f) to be number of preimage $f^{-1}(x)$, ...
6
votes
0
answers
206
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Counting lattice points in adelic spaces
Let $\mathbb{A}$ denote the ring of adeles of $\mathbb{Q}$, let $\mu$ be the Haar measure of $\mathbb{A}$, and let $\|\cdot\|_{\infty}$ denote the sup-norm of the components in the Archimedean ...
6
votes
0
answers
606
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Ergodicity and dense orbits
Consider a compact separable Hausdorff space $X$ endowed with a finite
Radon measure $\mu$ of full support and a continuous measure-preserving
ergodic transformation $T$. Is there a dense orbit for ...
6
votes
0
answers
236
views
Completeness of the space of measures under $d$-bar metric
Does anybody know the reference to a proof of the following fact (which is not hard to prove, but seems to be well-known, see here): The space of shift-invariant measures under Ornstein's d-bar metric ...
6
votes
0
answers
239
views
Cartesian square root of a measure preserving action
Let $G \curvearrowright (X,\nu)$ be probability measure preserving action of a countable discrete group. When does there exist a probability measure preserving action $G \curvearrowright (Y,\mu)$ such ...
6
votes
0
answers
383
views
When is a word metric on a CAT(-1) group a bounded distance from the orbit map of an isometric action on some CAT(-k) metric space?
Let $\Gamma$ be a group admitting a discrete and cocompact action on a CAT(-1) space.
Let $d$ a word metric on $\Gamma$ coming from some finite set of generators.
My question is:
Does there exist a ...
6
votes
0
answers
482
views
Faithful and weakly-mixing representations of Property (T) groups in relation to left regular rep
Is it known that: Any countable Property (T) group (or more generally, a non-amenable group) has a faithful, weakly-mixing representation which is NOT weakly included in its left regular ...
6
votes
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320
views
Measure theoretic entropy
I don't know if this is an elementary question or not. In what follows all maps are continuous
Suppose that $P:\mathbb{C}\rightarrow\mathbb{C}$ is a complex polynomial of degree $d>1$ and let $\mu$...
6
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0
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379
views
Do ergodic isometries have discrete spectrum?
Let $X$ be a metric space, $\mu$ a Borel probability measure, and
$T:X\rightarrow X$ be an ergodic measure preserving isometry.
Is $(X,\mu,T)$ measure theoretically isomorphic to a minimal isometry ...
6
votes
0
answers
296
views
Generating stationary, ergodic random fields on a homogeneous space
Consider a homogeneous space $M$, which for the sake of concreteness, let's take to be $M = \mathbb R^d$. Fix some space $A$, and consider the space of functions $X = C(M,A)$, along with its Borel $\...
6
votes
0
answers
351
views
"topological" conjugacy of group automorphisms
In the paper "Orbit Equivalence and Topological Conjugacy of Affine
Actions on Compact Abelian Groups", S. Bhattacharya shows (Theorem 3) the following:
Theorem. Given two actions $\alpha$ and $\...
6
votes
0
answers
1k
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Reference request: natural extensions of topological dynamical systems
I am currently writing a paper in which I need to use the following fact: if $T \colon X \to X$ is a uniquely ergodic transformation of a compact metric space, and $\mathcal{A}$ is a continuous ...
6
votes
0
answers
285
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Central extensions of automorphisms of Bruhat-Tits trees
This is the first time I am using Mathoverflow and I am still learning how to use it.
That is why I want to begin with a curious question:
Does the group of automorphisms of a Bruhat-Tits tree have ...
6
votes
1
answer
276
views
Sequence of digits of powers of two
Elementary number theory tells us a lot about the final digits of the powers of two, and ergodic theory (more specifically the theory of equidistribution of points in the orbit of an irrational ...
5
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0
answers
164
views
Counterexamples to the Ahlfors measure conjecture in higher dimensions
Let $\Gamma<SO(3,1)$ be a finitely generated, discrete group of isometries of $\mathbb H^3$. By work of Agol, Calegari, Canary, and Gabai, the limit set of $\Gamma$ is either the entire sphere $S^2\...
5
votes
0
answers
86
views
Lower bound for nonconventional ergodic averages in finite fields
Let $p$ be a sufficiently large prime number and $f\colon\mathbb{F}_{p}\to\mathbb{R}_{\geq 0}$ be a function bounded by 1 such that the average of $f$ over the finite field $\mathbb{F}_{p}$ is at ...
5
votes
1
answer
376
views
Positiveness of the largest Lyapunov exponent
Let $\alpha\in \mathbb{R} / \mathbb{Q}$, let $A(x)$ be the $2$-by-$2$ matrix
$$
A(x)=\begin{pmatrix}
\dfrac{1}{{\lambda}^2}-2 \cos 2\pi x -1& 2\lambda \cos 2\pi x-\dfrac{1}{{\lambda}} \\
\dfrac{...
5
votes
0
answers
148
views
Are there examples of hyperbolic manifolds with finite Bowen-Margulis measure and fundamental group which is not relatively hyperbolic?
It is well known that a geometrically finite hyperbolic manifold (quotient of $H^n$) has finite Bowen-Margulis measure.
Marc Peigné [1] constructed examples of geometrically infinite hyperbolic ...
5
votes
0
answers
154
views
Pocket billiards with balls in general position
There were at least two earlier MO questions about ideal pocket billiards.
(Ideal: frictionless, perfectly elastic collisions.)
Perfectly centered break of a perfectly aligned pool ball rack.
Does ...
5
votes
0
answers
171
views
Central limit theorem versus entropy in dynamical systems context
A dynamical system $(S^1,T, \mu)$, $T_* \mu=\mu$, $T$ ergodic, $S^1$ is circle. Assume it has central limit theorem.
Want to know the relation between its measure-theoretic entropy $h_{\mu}(T)$ and ...
5
votes
0
answers
829
views
Increasing sequences in polynomial progressions modulo p
In a random permutation on $n$ elements one expects the largest increasing and decreasing sequences to have size $(2+o(1))\sqrt{n}$. Is it known if this same property holds in sequences given by ...
5
votes
0
answers
138
views
Law of Large Numbers for the Tasep from a Bernoulli Configuration (Rost's Theorem)
Let $(\eta_{t}^{\rho})_{t\geq 0}$ be a totally asymmetric simple exclusion process (TASEP) from an initial configuration distributed according to the Bernoulli measure $\nu_{\rho}$ on $\{0,1\}^{\...
5
votes
0
answers
80
views
What statistical data/quantities are known about the time spent by a generic orbit of an ergodic system in a fixed set?
By the ergodic theorem, we know that for almost every point, the average time spent by an orbit in a set is equal to the relative measure of that set.
What other information about that time can we ...
5
votes
0
answers
240
views
Paths in Pascal's triangle; or balanced $0-1$ initial segments
Here is a problem arising (via a tortuous path) from trying to determine the spectrum of Vershik's adic map on Pascal's triangle (a moderately well-known question: is the spectrum trivial, that is, is ...
5
votes
0
answers
255
views
Equidistribution of spheres in $\mathbb{R^2}/\mathbb{Z^2}$
Let $\mathbb{H^2}$ be the hyperbolic upper half place, and let $\Gamma$ be a lattice in $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$ acting on $\mathbb{H^2}$. A proof of the equidistribution of spheres on $\mathbb{H^2/\Gamma}$ ...
5
votes
0
answers
419
views
Koopman representation, weakly compact action, Ozawa Popa
Given a weakly compact action (Ozawa-Popa) of a discrete group $\Gamma$ on p.m space $X$, consider the Koopman representation $\pi$ on $L^2(X)$. Compose this representation with the Calkin projection. ...
5
votes
0
answers
194
views
Characterizations of an exotic measure on the open sets in the circle $S^{1}$
Suppose that $U\subseteq S^{1}$ is open where $S^{1}=\{z\in\mathbb{Z}:|z|=1\}$. Then define $\mu_{n}(U)=\max_{t\in S^{1}}\frac{1}{n}\cdot|\{k\in\{1,...,n\}|t\cdot e^{\frac{2\pi ik}{n}}\in U\}|$. ...
5
votes
0
answers
235
views
Is Akcoglu's theorem for power bounded positive operators still an open problem?
I am reading Ulrich Krengel's book, Ergodic Theorems; the theorem of Akcoglu's he mentions of is on page 189, theorem 2.5.
" If $T$ is a positive contraction in a space $L_p$ with $1<p<\infty$, ...
5
votes
0
answers
141
views
Growth in families of trees
I'm hoping that the question below is simple thermodynamic formalism, but I can't quite make it work. Any help would be very welcome.
Let $\Sigma:=\{0,1\}^{\mathbb N}$ and let $\Sigma^*$ be the set ...
5
votes
0
answers
223
views
Using topological pressure to determine a subshift of finite type
I am interested in recognising graphs (or matrices, or subshifts of finite type) using topological pressure. Suppose that we play the following game:
${\bf Step 1:}$ I write down an irreducible n x n ...
5
votes
0
answers
201
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Reference for and Properties of the $\alpha$-entropy
Let $T \colon X \to X$ be a continuous map on, say, a compact metric space $X$. Let $\mu$ be an invariant borel measure. Under suitable conditions, a result of Brin and Katok states that $\mu$-almost ...