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Let $G$ be an abelian group with a $G$-invariant metric $d$. Let $H$ be a countable dense subgroup of $G$. Let $\mu$ be a non-atomic $\sigma$-finite Borel measure on $G$ that is $H$-invariant. Must it be $G$-invariant?

EDIT: Sorry, this was not stated correctly. I have corrected the question (added the word "non-atomic"). As stated in the answer, this is not true for $\mu$ to be any measure for you can just place an atom on every element of $H$. I'm curious if there are any non-locally finite (and non-atomic) examples.

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    $\begingroup$ It's not true, let $\mu$ be counting measure on $H$. However, if $\mu$ is a finite measure then it should be true. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 8, 2021 at 1:34
  • $\begingroup$ @NateEldredge How does that work for a dense cyclic subgroup of the circle? I don't see why the counting measure on that subgroup extends to a sigma-finite measure on the Borel sigma-algebra of the circle $\endgroup$
    – Yemon Choi
    Commented Jan 8, 2021 at 2:52
  • $\begingroup$ Do you require $\mu$ to be positive or can it be a signed measure? Also, is the locally compact abelian case good enough for you, or are your interested in more general metric abelian groups? $\endgroup$
    – Yemon Choi
    Commented Jan 8, 2021 at 2:53
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    $\begingroup$ Maybe the measure was supposed to be Radon? $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 8, 2021 at 4:10
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    $\begingroup$ If the group $G$ is locally compact and the measure is Radon, then the claim is true as the measure is determined by its integrals of compactly supported continuous functions. $\endgroup$
    – user130903
    Commented Jan 8, 2021 at 6:19

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It's not true as stated. You can take $\mu$ to be counting measure on $H$, i.e. $\mu(A) = \#(A \cap H)$. This is trivially $H$-invariant and $\sigma$-finite (the countably many points of $H$ each have finite measure, and the rest of $G$ has measure zero), but it is not $G$-invariant.

For a non-atomic example, take for instance $G = \mathbb{R}^2$, $H = \mathbb{Q}^2$, and $\mu$ the product of Lebesgue measure on $\mathbb{R}$ with counting measure on $\mathbb{Q}$, i.e. $\int f\,d\mu = \sum_{q \in \mathbb{Q}} \int_{\mathbb{R}} f(x, q)\,dx$.

However, if you suppose $\mu$ is Radon, then it's true. Let $g \in G$ be arbitrary and let $K \subset G$ be an arbitrary compact set. Let $\epsilon > 0$, and let $h_n$ be a sequence in $H$ which converges to $g$. Since $\mu$ is Radon we can find an open set $U \supset K$ such that $\mu(U) \le \mu(K) + \epsilon$. Then for sufficiently large $n$, we have $K + (g - h_n) \subset U$ as well. (If not, then passing to a subsequence we can find for each $n$ some $x_n \in K$ for which $x_n + g - h_n \notin U$. By compactness, passing to a further subsequence, $x_n$ converges to some $x \in K$. Then $x_n + g - h_n \to x$ which is absurd because $x \in K \subset U$.)

Thus $$\mu(K+g) = \mu(K+(g-h_n)) \le \mu(U) \le \mu(K) + \epsilon.$$ Since $\epsilon$ was arbitrary we have $\mu(K+g) \le \mu(K)$, and the reverse inequality follows by symmetry. Using again the fact that $\mu$ is Radon, every Borel set can be approximated in measure from within by compact sets, and so this suffices to conclude that $\mu$ is $G$-invariant.

I think this is true, with much the same proof, for any topological group $G$ (not necessarily abelian or metrizable or locally compact) and any dense subgroup $H$ (not necessarily countable). If $G$ is not abelian then it says that if $\mu$ is invariant under left (respectively, right) multiplication by $H$, then $\mu$ is left (right) invariant. If $G$ should fail to be first countable you can replace the sequence $h_n$ in the above argument with a net.

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  • $\begingroup$ Argument for $K + (g - h_n) \subseteq U$ for people who like to cover their compact sets rather than pass to subnets: cover $K$ by open sets $U_x \subseteq U$ about each point $x \in K$, use continuity to shrink to $x \in V_x \subseteq U_x$ with $V_x + V_x - x \subseteq U_x$, pass to a finite sub-cover $(V_{x_i})_{i = 1}^n$, and put $V = \bigcap_{i = 1}^n (V_{x_i} - x_i)$. Then $K + V \subseteq \bigcup_{i = 1}^n V_{x_i} + V_{x_i} - x_i \subseteq \bigcup_{i = 1}^n U_{x_i} \subseteq U$. $\endgroup$
    – LSpice
    Commented Jan 8, 2021 at 18:10

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