Doeblin measures: uniqueness and mixing properties

Abstract

In this paper we solve two open problems in ergodic theory. We prove first that if a Doeblin function $g$ (a $g$-function) satisfies \[\limsup_{n\to\infty}\frac{\mbox{var}_n \log g}{n^{-1/2}} < 2,\] then we have a unique Doeblin measure ($g$-measure). This result indicates a possible phase transition in analogy with the long-range Ising model. Secondly, we provide an example of a Doeblin function with a unique Doeblin measure that is not weakly mixing, which implies that the sequence of iterates of the transfer operator does not converge, solving a well-known folklore problem in ergodic theory. Previously it was only known that uniqueness does not imply the Bernoulli property.