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Benjamin Weiss

Publications and source records attributed to Benjamin Weiss.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

An ergodic system is dominant exactly when it has positive entropy

An ergodic dynamical system $\mathbf{X}$ is called dominant if it is isomorphic to a generic extension of itself. It was shown in an earlier paper by Glasner, Thouvenot and Weiss that Bernoulli systems with finite entropy are dominant. In this work we show first that every ergodic system with positive entropy is dominant, and then that if $\mathbf{X}$ has zero entropy then it is not dominant.

math.DS

On some generic classes of ergodic measure preserving transformations

We answer positively a question of Ryzhikov, namely we show that being a relatively weakly mixing extension is a comeager property in the Polish group of measure preserving transformations. We study some related classes of ergodic transformations and their interrelations. In the second part of the paper we show that for a fixed ergodic T with property A, a generic extension $\hat{T}$ of T also has the property A. Here A stands for each of the following properties: (i) having the same entropy as T, (ii) Bernoulli, (iii) K, and (iv) loosely Bernoulli.

math.DS

Rank-One Transformations, Odometers, and Finite Factors

In this paper we give explicit characterizations, based on the cutting and spacer parameters, of (a) which rank-one transformations factor onto a given finite cyclic permutation, (b) which rank-one transformations factor onto a given odometer, and (c) which rank-one transformations are isomorphic to a given odometer. These naturally yield characterizations of (d) which rank-one transformations factor onto some (unspecified) finite cyclic permutation, (d') which rank-one transformations are totally ergodic, (e) which rank-one transformations factor onto some (unspecified) odometer, and (f) which rank-one transformations are isomorphic to some (unspecified) odometer.

math.DS

Pure strictly uniform models of non-ergodic measure automorphisms

The classical theorem of Jewett and Krieger gives a strictly ergodic model for any ergodic measure preserving system. An extension of this result for non-ergodic systems was given many years ago by George Hansel. He constructed, for any measure preserving system, a strictly uniform model, i.e. a compact space which admits an upper semicontinuous decomposition into strictly ergodic models of the ergodic components of the measure. In this note we give a new proof of a stronger result by adding the condition of purity, which controls the set of ergodic measures that appear in the strictly uniform model.

math.DS

When all points are generic for ergodic measures

We establish connections between several properties of topological dynamical systems, such as: - every point is generic for an ergodic measure, - the map sending points to the measures they generate is continuous, - the system splits into uniquely (alternatively, strictly) ergodic subsystems, - the map sending ergodic measures to their topological supports is continuous, - the Cesaro means of every continuous function converge uniformly.

math.DS

Rendezvous Mission for Interstellar Objects Using a Solar Sail-based Statite Concept

Using the "statite," or static-satelite, concept -- an artificial satellite capable of hovering in place using a solar sail -- this work proposes to create a dynamic orbital slingshot in anticipation of Interstellar Objects (ISOs) passing through our solar system. The existence of these ISOs offers a unique scientific opportunity to answer fundamental scientific questions about the origin of solar system volatiles, the compositions of exo-solar systems, and the transfer rates of material between solar systems. However, due to their high heliocentric velocities and relatively short lead time, it may be extremely difficult to visit ISOs with current satellite propulsion systems. This work investigates the statite concept as applied to ISO missions and demonstrates potential configurations for optimal ISO flyby and rendezvous missions.

astro-ph.IM

Measure Preserving Diffeomorphisms of the Torus are Unclassifiable

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 isomorphic is a complete analytic set in the $C^\infty$- topology (and hence not Borel).

math.DS

Predictive Sets

A set $P\subset \mathbb N$ is called predictive if for any zero entropy finite-valued stationary process $(X_i)_{i\in \mathbb Z}$, $X_0$ is measurable with respect to $(X_i)_{i\in P}$. We know that $\mathbb N$ is a predictive set. In this paper we give sufficient conditions and necessary ones for a set to be predictive. We also discuss linear predictivity, predictivity among Gaussian processes and relate these to Riesz sets which arise in harmonic analysis.

math.DS

Distal strongly ergodic actions

Let $η$ be an arbitrary countable ordinal. Using results of Bourgain and Gamburd on compact systems with spectral gap we show the existence of an action of the free group on three generators $F_3$ on a compact metric space $X$, admitting an invariant probability measure $μ$, such that the resulting dynamical system $(X, μ, F_3)$ is strongly ergodic and distal of rank $η$. In particular this shows that there is a $F_3$ system which is strongly ergodic but not compact. This result answers the open question whether such actions exist.

math.DS

Odometer Based Systems

Construction sequences are a general method of building symbolic shifts that capture cut-and-stack constructions and are general enough to give symbolic representations of Anosov-Katok diffeomorphisms. We show here that any finite entropy system that has an odometer factor can be represented as a special class of construction sequences, the odometer based construction sequences which correspond to those cut-and-stack constructions that do not use spacers. We also show that any additional property called the "small word condition" can also be satisfied in a uniform way.

math.DS

Bernoulli disjointness

Generalizing a result of Furstenberg, we show that for every infinite discrete group $G$, the Bernoulli flow $2^G$ is disjoint from every minimal $G$-flow. From this, we deduce that the algebra generated by the minimal functions $\mathfrak{A}(G)$ is a proper subalgebra of $\ell^\infty(G)$ and that the enveloping semigroup of the universal minimal flow $M(G)$ is a proper quotient of the universal enveloping semigroup $βG$. When $G$ is countable, we also prove that for any metrizable, minimal $G$-flow, there exists a free, minimal flow disjoint from it and that there exist continuum many mutually disjoint minimal, free, metrizable $G$-flows. Finally, improving a result of Frisch, Tamuz, and Vahidi Ferdowsi and answering a question of theirs, we show that if $G$ is a countable icc group, then it admits a free, minimal, proximal flow.

math.DS

Topological characteristic factors and nilsystems

We prove that the maximal infinite step pro-nilfactor $X_\infty$ of a minimal dynamical system $(X,T)$ is the topological characteristic factor in a certain sense. Namely, we show that by an almost one to one modification of $π:X \rightarrow X_\infty$, the induced open extension $π^*:X^* \rightarrow X^*_\infty$ has the following property: for $x$ in a dense $G_δ$ set of $X^*$, the orbit closure $L_x=\overline{\mathcal{O}}((x,x,\ldots,x), T\times T^2\times \ldots \times T^d)$ is $(π^*)^{(d)}$-saturated, i.e. $L_x=((π^*)^{(d)})^{-1}(π^*)^{(d)}(L_x)$. Using results derived from the above fact, we are able to answer several open questions: (1) if $(X,T^k)$ is minimal for some $k\ge 2$, then for any $d\in {\mathbb N}$ and any $0\le j<k$ there is a sequence $\{n_i\}$ of $\mathbb Z$ with $n_i\equiv j\ (\text{mod}\ k)$ such that $T^{n_i}x\rightarrow x, T^{2n_i}x\rightarrow x, \ldots, T^{dn_i}x\rightarrow x$ for $x$ in a dense $G_δ$ subset of $X$; (2) if $(X,T)$ is totally minimal, then $\{T^{n^2}x:n\in {\mathbb Z}\}$ is dense in $X$ for $x$ in a dense $G_δ$ subset of $X$; (3) for any $d\in\mathbb N$ and any minimal system, which is an open extension of its maximal distal factor, ${\bf RP}^{[d]}={\bf AP}^{[d]}$, where the latter is the regionally proximal relation of order $d$ along arithmetic progressions.

math.DS

Multi-episodic Perceived Quality of an Audio-on-Demand Service

QoE is traditionally evaluated by using short stimuli usually representing parts or single usage episodes. This opens the question on how the overall service perception involving multiple} usage episodes can be evaluated---a question of high practical relevance to service operators. Despite initial research on this challenging aspect of multi-episodic perceived quality, the question of the underlying quality formation processes and its factors are still to be discovered. We present a multi-episodic experiment of an Audio on Demand service over a usage period of 6~days with 93 participants. Our work directly extends prior work investigating the impact of time between usage episodes. The results show similar effects---also the recency effect is not statistically significant. In addition, we extend prediction of multi-episodic judgments by accounting for the observed saturation.

cs.HC

On the disjointness property of groups and a conjecture of Furstenberg

In his seminal 1967 paper "Disjointness in ergodic theory, minimal sets, and a problem in Diophantine approximation" Furstenberg introduced the notion of disjointness of dynamical systems, both topological and measure preserving. In this paper he showed that for actions of the integers the Bernoulli system $Ω= \{0, 1\}^\mathbb{Z}$, is disjoint from every minimal system, and that the subring $R_0$, over the field $\mathbb{Z}_2 =\{0, 1\}$, generated by the minimal functions in $Ω$, is a proper subset of $Ω$. He conjectured that a similar result holds in general and in our 1983 work "Interpolation sets for subalgebras of $l^\infty(\mathbb{Z})$" we confirmed this by showing that the closed subalgebra $\mathfrak{A}$ of $l^\infty(\mathbb{Z})$, generated by the minimal functions, is a proper subalgebra of $l^\infty(\mathbb{Z})$. In this work we generalize these results to a large class of groups. We call a countable group $G$ a DJ group if for every metrizable minimal action of $G$ there exists an essentially free minimal action disjoint from it. We show that amenable groups are DJ and that the DJ property is preserved under direct products. We define a simple dynamical condition DDJ on minimal systems, which is a strengthening of the Gottchalk-Hedlund property, and we say that a group $G$ is DDJ if every minimal $G$-system has this property. The DJ property implies DDJ and by means of an intricate construction we show that every finitely generated DDJ group is also DJ. Residually finite, maximally almost periodic and $C^*$-simple groups are all DDJ. Finally we show that Furstenberg's conjecture holds for every DDJ group.

math.DS

On the bounded cohomology of ergodic group actions

In this note we show existence of bounded, transitive cocycles over a transitive action of a finitely generated group, and bounded, ergodic cocycles over an ergodic, probability preserving action of $\Bbb Z^d$.

math.DS

On weak rigidity and weakly mixing enveloping semigroups

The question we deal with here, which was presented to us by Joe Auslander and Anima Nagar, is whether there is a nontrivial cascade (X,T) whose enveloping semigroup, as a dynamical system, is topologically weakly mixing (WM). After an introductory section recalling some definitions and classic results, we establish some necessary conditions for this to happen, and in the final section we show, using Ratner's theory, that the enveloping semigroup of the `time one map' of a classical horocycle flow is weakly mixing.

math.DS

Relative weak mixing is generic

A classical result of Halmos asserts that among measure preserving transformations the weak mixing property is generic. We extend Halmos' result to the collection of ergodic extensions of a fixed, but arbitrary, ergodic transformation $T_0$. We then use a result of Connes, Feldman and Weiss to extend this relative theorem to the general (countable) amenable group.

math.DS