Automorphisms and Equivalence Relations in Topological Dynamics

Focusing on the role that automorphisms and equivalence relations play in the algebraic theory of minimal sets provides an original treatment of some key aspects of abstract topological dynamics. Such an approach is presented in this lucid and self-contained book, leading to simpler proofs of classical results, as well as providing motivation for further study. Minimal flows on compact Hausdorff spaces are studied as icers on the universal minimal flow M. The group of the icer representing a minimal flow is defined as a subgroup of the automorphism group G of M, and icers are constructed explicitly as relative products using subgroups of G. Many classical results are then obtained by examining the structure of the icers on M, including a proof of the Furstenberg structure theorem for distal extensions. This book is designed as both a guide for graduate students, and a source of interesting new ideas for researchers.Part I. Universal Constructions: 1. The Stone-Cech compactification betaT; Appendix to Chapter 1. Ultrafilters and the construction of betaT; 2. Flows and their enveloping semigroups; 3. Minimal sets and minimal right ideals; 4. Fundamental notions; 5. Quasi-factors and the circle operator; Appendix to Chapter 5. The Vietoris topology on 2^X; Part II. Equivalence Relations and Automorphisms: 6. Quotient spaces and relative products; 7. Icers on M and automorphisms of M; 8. Regular flows; 9. The quasi-relative product; Part III. The tau-Topology: 10. The tau-topology on Aut(X); 11. The derived group; 12. Quasi-factors and the tau-topology; Part IV. Subgroups of G and the Dynamics of Minimal Flows: 13. The proximal relation and the group P; 14. Distal flows and the group D; 15. Equicontinuous flows and the group E; Appendix to Chapter 15. Equicontinuity and the enveloping semigroup; 16. The regionally proximal relation; Part V. Extensions of Minimal Flows: 17. Open and highly proximal extensions; Appendix. Extremely disconnected flows; 18. Distal extensions of minimal flows; 19. Almost periodic extensions; 20. A tale of four theorems.