\(t\)-sets and some algebraic properties in \(\beta S\) and in \(\ell_\infty(S)^*\) (Q1849728)

Let always \(S\) be a discrete infinite semigroup, called weakly right (left) cancellative [w.r.c.\ resp.\ w.l.c.]\ if \(\forall s,t\in S\colon\{u\in S\mid us=t\;(su=t)\} <\omega\); weakly cancellative [w.c.]\ if both w.r.c.\ and w.l.c. A subset \(V\) of \(S\) is a right (left) \(t\)-set [r.t.\ resp.\ l.t.]\ if \( \forall s,t\in S\colon s\neq t\Rightarrow\) \(sV\cap tV\) (\(Vs\cap Vt\)) is finite; a \(t\)-set if both a r.t.\ and a l.t.; a weak right (left) \(t\)-set [w.r.t.\ resp.\ w.l.t.]\ if \(V=S\) and \(\exists\) transfinite enumeration \((s_\alpha)_{\alpha<S}\) of \(S\): \(s_\alpha V\cap s_\beta V\) (\(Vs _\alpha\cap Vs_ \beta\)) is \(\leq\alpha\) whenever \(\beta<\alpha<S\); a weak \(t\)-set [w.t.]\ if both a w.r.t.\ and w.l.t. Extending a result of Chou, every infinite subset \(A\) of a group contains a \(t\)-set of cardinality \(A\). Adopting a construction of Hindman, Proposition 2.2 asserts that if \(S\) is r.c.\ (l.c.)\ and w.c.\ then every subset of \(S\) of cardinality \(S\) contains a w.r.t.\ (w.l.t.), even with the transfinite enumeration involved given in advance. The truth of this is in doubt. Certainly, the inference \(s_\gamma V \cap s_{\gamma'}V\leq\gamma\) in the proof is false. Let \(S\) be the semigroup having a presentation with generators \(s_\alpha\) (\(\alpha=0,\ldots,5\)) and relations \(s_1s_3=s_2s_5\), \(s_1s_4=s_2s_3\), and \(s_1s_5=s_2a_4\); note that \(S\) is countably infinite and cancellative; extend \((s_0,\ldots,s_5)\) to an enumeration \((s_\alpha)_{\alpha<\omega}\) of \(S\); let \(S_\alpha=\{s_\beta\mid\beta<\alpha\}\) for each \(\alpha< \omega\); let \(A=\{s_\alpha\mid\alpha\geq3\}\); define an injective sequence \((a_\alpha)_{\alpha<\omega}\) of members of \(A\) by the condition that for each \(\alpha<\omega\), \(a_\alpha=s_\beta\) where \(\beta\) is the least ordinal \(\geq3\) such that \(s_\beta\neq a_\gamma\) for all \(\gamma< \alpha\) and \((S_\alpha s_\beta)\cap(S_\alpha a_\gamma)=\emptyset\) whenever \(\gamma<\alpha\); and let \(V=\{a_\alpha\mid\alpha<\omega\}\); the proof claims that \(V\) is a right \(t\)-set, which is false since \(s_2V \cap s_1V\supset\{s_1a_\alpha\mid\alpha<3\}=\{s_2a_\alpha\mid\alpha <3\}\) where the right-hand side has cardinality \(3\), which is greater than \(2\). However, it is true that \(s_\gamma V\cap s_{\gamma'}V\leq \gamma+1\), which is to all intents and purposes the same. Make the Stone-Čech compactification [S.-Č.\ c.]\ \(\beta S\) of \(S\) a right-topological semigroup with left translations by members of \(S\) continuous. For each \(x\in\beta S\) let \(\| x\|\) be the least \(A\) for any subset \(A\) of \(S\) such that \(x\in\bar A\). For each cardinal \(\kappa\) let \(P_\kappa(S)\) (\(U_ \kappa(S)\)) be the set of those \(x\in\beta S\) such that \(\| x\|\) is \( \kappa\) (\(\geq\kappa\)). A short proof, appealing to no prior result, is given of the fact that if \(\kappa\geq\omega\) then if \(S\) is w.l.c.\ then \(P_{\kappa'}(S)P _\kappa(S)\subset P_\kappa(S)\) whenever \(\kappa'\leq\kappa\) (hence the remarkable corollary that \(P_\kappa(S)\), if nonempty, is a subsemigroup of \( \beta S\)) while if \(S\) is w.r.c.\ then \(P_\kappa(S)S\subset P_\kappa(S)\). If \(S\) w.c., \(V\) a r.t.\ or w.r.t., \(x\in\bar V\), and \(\| x\|=V\) then every bounded real-valued function on \(Sx\) extends to a continuous function on \( \overline{Sx}\) [so the S.-Č. c.\ of \(Sx\) can be identified with \(\overline{Sx }\)] (Lemma 3.2). The conclusion implies that \(Sx\) is discrete, but this is gotten much more easily, with only `w.l.c.' instead of `w.c.', in Lemma 3.1. These results and others (including the extension of Lemmas 3.1 and 3.2 to \(Sx_1 \cup Sx_2\) instead of \(Sx\) when \(\| x_1\|=\| x_2\|\)) pave the way for the main results: if \(S\) is w.c., \(V\) a r.t.\ or w.r.t., and \(x\in\bar V\) with \(\| x\|=V\) then \(x\) is right cancellable in \(\beta S\); if \(S\) is a subsemigroup of a group and \(\omega\leq\kappa\leq{}S\) then the set of all members of \(P_\kappa(S)\) that are right cancellable in \(\beta S\) has an interior in \(P_\kappa(S)\) that is dense in \(P_\kappa(S)\); if either \(S\) is left cancellative and \(V\) is a r.t.\ or w.r.t.\ or \(S\) is r.c.\ and w.c.\ and \(V\) as in the proof of Proposition 2.2 then \((\beta S)x_1\cap(\beta S)x_2=\emptyset\) whenever \(x_1\) and \(x_2\) are distinct points in \(\bar V\setminus V\), both of norm \(V\); hence Corollary 1: if \(S\) is cancellative, \(V\) a r.t., \(x_1,x_2\in \bar V\setminus V\), \(x_1\neq x_2\), and \(\| x_1\|=\| x_2\|\) then \(( \beta S)x_1\cap(\beta S)x_2=\emptyset\) (a partial confirmation of a conjecture of Chou); if \(S\) is r.c., w.c., and left amenable then there are \(2^{2^{S}}\) left invariant means on \(l^\infty(S)\) with pairwise disjoint supports of the corresponding inner regular complex Borel measures on \(\beta S\) [the cardinal \(2 ^{2^{S}}\) cannot be improved since it is the cardinality of all of \(l^\infty(S )^*\)]; with the same assumptions on \(S\) except amenability, every nonzero right ideal in \(l^\infty(S)^*\) has dimension \(2^{2^{S}}\); in particular, so does the radical of \(l^\infty(S)^*\) if nonzero; and more. See also \textit{M. Filali} and \textit{J. S. Pym} [Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 35, 128--134 (2003; Zbl 1027.22009)] and references therein.