Dynamical properties of distal function spaces and fixed point theorems (Q800502)

The study of distal functions on topological groups was done by \textit{L. Auslander} and \textit{F. Hahn} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 106, 415-426 (1963; Zbl 0118.389)] and by \textit{A. W. Knapp} [ibid. 128, 1-40 (1967; Zbl 0154.337)], and on semitopological semigroups by \textit{H. D. Junghenn} [ibid. 274, 379-397 (1982; Zbl 0514.22003)]. The study by Knapp and others involves the notion of distal flows while Junghenn's approach to the distal functions is through right topological semigroup compactifications. In this paper, we make use of these two notions and the notion of quasidistal flows which we introduce, to prove some dynamical properties of distal and strongly distal function spaces on semitopological semigroups. Knapp's work also involves the concept of relative almost periodicity which he introduces and applies to investigate almost periodicity which he introduces and applies to investigate distal functions on topological groups. Junghenn and the author have used this notion of relative almost periodicity to describe the structure of some right topological group compactifications of a semitopological semigroup S in terms of descending chain of group compactifications which enjoy certain joint continuity properties. We study this algebra RAP(B) of (relative) almost periodic functions over an algebra B and prove the universal mapping property of the RAP(B)-compactification of S. Also, relating the existence of left invariant means on the function spaces D(S) (distal functions) and RAP(B) to the existence of fixed points of affine flows, we prove the related fixed point theorems.