A canonical structure theorem for finite joining-rank maps (Q1177193)

This is a continuation of the important article by the first author [J. Anal. Math. 51, 182-227 (1988; Zbl 0665.28010)]where a new isomorphism invariant of ergodic maps called joining-rank was introduced and studied. One of the most important result proved therein states that if \(jr(T)<\infty\) then \(T\) is a finite extension of a power of a prime transformation with trivial commutant. Now the authors sharpen this structure theorem showing that such \(T\) is in fact an \(e\)-point extension of the \(p\)-th power of a map \(S\) with minimal self-joinings and \(jr(T)=e\cdot p\); moreover, the extension is canonical and the triple \((e,p,S)\) is uniquely determined. Since the rank of any finite-rank mixing map dominates its joining-rank this theorem serves a lot of examples of maps with minimal self-joinings. Another consequence of the structure theorem is that any partial mixing rank-1 map has minimal self- joinings which gives a partial answer to a problem posed by \textit{N. Friedman, P. Gabriel} and the first author [Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 8, No. 1, 53-72 (1988; Zbl 0621.28011)]. Also some aspects of weak-mixing transformations are discussed.