On almost 1-1 extensions (Q1122679)

Let \((X,\tau)\) be a nonperiodic minimal dynamical system. The authors' main result can be stated as follows: Given an arbitrary topologically transitive extension \((Y,\tau')\) of (X,\(\tau)\) with Y compact metric, there is a minimal almost 1-1 extension \((\bar Y,{\bar\tau})\) of \((X,\tau)\) whose measure theoretic structure is as rich as that of \((Y,\tau').\) Corollaries to this are: 1) Any homomorphism between two ergodic measure preserving dynamical systems has a minimal model (uses the Jewett-Krieger theorem). 2) The measure theoretic character of an almost automorphic system (i.e. of a minimal almost 1-1 extension of an equicontinuous group action) is completely arbitrary.