Shifts on compact and discrete Lie groups: Algebraic-topological invariants and classification problems (Q1369694)

The author studies group shifts on Lie groups, in particular on compact Lie groups and finitely generated abelian groups. Certain notions of controllability -- a concept first introduced in [\textit{J. C. Willems}, Automatica 22, 561-580 (1986; Zbl 0604.62090)] -- are investigated. These notions are stronger than the classical ones of topological transitivity, resp., topological mixing. It turns out that for compact Lie groups they coincide. This allows the author to introduce a new concept of limit dimension for group shifts on compact Lie groups which is invariant under algebraic conjugacy and a priori bounded by \(\dim G\), hence always finite. This is in contrast to the topological entropy. The relation between entropy and limit dimension is completely clarified. The classification of controllable shifts on compact abelian groups is stated as a major open problem. One of the main problems is to decide when a group shift is equivalent to a full group shift. Conjectures are formulated and partial results presented. Using an extension of Pontryagin duality the author finally derives from his results for compact abelian Lie groups analogues for finitely generated abelian groups.