Commensurated subgroups in tree almost automorphism groups (Q1733158)

Summary: We prove that the almost automorphism groups \(\operatorname{AAut}(\mathcal T_{d,k})\) admit exactly three commensurability classes of closed commensurated subgroups. Our proof utilizes an independently interesting characterization of subgroups of \(\operatorname{AAut}(\mathcal T_{d,k})\) which contain only periodic elements in terms of the dynamics of the action on the boundary of the tree. Our results further cover several interesting finitely generated subgroups of the almost automorphism groups, including the Thompson groups \(F, T\), and \(V\). We show in particular that Thompson's group \(T\) has no commensurated subgroups other than the finite subgroups and the entire group. As a consequence, we derive several rigidity results for the possible embeddings of these groups into locally compact groups.