On analogues of the Tits alternative for groups of homeomorphisms of the circle and the line (Q1810079)

In the paper analogs of the Tits alternative for groups of homeomorphisms of the circle and of the real line are considered. The results of the paper are strengthening Margulis's proof of the Ghys conjecture: either the group \(G\subset\text{Homeo}(S^1)\) of homeomorphisms of the circle possesses a free subgroup with two generators or there is an invariant measure on \(S^1\). The main results of the paper are: 1. Let \(G\) be a subgroup of \(\text{Homeo}(S^1)\). A probability measure invariant with respect to the action of \(G\) exists iff the quotient group \(G/H_G\) does not contain a free subgroup with two generators. (\(H_G\) is a subgroup in \(G\) defined in a canonical way.) An equivalent reformulation: the quotient group \(G/H_G\) of the group \(G\subset \text{Homeo}(S^1)\) either contains a free subgroup with two generators or contains a commutative subgroup of index not greater than two. 2. For a group \(G\subset \text{Homeo}(\mathbb{R})\) with a nonempty minimal set, the quotient group \(G/H_G\) contains either a free subsemigroup or a commutative subgroup of index not greater than two. 3. If a group \(\Gamma\subset \text{Homeo}(\mathbb{R})\) contains a normal subgroup \(G\subset \text{Homeo}(\mathbb{R})\) with invariant measure and containing an element acting freely, then the quotient group \(G/H_G\) either contains a free subgroup with two generators or is a solvable group of length not greater than three.