The essential range of a nonabelian cocycle is not a cohomology invariant (Q1976607)

Let \((\Omega, {\mathcal F},P)\) be a non-atomic probability space, and let \(\Theta\) be an invertible ergodic measure preserving transformation of \(\Omega\). Let \(G\) be a locally compact topological group, e.g. \(G=GL(d)\), and \(A\) a measurable map of \(\Omega\) into \(G\). Define a \(G\)-cocycle (also called \(G\)-map) by \(\Phi(n, \omega)=I\) for \(n=0\), \(\Theta(n, \omega)= A(\Theta^{n-1} \omega)\cdots A(\omega)\) for \(n>0\), and \(\theta (n, \omega)= A^{-1} (\Theta^n \omega) \cdots A^{-1} (\Theta^{-1} \omega)\) for \(n<0\). Two \(G\)-cocycles \(A\) and \(B\) are called \(G\)-cohomologous if there exists a \(G\)-map \(C\) such that \(B(\omega)= C(\Theta\omega)^{-1} \circ A(\omega)\circ C( \omega)\) for e.g. \(\omega\). (Write \(A\sim B.)\) The essential range \(\overline {\mathcal E}(A)\) of \(A\) in the 1-point-compactification \(\overline G\) of \(G\) consists of those \(\overline M\in \overline G\) such that for any neighborhood \(N(M)\) of \(M\) and any \(E\) with \(P(E)>0\) there exists \(\omega\in E\) and \(n\in\mathbb{Z}\) such that \(\Theta^n \omega\in E\) and \(\Phi_A(n, \omega) \in N(M)\). The authors settle a problem posed by \textit{J. Feldman} and \textit{C. C. Moore} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 234, 289-324, 325-359 (1977; Zbl 0369.22009, Zbl 0369.22010)] whether the conjugacy class of \(\overline{\mathcal E}(A)\) is a cohomology invariant in the nonabelian case to the negative. \(\overline{\mathcal E} (A)\) in general differs from the essential range of an induced cocycle.