Factorizable subgroups of the circle group (Q2105044)

For a sequence of integers \(\textbf{u}=(u_n)_{n\in\mathbb{N}}\) let \(t_{\textbf{u}}(\mathbb{T})=\{x\in\mathbb{T}: (u_nx)_{n\in\mathbb{N}}\to 0\}\) be the set of all topologically \(\textbf{u}\)-torsion elements of torus circle group \(\mathbb{T}\). A subgroup \(H\) of \(\mathbb{T}\) is \textit{characterized} if \(H=t_{\textbf{u}}(\mathbb{T})\) for some sequence \(\textbf{u}\subseteq \mathbb{Z}\). If in addition \(\textbf{u}\) is strictly increasing, \(u_1=1\) and \(u_n|u_{n+1}\) the subgroup \(H\) is called a \(a\)-\textit{characterized} subgroup. These groups appeared in the study of trigonometric series in harmonic analysis, as well as in Diophatine approximation, dynamical systems and ergodic theory. A subgroup \(H\) of \(\mathbb{T}\) is (\(a\)-)\textit{factorizable} if \(H=t_{\textbf{v}}(\mathbb{T})+t_{\textbf{w}}(\mathbb{T})\), where \(t_{\textbf{v}}(\mathbb{T})\) and \(t_{\textbf{w}}(\mathbb{T})\) are proper (\(a\)-)characterized groups of \(H\). The aim of this paper is to resolve the following open problem: \textit{When is a given \(a\)-characterized subgroup of \(\mathbb{T}\) \(a\)-factorizable?} It is proved that for a \(a\)-characterized subgroup \(H\) of \(\mathbb{T}\), \(H\) is factorizable if and only if \(H\) is \(a\)-factorizable if and only if \(H\) is non-cocyclic. (A non-trivial abelian group is \textit{cocyclic} if it is isomorphic to \(\mathbb{Z}(p^k)\) for some prime \(p\) and some \(k\in\mathbb{N}\cup \{\infty\}\)). This paper is dedicated to the memory of Kenneth Kunen.