Representation of zero-sum invariants by sets of zero-sum sequences over a finite abelian group. II (Q2167520)

Let \((G,+)\) be a finite abelian group with identity element \(0\). Denote by \(\mathcal{F}(G)\) the set of finite sequences over \(G\). For a sequence \(T\in\mathcal{F}(G)\) and an element \(g\in G\) denote by \(v_g(T)\) the multiplicity of \(g\) in \(T\). From 1960 onwards, works on the existence of sequences or subsequences with sum zero were done and some related parameters (or ``constants'') were defined: the Davenport constant, the Erdős-Ginzburg-Ziv constant, or parameters suggested by Olson and more recently by Girard. \textit{W. Gao} et al. [Int. J. Number Theory 14, No. 3, 705--711 (2018; Zbl 1415.11045)] invented a different approach to this type of problems by introducing new concepts whose special cases are the classical parameters. In the two papers under review (Part I, Part II), the authors go further to the study of invariants introduced in [loc. cit.]. Here is a short overview of the main results. Part I. -- Denote by \(\mathcal{B}(G)\) the subset of \(\mathcal{F}(G)\) formed by the zero-sum sequences \(T\in\mathcal{F}(G)\). For \(\Omega\subseteq\mathcal{B}(G)\), let \(d_{\Omega}(G)\) be the smallest integer \(t\) such that every sequence \(S\in\mathcal{F}(G)\) of length \(|S|\geq t\) has a subsequence in \(\Omega\). Let \(q'(G)\) be the smallest integer \(t\) such that every sequence \(S\in\mathcal{F}(G)\) of length \(|S|\geq t\) has two nonempty zero-sum subsequences \(T_1\) and \(T_2\) having different forms, that is \(v_g(T_1)\neq v_g(T_2)\) for at least one \(g\in G\). Let \(q(G)\) be the smallest integer \(t\) such that \[ \bigcap_{d_\Omega(G)=t}\Omega =\emptyset. \] The invariants \(d_{\Omega}(G)\), \(q'(G)\) and \(q(G)\) were introduced in [loc. cit.]. Here further properties of these invariants are proved. One of them is that \(q'(G)=q(G)\). Part II. -- A sequence \(S\in\mathcal{F}(G)\) is called \textit{week-regular} if, for every \(g\in G\), \(v_g(S)\leq\mathrm{ord}(g)\). Let \(N(G)\) denote the smallest integer \(t\) such that every weak-regular sequence \(S\in\mathcal{F}(G)\) of length \(|S|\geq t\) has a nontrivial zero-sum subsequence \(T\) satisfying \(v_g(T)=v_g(S)>0\) for at least one \(g\) appearing in \(S\). In Part II, among other results, the authors determine the value of \(N(G)\) for cyclic groups of prime power order and for elementary abelian groups of rank two.