Smooth zero-entropy diffeomorphisms with ergodic derivative extension (Q2179696)

The main result of the paper states the following. Let \(M\) be a smooth compact connected 2-dimensional manifold and \(\{S_t\}_{t\in\mathbb{R}}\) be a non-trivial circle action on \(M\), i.e., \(S_{t+1}=S_t\) preserves a smooth volume \(\mu\). Then there exists a volume-preserving diffeomorphism \(f\) in \[ \overline{\{h\circ S_t\circ h^{-1}:\ t\in\mathbb{S}^1,h\in\mathrm{Diff}^\infty(M,\mu)\}}^{C^\infty} \] whose projectivized derivative extension \({(f,df)}\) is ergodic with respect to a measure in the projectivization of the tangent bundle which is absolutely continuous in the fibers. The proof is based on the ``approximation by conjugation'' method [\textit{D. V. Anosov} and \textit{A. Katok} Trans. Mosc. Math. Soc. 23(1970), 1--35 (1972; Zbl 0255.58007); \textit{B. Fayad} and \textit{A. Katok} Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 24, No. 5, 1477--1520 (2004; Zbl 1089.37012)] and it uses also some constructions due to the author and \textit{R. Gunesch} [Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst. 38, No. 4, 1615--1655 (2018; Zbl 1394.37041)].