Counting maximal topologies on countable groups and rings (Q2378298)

Two topologies \(\mathcal{T}_1\) and \(\mathcal{T}_2\) on a group or a ring are called transversal if the least upper bound \(\mathcal{T}_1\vee\mathcal{T}_2\) of \(\mathcal{T}_1\) and \(\mathcal{T}_2\) is the discrete topology. The authors prove the following three theorems: (i) if a countable group admits a non-discrete group topology then there exist \(2^{\mathfrak{c}}\) pairwise transversal complete group topologies on \(G\); (ii) for every infinite abelian group \(G\), there exist \(2^{2^{| G|}}\) pairwise transversal complete group topologies on \(G\); (iii) for every countable ring \(R\), there exist \(2^{\mathfrak{c}}\) pairwise transversal complete ring topologies on \(R\). In particular, every countable group admitting a non-discrete group topology admits \(2^{\mathfrak{c}}\) distinct maximal topologies (every infinite abelian group \(G\) admits \(2^{2^{| G|}}\) distinct maximal topologies). The authors use the technique of \(T\)-sequences in groups and rings [\textit{I. Protasov} and \textit{E. Zelenyuk}, Topologies on groups determined by sequences. Mathematical Studies Monograph Series. 4. Lviv: VNTL Publishers. 111 p. (1999; Zbl 0977.54029)].