Ultrafilters and topologies on groups (Q5906590)

By a theorem of Hindman, given any finite partition \(\mathbb{N} = A_1 \cup \dots \cup A_m\) of integers, one can find \(i \leq m\) and an infinite subset \(A\) of \(\mathbb{N}\) all finite sums of distinct elements of which lie in \(A_i\). This theorem has a topological-algebraic nature and can be deduced from the fact that a compact space with a semigroup operation continuous in one of the arguments contains an idempotent. The aim of the paper is to modify and develop the technique of number combinatorics for the study of topological groups and their partitions. To each topological group \((G, \tau)\) there corresponds the family \(\overline {\tau}\) of all ultrafilters on \(G\) converging to the identity in the topology \(\tau\). The family \(\overline {\tau}\) endowed with the Čech-Stone topology and the operation of ultrafilter multiplication defined by Glazer turns out a compact topological semigroup. The author studies the properties of the semigroup \(\overline {\tau}\) and then applies this semigroup as a tool for an investigation of the ``ground'' group \((G,\tau)\). For example, it is shown that, given an arbitrary topological group topology \(\tau\) on \(G\), there exists the finest totally bounded (with respect to \(\tau\)) group topology \(\tau'\) on \(G\). The latter means that for any \(\tau\)-open neighborhood \(V\) of the identity in \(G\) one can find a finite set \(K \subset G\) such that \(K \circ V\) is a \(\tau'\)-neighborhood of the identity. The minimal number of ultrafilters generating a given group topology (named ultrarank) is considered and a method of its calculation is given.