Further properties of the scale function on a totally disconnected group (Q5936943)

For each locally compact totally disconnected group \(G\), on has the scale function \(s:G\to]0,\infty[\) which is multiplicative on each one-generator subsemigroup of \(G\), attains the value \(1\) only at elements that normalize some compact open subgroup, and is connected with the modular function \(\Delta\) of \(G\) by the equation \(\Delta(x)=s(x)/s(x^{-1})\). The scale function was introduced in [\textit{G. Willis}, Math. Ann. 300, 341--363 (1994; Zbl 0811.22004)], and has already proved to be useful in the theory of totally disconnected groups; e.g., see [\textit{G. A. Willis}, Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 51, 489--494 (1995; Zbl 0832.22005)]. The present paper gives a new characterization of the scale function as the minimum value \(s(x)\) attained by the index \([xUx^{-1}:xUx^{-1}\cap U]\) for compact open subgroups~\(U\). This is used to describe the behavior with respect to the passing to subgroups, quotient groups, direct and inverse limits. The results on subgroups extend those in [\textit{E. Herman}: Totally disconnected locally compact topological groups, Ph.\ D.\ thesis, University of Oregon, 1997]. Illuminating examples are given to indicate that the results are best possible.