Rigid topologies on groups (Q7018053)

Let \( G \) be an infinite countable group. The authors address the existence of Hausdorff group topologies on \( G \) which are neither discrete nor precompact, a classical problem in topological group theory with connections to dynamics, residual finiteness and representability of groups by homeomorphisms.\N\NIn Section~1, the authors focus on the class of countable amenable maximally almost periodic (maxAP) groups. They construct compact metric \( G \)-systems that are both faithful and rigid, i.e., for which there exists a non-trivial sequence \( (g_n) \subset G \) such that the action of \( g_n \) converges uniformly to the identity. Under the additional assumption that the action is not equicontinuous, such systems induce non-discrete and non-precompact Hausdorff group topologies on \( G \). The construction is based on convex combinations of unitary operators and a suitable adaptation of a lemma by \textit{R. V. Chacon} and \textit{D. S. Ornstein} [Ill. J. Math. 4, 153--160 (1960; Zbl 0134.12102)].\N\NSection~2 extends the main construction to arbitrary countable residually finite groups. The authors build an inverse limit of finite \( G \)-actions, ensuring injectivity of the resulting global action via residual finiteness. Rigidity is achieved by controlling the displacement of a basepoint under carefully chosen sequences, while non-equicontinuity follows from the geometric arrangement of orbits. A key point is that rigidity sequences can be constrained to lie in specified subsets (cones) of \( G \), depending on generators or prescribed elements.\N\NSeveral structural consequences are derived. It is shown that finitely generated maxAP groups are residually finite (Proposition~2.4) and that every countable subgroup of a compact totally disconnected group is residually finite (Proposition~2.5). These results confirm the compatibility of topological representability with algebraic finiteness properties.\N\NSection~3 refines the method to allow precise control over rigidity sequences. In particular, for finitely generated residually finite groups and a fixed infinite-order element \( g \in G \), the rigidity sequence \( (g_n) \) can be chosen to lie entirely within the semigroup generated by \( g \) and a finite set \( F \subset G \). This combinatorial flexibility is formulated in terms of cones and yields strong control over the topological realization of dynamical properties.