Metrical universality for groups

Applications of model theory (03C98) Structure of general topological groups (22A05) Complete metric spaces (54E50) Topological groups (topological aspects) (54H11)

Abstract: We prove that for any constant

K > 0

there exists a separable group equipped with a complete bi-invariant metric bounded by

K

, isometric to the Urysohn sphere of diameter

K

, that is of `almost-universal disposition'. It is thus an object in the category of separable groups with bi-invariant metric analogous in its properties to the Gurarij space from the category of separable Banach spaces. We show that this group contains an isometric copy of any separable group equipped with bi-invariant metric bounded by

K

. As a consequence, we get that it is a universal Polish group admitting compatible bi-invariant metric, resp. universal second countable SIN group. Moreover, the almost-universal disposition shows that the automorphism group of this group is rich and it characterizes the group uniquely up to isometric isomorphism. We also show that this group is in a certain sense generic in the class of separable group with bi-invariant metric (bounded by

K

). On the other hand, we prove there is no metrically universal separable group with bi-invariant metric when there is no restriction on diameter. The same is true for separable locally compact groups with bi-invariant metric. Assuming the generalized continuum hypothesis, we prove that there exists a metrically universal (unbounded) group of density

k a p p a

with bi-invariant metric for any uncountable cardinal

k a p p a

. We moreover deduce that under GCH there is a universal SIN group of weight

k a p p a

for any infinite cardinal

k a p p a

.

Review text

If \(\mathcal G\) is a class of Polish groups (closed under isomorphism and taking closed subgroups), then \(G\in\mathcal G\) is said to be injectively universal for \(\mathcal G\) if every \(H\in\mathcal G\) is topologically isomorphic with a closed subgroup of \(G\). On the other hand, we say that \(G\in\mathcal G\) is projectively universal for \(\mathcal G\), if for every \(H\in\mathcal G\) there exists a continuous surjective homomorphism from \(G\) onto \(H\). From this point of view various classes were considered in the past. For example it is known that the classes of Polish groups, abelian Polish groups, and compact Polish groups have both injectively universal and projectively universal objects. On the other hand the classes of locally compact Polish groups and of complete left-invariant metric groups have no projectively and injectively universal objects. The groups with a countable neighbourhood base of the identity consisting of conjugation-invariant sets are called SIN groups (abbreviating small invariant neighbourhoods). It was left open whether there exists a universal object in the class of Polish groups admitting a bi-invariant metric, i.e., in the class of SIN Polish groups. In 1966, Gurarij constructed a separable Banach space \(\mathbb G\) such that for any \(\varepsilon>0\), finite-dimensional Banach spaces \(A\subseteq B\), and linear isometric embedding \(\iota_A:A\hookrightarrow\mathbb G\) there exists a linear \(\varepsilon\)-isometric embedding \(\iota_B:B\hookrightarrow\mathbb G\) extending \(\iota_A\). In the paper under review, the author proves that for every \(K>0\) there is a Polish metric group \(\mathbb G_K\) with a bi-invariant metric bounded by \(K\) which is of ``almost-universal disposition similar to the Gurarij space and (1) \(\mathbb G_K\) is metrically universal for the class of separable groups equipped with a bi-invariant metric bounded by \(K\); (2) \(\mathbb G_K\) is isometric to the Urysohn sphere of diameter \(K\); and (3) \(\mathbb G_K\) is generic among separable groups with a bi-invariant metric bounded by \(K\). Since metric universality is stronger than topological universality this group is a universal Polish group admitting a compatible bi-invariant metric and universal for the class of second-countable SIN groups. This group is also generic in the class of separable groups with bi-invariant metric bounded by \(K\). On the other hand there is no metrically universal separable group with bi-invariant metric when there is no restriction on the diameter. The same is true for separable locally compact groups with bi-invariant metric. Assuming GCH it is proved that for any uncountable cardinal \(\kappa\) there exists a metrically universal (unbounded) group of density \(\kappa\) with bi-invariant metric and there exists a universal SIN group of weight \(\kappa\).

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