External paradoxical decompositions.

From MaRDI portal
Publication:2460064





Tarski's theorem states that a group \(G\) is nonamenable if and only if there exists a paradoxical decomposition of \(G\) using \(n+m\) pieces [see \textit{S. Wagon}, The Banach-Tarski paradox. Cambridge University Press (1985; Zbl 0569.43001) and \textit{M. M. Day}, Ill. J. Math. 1, 509-544 (1957; Zbl 0078.29402)]. A semigroup \(S\) has common right multiples (abbreviated as CRM's) if for each \(a,b\in S\), there exists \(x,y\in S\), such that \(ax=by\). For a cancellative semigroup \(S\) which has CRM's let \(G\) be the group of right fractions of \(S\). Let \(S^{-1}=\{x\in G\mid x=s^{-1}\) for some \(s\in S\}\) be the negative semigroup of \(G\) and \(m,n\) be natural numbers with \(m,n\geq 1\). We say that there exists an external paradoxical decomposition of \(S^{-1}\) using \(n+m\) pieces if there exist \(n+m\) pairwise disjoint subsets \(A_1,\dots,A_n,B_1,\dots,B_m\subseteq S^{-1}\) and \(n+m\) elements \(a_1,\dots,a_n,b_1,\dots,b_m\in S\) such that \(S^{-1}=\coprod^n_{i=1}A_ia_i=\coprod^m_{j=1}B_jb_j\). Let \(S\) be a cancellative semigroup which has CRM's and \(G\) be the group of right fractions of \(S\). Then the negative semigroup of \(S^{-1}\) is not right amenable if and only if there exists a paradoxical decomposition of \(S^{-1}\). Moreover, there exists an external paradoxical decomposition of \(S^{-1}\) using 4 pieces if and only if \(G\) contains a free subgroup on 2 generators. In conclusion, the author states some necessary conditions that an external paradoxical decomposition of the negative semigroup of Richard Thompson's group \(F\) must satisfy for such an external paradoxical decomposition to exist.











This page was built for publication: External paradoxical decompositions.

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2460064)