On continuous orbit equivalence rigidity for virtually cyclic group actions (Q6039658)

The author studies the continuous orbit equivalence relation over (infinite) virtually cyclic groups. We first recall definitions. Let \(G,H\) be (discrete, infinite) countable groups and \(X,Y\) be compact Hausdorff spaces. Let us recall that two continuous actions \(G\curvearrowright X\) and \(H\curvearrowright Y\) are \emph{conjugate} if there exist a homeomorphism \(\phi:X\to Y\) and a group isomorphism \(a:G\to H\) such that \[ \forall g\in G , \ \forall x\in X, \quad \phi(g\cdot x) = a(g) \cdot \phi(x) . \] Notice that in this case, setting \(b=a^{-1}\) and \(\psi = \phi^{-1}\), one immediately gets \[ \forall h\in H , \ \forall y\in Y, \quad \psi(h\cdot y) = b(h) \cdot \psi(y) . \] The conjugacy relation can be relaxed in the following way, which is a topological analogue of orbit equivalence in the setting of probability measure-preserving actions. {Definition.} Two continuous actions \(G\curvearrowright X\) and \(H\curvearrowright Y\) are \emph{continuously orbit equivalent} (COE for short) if there exist a homeomorphism \(\phi:X\to Y\) with inverse \(\psi = \phi^{-1}\), and continuous maps \(a:G\times X\to H\) and \(b:H\times Y \to G\), such that \[ \forall g\in G , \ \forall x\in X, \quad \phi(g\cdot x) = a(g,x) \cdot \phi(x) , \] \[ \forall h\in H , \ \forall y\in Y, \quad \psi(h\cdot y) = b(h,y) \cdot \psi(y) . \] {Definition.} Let \(\mathcal{C}\) be a class of continuous \(G\)-actions on \(X\). An action \(\alpha\in \mathcal{C}\) is \emph{COE-rigid among \(\mathcal{C}\)} if any action \(\beta \in \mathcal{C}\) which is COE to \(\alpha\) is in fact conjugate to \(\alpha\). These definitions come from [\textit{X. Li}, Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 38, No. 4, 1543--1563 (2018; Zbl 1390.37007)], with a little difference: in the definition of COE rigidity, one only compares actions of a same group. Several COE-rigidity results are known. In particular, among the class of topologically free (continuous) actions of \(\mathbb{Z}\), topologically transitive actions are COE rigid, see [\textit{M. Boyle} and \textit{J. Tomiyama}, J. Math. Soc. Japan 50, No. 2, 317--329 (1998; Zbl 0940.37004)]. This includes the case of minimal free (continuous) actions of \(\mathbb{Z}\). The present article focuses on the case of virtually cyclic (but non-cyclic) groups. The author proves that such a rigidity result, say among the class of minimal free (continuous) actions, holds for the infinite dihedral group \(D_\infty = \mathbb{Z} \rtimes (\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})\), but not for a direct product \(\mathbb{Z} \times F\), where \(F\) is a non-trivial finite group with trivial center, eg a non-abelian finite simple group. Precise statements are as follows. {Theorem.} If two minimal topologically free (continuous) actions \(\alpha, \beta\) of the infinite dihedral group \(D_\infty\) on an infinite compact Hausdorff space \(X\) are COE, then they are conjugate. {Theorem.} Let \(F\) be a non-trivial finite group with trivial center. There exist two minimal free (continuous) actions of \(\mathbb{Z} \times F\) on an infinite compact Hausdorff space \(X\) that are COE but non-conjugate.