A new algebraic invariant for weak equivalence of sofic subshifts

It is studied how taking the inverse image by a sliding block code affects the syntactic semigroup of a sofic subshift. Two independent approaches are used: ζ-semigroups as recognition structures for sofic subshifts, and relatively free profinite semigroups. A new algebraic invariant is obtained for weak equivalence of sofic subshifts, by determining which classes of sofic subshifts naturally defined by pseudovarieties of finite semigroups are closed under weak equivalence. Among such classes are the classes of almost finite type subshifts and aperiodic subshifts. The algebraic invariant is compared with other robust conjugacy invariants.Research programme AutoMathA of ESF; Pessoa bilateral project Egide/Grices 11113YM "Automata, profinite semigroups and symbolic dynamics"; FCT, grant SFRH/BD/24200/2005; POCI 2010; FS

A new algebraic invariant for weak equivalence of sofic subshifts

It is studied how taking the inverse image by a sliding block code affects the syntactic semigroup of a sofic subshift. Two independent approaches are used: ζ-semigroups as recognition structures for sofic subshifts, and relatively free profinite semigroups. A new algebraic invariant is obtained for weak equivalence of sofic subshifts, by determining which classes of sofic subshifts naturally defined by pseudovarieties of finite semigroups are closed under weak equivalence. Among such classes are the classes of almost finite type subshifts and aperiodic subshifts. The algebraic invariant is compared with other robust conjugacy invariants.Research programme AutoMathA of ESF; Pessoa bilateral project Egide/Grices 11113YM "Automata, profinite semigroups and symbolic dynamics"; FCT, grant SFRH/BD/24200/2005; POCI 2010; FS

Finite type approximations of Gibbs measures on sofic subshifts

Consider a H\"older continuous potential $\phi$ defined on the full shift A^\nn, where $A$ is a finite alphabet. Let X\subset A^\nn be a specified sofic subshift. It is well-known that there is a unique Gibbs measure $\mu_\phi$ on $X$ associated to $\phi$. Besides, there is a natural nested sequence of subshifts of finite type $(X_m)$ converging to the sofic subshift $X$. To this sequence we can associate a sequence of Gibbs measures $(\mu_{\phi}^m)$. In this paper, we prove that these measures weakly converge at exponential speed to $\mu_\phi$ (in the classical distance metrizing weak topology). We also establish a strong mixing property (ensuring weak Bernoullicity) of $\mu_\phi$. Finally, we prove that the measure-theoretic entropy of $\mu_\phi^m$ converges to the one of $\mu_\phi$ exponentially fast. We indicate how to extend our results to more general subshifts and potentials. We stress that we use basic algebraic tools (contractive properties of iterated matrices) and symbolic dynamics.Comment: 18 pages, no figure

Sofic-Dyck shifts

We define the class of sofic-Dyck shifts which extends the class of Markov-Dyck shifts introduced by Inoue, Krieger and Matsumoto. Sofic-Dyck shifts are shifts of sequences whose finite factors form unambiguous context-free languages. We show that they correspond exactly to the class of shifts of sequences whose sets of factors are visibly pushdown languages. We give an expression of the zeta function of a sofic-Dyck shift

Expansive actions of countable amenable groups, homoclinic pairs, and the Myhill property

Let $X$ be a compact metrizable space equipped with a continuous action of a countable amenable group $G$. Suppose that the dynamical system $(X,G)$ is expansive and is the quotient by a uniformly bounded-to-one factor map of a strongly irreducible subshift. Let $\tau \colon X \to X$ be a continuous map commuting with the action of $G$. We prove that if there is no pair of distinct $G$-homoclinic points in $X$ having the same image under $\tau$, then $\tau$ is surjective.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1506.0694