Generating self-map monoids of infinite sets

Let I be a countably infinite set, S = Sym(I) the group of permutations of I, and E = End(I) the monoid of self-maps of I. Given two subgroups G, G' of S, let us write G \approx_S G' if there exists a finite subset U of S such that the groups generated by G \cup U and G' \cup U are equal. Bergman and Shelah showed that the subgroups which are closed in the function topology on S fall into exactly four equivalence classes with respect to \approx_S. Letting \approx denote the obvious analog of \approx_S for submonoids of E, we prove an analogous result for a certain class of submonoids of E, from which the theorem for groups can be recovered. Along the way, we show that given two subgroups G, G' of S which are closed in the function topology on S, we have G \approx_S G' if and only if G \approx G' (as submonoids of E), and that cl_S (G) \approx cl_E (G) for every subgroup G of S (where cl_S (G) denotes the closure of G in the function topology in S and cl_E (G) its closure in the function topology in E).Comment: 26 pages. In the second version several of the arguments have been simplified, references to related literature have been added, and a few minor errors have been correcte

Parabolic groups acting on one-dimensional compact spaces

Given a class of compact spaces, we ask which groups can be maximal parabolic subgroups of a relatively hyperbolic group whose boundary is in the class. We investigate the class of 1-dimensional connected boundaries. We get that any non-torsion infinite f.g. group is a maximal parabolic subgroup of some relatively hyperbolic group with connected one-dimensional boundary without global cut point. For boundaries homeomorphic to a Sierpinski carpet or a 2-sphere, the only maximal parabolic subgroups allowed are virtual surface groups (hyperbolic, or virtually $\mathbb{Z} + \mathbb{Z}$).Comment: 10 pages. Added a precision on local connectedness for Lemma 2.3, thanks to B. Bowditc

The isotropy lattice of a lifted action

We obtain an algorithmic construction of the isotropy lattice for a lifted action of a Lie group $G$ on $TM$ and $T^*M$ based only on the knowledge of $G$ and its action on $M$. Some applications to symplectic geometry are also shown.Comment: minor modification

The densest lattices in PGL3(Q2)

We find the smallest possible covolume for lattices in PGL3(Q2), show that there are exactly two lattices with this covolume, and describe them explicitly. They are commensurable, and one of them appeared in Mumford's construction of his fake projective plane. We also discuss a new 2-adic uniformization of another fake projective plane.Comment: Minor error correcte

The mass of unimodular lattices

The purpose of this paper is to show how to obtain the mass of a unimodular lattice from the point of view of the Bruhat-Tits theory. This is achieved by relating the local stabilizer of the lattice to a maximal parahoric subgroup of the special orthogonal group, and appealing to an explicit mass formula for parahoric subgroups developed by Gan, Hanke and Yu. Of course, the exact mass formula for positive defined unimodular lattices is well-known. Moreover, the exact formula for lattices of signature (1,n) (which give rise to hyperbolic orbifolds) was obtained by Ratcliffe and Tschantz, starting from the fundamental work of Siegel. Our approach works uniformly for the lattices of arbitrary signature (r,s) and hopefully gives a more conceptual way of deriving the above known results.Comment: 15 pages, to appear in J. Number Theor