An extension of Kesten's criterion for amenability to topological Markov chains

The main results of this note extend a theorem of Kesten for symmetric random walks on discrete groups to group extensions of topological Markov chains. In contrast to the result in probability theory, there is a notable asymmetry in the assumptions on the base. That is, it turns out that, under very mild assumptions on the continuity and symmetry of the associated potential, amenability of the group implies that the Gurevic-pressures of the extension and the base coincide whereas the converse holds true if the potential is H\"older continuous and the topological Markov chain has big images and preimages. Finally, an application to periodic hyperbolic manifolds is given.Comment: New proof of Lemma 5.3 due to the gap in the first version of the articl

Coupling methods for random topological Markov chains

We apply coupling techniques in order to prove that the transfer operators associated with random topological Markov chains and non-stationary shift spaces with the big images and preimages-property have a spectral gap.Comment: 17 page

The Martin boundary of an extension by a hyperbolic group

We prove uniform Ancona-Gou\"ezel-Lalley inequalities for an extension by a hyperbolic group $G$ of a Markov map which allows to deduce that the visual boundary of the group and the Martin boundary are H\"older equivalent. As application, we identify the set of minimal conformal measures of a regular cover of a convex-cocompact CAT(-1)-manifold with the visual boundary of the covering group, provided that this group is hyperbolic

A note on the algebraic growth rate of Poincar\'e series for Kleinian groups

In this note we employ infinite ergodic theory to derive estimates for the algebraic growth rate of the Poincar\'e series for a Kleinian group at its critical exponent of convergence.Comment: 8 page

On the law of the iterated logarithm for continued fractions with sequentially restricted partial quotients

We establish a law of the iterated logarithm (LIL) for the set of real numbers whose $n$-th partial quotient is bigger than $\alpha_n$, where $(\alpha_n)$ is a sequence such that $\sum 1/\alpha_n$ is finite. This set is shown to have Hausdorff dimension $1/2$ in many cases and the measure in LIL is absolutely continuous to the Hausdorff measure. The result is obtained as an application of a strong invariance principle for unbounded observables on the limit set of a sequential iterated function system.Comment: Improved bounds for $(\alpha_n)

Spectral Triples on Thermodynamic Formalism and Dixmier Trace Representations of Gibbs: theory and examples

In this paper we construct spectral triples $(A,H,D)$ on the symbolic space when the alphabet is finite. We describe some new results for the associated Dixmier trace representations for Gibbs probabilities (for potentials with less regularity than H\"older) and for a certain class of functions. The Dixmier trace representation can be expressed as the limit of a certain zeta function obtained from high order iterations of the Ruelle operator. Among other things we consider a class of examples where we can exhibit the explicit expression for the zeta function. We are also able to apply our reasoning for some parameters of the Dyson model (a potential on the symbolic space $\{-1,1\}^\mathbb{N}$) and for a certain class of observables. Nice results by R. Sharp, M.~Kesseb\"ohmer and T.~Samuel for Dixmier trace representations of Gibbs probabilities considered the case where the potential is of H\"older class. We also analyze a particular case of a pathological continuous potential where the Dixmier trace representation - via the associated zeta function - is not true.Comment: the tile was modified and there are two more author

Thermodynamic Formalism for Topological Markov Chains on Borel Standard Spaces

We develop a Thermodynamic Formalism for bounded continuous potentials defined on the sequence space $X\equiv E^{\mathbb{N}}$, where $E$ is a general Borel standard space. In particular, we introduce meaningful concepts of entropy and pressure for shifts acting on $X$ and obtain the existence of equilibrium states as additive probability measures for any bounded continuous potential. Furthermore, we establish convexity and other structural properties of the set of equilibrium states, prove a version of the Perron-Frobenius-Ruelle theorem under additional assumptions on the regularity of the potential and show that the Yosida-Hewitt decomposition of these equilibrium states do not have a purely additive part. We then apply our results to the construction of invariant measures of time-homogeneous Markov chains taking values on a general Borel standard space and obtain exponential asymptotic stability for a class of Markov operators. We also construct conformal measures for an infinite collection of interacting random paths which are associated to a potential depending on infinitely many coordinates. Under an additional differentiability hypothesis, we show how this process is related after a proper scaling limit to a certain infinite dimensional diffusion.Comment: Accepted for publication in Discrete and Continuous Dynamical Systems. 23 page

Spectral Properties of the Ruelle Operator for Product Type Potentials on Shift Spaces

We study a class of potentials $f$ on one sided full shift spaces over finite or countable alphabets, called potentials of product type. We obtain explicit formulae for the leading eigenvalue, the eigenfunction (which may be discontinuous) and the eigenmeasure of the Ruelle operator. The uniqueness property of these quantities is also discussed and it is shown that there always exists a Bernoulli equilibrium state even if $f$ does not satisfy Bowen's condition. We apply these results to potentials $f:\{-1,1\}^\mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{R}$ of the form $$f(x_1,x_2,\ldots) = x_1 + 2^{-\gamma} \, x_2 + 3^{-\gamma} \, x_3 + ...+n^{-\gamma} \, x_n + \ldots$$ with $\gamma >1$. For $3/2 < \gamma \leq 2$, we obtain the existence of two different eigenfunctions. Both functions are (locally) unbounded and exist a.s. (but not everywhere) with respect to the eigenmeasure and the measure of maximal entropy, respectively.Comment: To appear in the Journal of London Mathematical Societ

Investigation of the chemical vicinity of crystal defects in ion-irradiated Mg and AZ31 with coincident Doppler broadening spectroscopy

Crystal defects in magnesium and magnesium based alloys like AZ31 are of major importance for the understanding of their macroscopic properties. We have investigated defects and their chemical surrounding in Mg and AZ31 on an atomic scale with Doppler broadening spectroscopy of the positron annihilation radiation. In these Doppler spectra the chemical information and the defect contribution have to be thoroughly separated. For this reason samples of annealed Mg were irradiated with Mg-ions in order to create exclusively defects. In addition Al- and Zn-ion irradiation on Mg-samples was performed in order to create samples with defects and impurity atoms. The ion irradiated area on the samples was investigated with laterally and depth resolved positron Doppler broadening spectroscopy (DBS) and compared with preceding SRIM-simulations of the vacancy distribution, which are in excellent agreement. The investigation of the chemical vicinity of crystal defects in AZ31 was performed with coincident Doppler broadening spectroscopy (CDBS) by comparing Mg-ion irradiated AZ31 with Mg-ion irradiated Mg. No formation of solute-vacancy complexes was found due to the ion irradiation, despite the high defect mobility.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review B on March 20 20076. Revised version submitted on September 28 2007. Accepted on October 19 200