Let $G= N\rtimes H$ be a locally compact group which is a semi-direct product of a closed normal subgroup N and a closed subgroup H. The Bohr compactification ${\rm Bohr}(G)$ and the profinite completion ${\rm Prof}(G)$ of G are, respectively, isomorphic to semi-direct products $Q_1 \rtimes {\rm Bohr}(H)$ and $Q_2 \rtimes {\rm Prof}(H)$ for appropriate quotients $Q_1$ of ${\rm Bohr}(N)$ and $Q_2$ of ${\rm Prof}(N).$ We give a precise description of $Q_1$ and $Q_2$ in terms of the action of H on appropriate subsets of the dual space of N. In the case where N is abelian, we have ${\rm Bohr}(G)\cong A \rtimes {\rm Bohr}(H)$ and ${\rm Prof}(G)\cong B \rtimes {\rm Prof}(H),$ where A (respectively B) is the dual group of the group of unitary characters of N with finite H-orbits (respectively with finite image). Necessary and sufficient conditions are deduced for G to be maximally almost periodic or residually finite. We apply the results to the case where $G= \Lambda\wr H$ is a wreath product of discrete groups; we show in particular that, in case H is infinite, ${\rm Bohr}(\Lambda\wr H)$ is isomorphic to ${\rm Bohr}(\Lambda^{\rm Ab}\wr H)$ and ${\rm Prof}(\Lambda\wr H)$ is isomorphic to ${\rm Prof}(\Lambda^{\rm Ab} \wr H),$ where $\Lambda^{\rm Ab}=\Lambda/ [\Lambda, \Lambda]$ is the abelianisation of $\Lambda.$ As examples, we compute ${\rm Bohr}(G)$ and ${\rm Prof}(G)$ when G is a lamplighter group and when G is the Heisenberg group over a unital commutative ring.

We prove that the nonvarying strata of abelian and quadratic differentials in low genus have trivial tautological rings and are affine varieties. We also prove that strata of k-differentials of infinite area are affine varieties for all k. Vanishing of homology in degree higher than the complex dimension follows as a consequence for these affine strata. Moreover we prove that the stratification of the Hodge bundle for abelian and quadratic differentials of finite area is extremal in the sense that merging two zeros in each stratum leads to an extremal effective divisor in the boundary. A common feature throughout these results is a relation of divisor classes in strata of differentials as well as its incarnation in Teichmüller dynamics.

Erdős, Graham and Selfridge considered, for each positive integer n, the least value of $t_n$ so that the integers $n+1, n+2, \dots, n+t_n $ contain a subset the product of whose members with n is a square. An open problem posed by Granville concerns the size of $t_n$, under the assumption of the ABC conjecture. We establish some results on the distribution of $t_n$, and in the process solve Granville’s problem unconditionally.

We demonstrate that the phenomenon of popular differences (aka the phenomenon of large intersections) holds for natural families of polynomial patterns in rings of integers of number fields. If K is a number field with ring of integers $\mathcal{O}_K$ and $E \subseteq \mathcal{O}_K$ has positive upper Banach density $d^*(E) = \delta > 0$, we show, inter alia:

1. (1) if $p(x) \in K[x]$ is an intersective polynomial (i.e., p has a root modulo m for every $m \in \mathcal{O}_K$) with $p(\mathcal{O}_K) \subseteq \mathcal{O}_K$ and $r, s \in \mathcal{O}_K$ are distinct and nonzero, then for any $\varepsilon > 0$, there is a syndetic set $S \subseteq \mathcal{O}_K$ such that for any $n \in S$,

   \begin{align*}d^* \left( \left\{ x \in \mathcal{O}_K \;:\; \{x, x + rp(n), x + sp(n)\} \subseteq E \right\} \right) > \delta^3 - \varepsilon. \end{align*}
   Moreover, if ${s}/{r} \in \mathbb{Q}$, then there are syndetically many $n \in \mathcal{O}_K$ such that
   \begin{align*}d^* \left( \left\{ x \in \mathcal{O}_K \;:\; \{x, x + rp(n), x + sp(n), x + (r+s)p(n)\} \subseteq E \right\} \right)> \delta^4 - \varepsilon; \end{align*}

2. (2) if $\{p_1, \dots, p_k\} \subseteq K[x]$ is a jointly intersective family (i.e., $p_1, \dots, p_k$ have a common root modulo m for every $m \in \mathcal{O}_K$) of linearly independent polynomials with $p_i(\mathcal{O}_K) \subseteq \mathcal{O}_K$, then there are syndetically many $n \in \mathcal{O}_K$ such that

   \begin{align*}d^* \left( \left\{ x \in \mathcal{O}_K \;:\; \{x, x + p_1(n), \dots, x + p_k(n)\} \subseteq E \right\} \right)> \delta^{k+1} - \varepsilon. \end{align*}

These two results generalise and extend previous work of Frantzikinakis and Kra [21] and Franztikinakis [19] on polynomial configurations in $\mathbb{Z}$ and build upon recent work of the authors and Best [2] on linear patterns in general abelian groups. The above combinatorial results follow from multiple recurrence results in ergodic theory via a version of Furstenberg’s correspondence principle. The ergodic-theoretic recurrence theorems require a sharpening of existing tools for handling polynomial multiple ergodic averages. A key advancement made in this paper is a new result on the equidistribution of polynomial orbits in nilmanifolds, which can be seen as a far-reaching generalisation of Weyl’s equidistribution theorem for polynomials of several variables:

1. (3) let $d, k, l \in \mathbb{N}$. Let $(X, \mathcal{B}, \mu, T_1, \dots, T_l)$ be an ergodic, connected $\mathbb{Z}^l$-nilsystem. Let $\{p_{i,j} \;:\; 1 \le i \le k, 1 \le j \le l\} \subseteq \mathbb{Q}[x_1, \dots, x_d]$ be a family of polynomials such that $p_{i,j}\left( \mathbb{Z}^d \right) \subseteq \mathbb{Z}$ and $\{1\} \cup \{p_{i,j}\}$ is linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$. Then the $\mathbb{Z}^d$-sequence $\left( \prod_{j=1}^l{T_j^{p_{1,j}(n)}}x, \dots, \prod_{j=1}^l{T_j^{p_{k,j}(n)}}x \right)_{n \in \mathbb{Z}^d}$ is well-distributed in $X^k$ for every x in a co-meager set of full measure.

For a given genus $g \geq 1$, we give lower bounds for the maximal number of rational points on a smooth projective absolutely irreducible curve of genus g over $\mathbb{F}_q$. As a consequence of Katz–Sarnak theory, we first get for any given $g>0$, any $\varepsilon>0$ and all q large enough, the existence of a curve of genus g over $\mathbb{F}_q$ with at least $1+q+ (2g-\varepsilon) \sqrt{q}$ rational points. Then using sums of powers of traces of Frobenius of hyperelliptic curves, we get a lower bound of the form $1+q+1.71 \sqrt{q}$ valid for $g \geq 3$ and odd $q \geq 11$. Finally, explicit constructions of towers of curves improve this result: We show that the bound $1+q+4 \sqrt{q} -32$ is valid for all $g\ge 2$ and for all q.

Given a set $S=\{x^2+c_1,\dots,x^2+c_s\}$ defined over a field and an infinite sequence $\gamma$ of elements of S, one can associate an arboreal representation to $\gamma$, generalising the case of iterating a single polynomial. We study the probability that a random sequence $\gamma$ produces a “large-image” representation, meaning that infinitely many subquotients in the natural filtration are maximal. We prove that this probability is positive for most sets S defined over $\mathbb{Z}[t]$, and we conjecture a similar positive-probability result for suitable sets over $\mathbb{Q}$. As an application of large-image representations, we prove a density-zero result for the set of prime divisors of some associated quadratic sequences. We also consider the stronger condition of the representation being finite-index, and we classify all S possessing a particular kind of obstruction that generalises the post-critically finite case in single-polynomial iteration.

We consider families of exponential sums indexed by a subgroup of invertible classes modulo some prime power q. For fixed d, we restrict to moduli q so that there is a unique subgroup of invertible classes modulo q of order d. We study distribution properties of these families of sums as q grows and we establish equidistribution results in some regions of the complex plane which are described as the image of a multi-dimensional torus via an explicit Laurent polynomial. In some cases, the region of equidistribution can be interpreted as the one delimited by a hypocycloid, or as a Minkowski sum of such regions.

We study the space of slice torus invariants. In particular we characterise the set of values that slice torus invariants may take on a given knot in terms of the stable smooth slice genus. Our study reveals that the resolution of the local Thom conjecture implies the existence of slice torus invariants without having to appeal to any explicit construction from a knot homology theory.

Marstrand’s theorem states that applying a generic rotation to a planar set A before projecting it orthogonally to the x-axis almost surely gives an image with the maximal possible dimension $\min(1, \dim A)$. We first prove, using the transversality theory of Peres–Schlag locally, that the same result holds when applying a generic complex linear-fractional transformation in $PSL(2,\mathbb{C})$ or a generic real linear-fractional transformation in $PGL(3,\mathbb{R})$. We next show that, under some necessary technical assumptions, transversality locally holds for restricted families of projections corresponding to one-dimensional subgroups of $PSL(2,\mathbb{C})$ or $PGL(3,\mathbb{R})$. Third, we demonstrate, in any dimension, local transversality and resulting projection statements for the families of closest-point projections to totally-geodesic subspaces of hyperbolic and spherical geometries.

We prove that there exists a universal constant D such that if p is a prime divisor of the index of the Fitting subgroup of a finite group G, then the number of conjugacy classes of G is at least $Dp/\log_2p$. We conjecture that we can take $D=1$ and prove that for solvable groups, we can take $D=1/3$.

Let f be a non-CM Hecke eigencusp form of level 1 and fixed weight, and let $\{\lambda_f(n)\}_n$ be its sequence of normalised Fourier coefficients. We show that if $K/ \mathbb{Q}$ is any number field, and $\mathcal{N}_K$ denotes the collection of integers representable as norms of integral ideals of K, then a positive proportion of the positive integers $n \in \mathcal{N}_K$ yield a sign change for the sequence $\{\lambda_f(n)\}_{n \in \mathcal{N}_K}$. More precisely, for a positive proportion of $n \in \mathcal{N}_K \cap [1,X]$ we have $\lambda_f(n)\lambda_f(n') < 0$, where n′ is the first element of $\mathcal{N}_K$ greater than n for which $\lambda_f(n') \neq 0$.

For example, for $K = \mathbb{Q}(i)$ and $\mathcal{N}_K = \{m^2+n^2 \;:\; m,n \in \mathbb{Z}\}$ the set of sums of two squares, we obtain $\gg_f X/\sqrt{\log X}$ such sign changes, which is best possible (up to the implicit constant) and improves upon work of Banerjee and Pandey. Our proof relies on recent work of Matomäki and Radziwiłł on sparsely-supported multiplicative functions, together with some technical refinements of their results due to the author.

In a related vein, we also consider the question of sign changes along shifted sums of two squares, for which multiplicative techniques do not directly apply. Using estimates for shifted convolution sums among other techniques, we establish that for any fixed $a \neq 0$ there are $\gg_{f,\varepsilon} X^{1/2-\varepsilon}$ sign changes for $\lambda_f$ along the sequence of integers of the form $a + m^2 + n^2 \leq X$.

Let $d \ge 3$ be an integer and let $P \in \mathbb{Z}[x]$ be a polynomial of degree d whose Galois group is $S_d$. Let $(a_n)$ be a non-degenerate linearly recursive sequence of integers which has P as its characteristic polynomial. We prove, under the generalised Riemann hypothesis, that the lower density of the set of primes which divide at least one non-zero element of the sequence $(a_n)$ is positive.

We show that a group that is hyperbolic relative to strongly shortcut groups is itself strongly shortcut, thus obtaining new examples of strongly shortcut groups. The proof relies on a result of independent interest: we show that every relatively hyperbolic group acts properly and cocompactly on a graph in which the parabolic subgroups act properly and cocompactly on convex subgraphs.

Let F be a finite extension of ${\mathbb Q}_p$. Let $\Omega$ be the Drinfeld upper half plane, and $\Sigma^1$ the first Drinfeld covering of $\Omega$. We study the affinoid open subset $\Sigma^1_v$ of $\Sigma^1$ above a vertex of the Bruhat–Tits tree for $\text{GL}_2(F)$. Our main result is that $\text{Pic}\!\left(\Sigma^1_v\right)[p] = 0$, which we establish by showing that $\text{Pic}({\mathbf Y})[p] = 0$ for ${\mathbf Y}$ the Deligne–Lusztig variety of $\text{SL}_2\!\left({\mathbb F}_q\right)$. One formal consequence is a description of the representation $H^1_{{\acute{\text{e}}\text{t}}}\!\left(\Sigma^1_v, {\mathbb Z}_p(1)\right)$ of $\text{GL}_2(\mathcal{O}_F)$ as the p-adic completion of $\mathcal{O}\!\left(\Sigma^1_v\right)^\times$.

What is the probability that a random UHF algebra is of infinite type? What is the probability that a random simple AI algebra has at most k extremal traces? What is the expected value of the radius of comparison of a random Villadsen-type AH algebra? What is the probability that such an algebra is $\mathcal{Z}$-stable? What is the probability that a random Cuntz–Krieger algebra is purely infinite and simple, and what can be said about the distribution of its K-theory? By constructing $\mathrm{C}^*$-algebras associated with suitable random (walks on) graphs, we provide context in which these are meaningful questions with computable answers.

We study intermediate-scale statistics for the fractional parts of the sequence $\left(\alpha a_{n}\right)_{n=1}^{\infty}$, where $\left(a_{n}\right)_{n=1}^{\infty}$ is a positive, real-valued lacunary sequence, and $\alpha\in\mathbb{R}$. In particular, we consider the number of elements $S_{N}\!\left(L,\alpha\right)$ in a random interval of length $L/N$, where $L=O\!\left(N^{1-\epsilon}\right)$, and show that its variance (the number variance) is asymptotic to L with high probability w.r.t. $\alpha$, which is in agreement with the statistics of uniform i.i.d. random points in the unit interval. In addition, we show that the same asymptotic holds almost surely in $\alpha\in\mathbb{R}$ when $L=O\!\left(N^{1/2-\epsilon}\right)$. For slowly growing L, we further prove a central limit theorem for $S_{N}\!\left(L,\alpha\right)$ which holds for almost all $\alpha\in\mathbb{R}$.

Gross and Siebert developed a program for constructing in arbitrary dimension a mirror family to a log Calabi–Yau pair (X, D), consisting of a smooth projective variety X with a normal-crossing anti-canonical divisor D in X. In this paper, we provide an algorithm to practically compute explicit equations of the mirror family in the case when X is obtained as a blow-up of a toric variety along hypersurfaces in its toric boundary, and D is the strict transform of the toric boundary. The main ingredient is the heart of the canonical wall structure associated to such pairs (X, D), which is constructed purely combinatorially, following our previous work with Mark Gross. In the case when we blow up a single hypersurface we show that our results agree with previous results computed symplectically by Aroux–Abouzaid–Katzarkov. In the situation when the locus of blow-up is formed by more than a single hypersurface, due to infinitely many walls interacting, writing the equations becomes significantly more challenging. We provide the first examples of explicit equations for mirror families in such situations.

When $k\geqslant 4$ and $0\leqslant d\leqslant (k-2)/4$, we consider the system of Diophantine equations

\begin{align*}x_1^j+\ldots +x_k^j=y_1^j+\ldots +y_k^j\quad (1\leqslant j\leqslant k,\, j\ne k-d).\end{align*}

$d=o\!\left(k^{1/4}\right)$

In this paper we prove that the set $\{|x^1-x^2|,\dots,|x^k-x^{k+1}|\,{:}\,x^i\in E\}$ has non-empty interior in $\mathbb{R}^k$ when $E\subset \mathbb{R}^2$ is a Cartesian product of thick Cantor sets $K_1,K_2\subset\mathbb{R}$. We also prove more general results where the distance map $|x-y|$ is replaced by a function $\phi(x,y)$ satisfying mild assumptions on its partial derivatives. In the process, we establish a nonlinear version of the classic Newhouse Gap Lemma, and show that if $K_1,K_2, \phi$ are as above then there exists an open set S so that $\bigcap_{x \in S} \phi(x,K_1\times K_2)$ has non-empty interior.

Let $\textsf{T}$ be a triangulated category with shift functor $\Sigma \colon \textsf{T} \to \textsf{T}$ . Suppose $(\textsf{A},\textsf{B})$ is a co-t-structure with coheart $\textsf{S} = \Sigma \textsf{A} \cap \textsf{B}$ and extended coheart $\textsf{C} = \Sigma^2 \textsf{A} \cap \textsf{B} = \textsf{S}* \Sigma \textsf{S}$ , which is an extriangulated category. We show that there is a bijection between co-t-structures $(\textsf{A}^{\prime},\textsf{B}^{\prime})$ in $\textsf{T}$ such that $\textsf{A} \subseteq \textsf{A}^{\prime} \subseteq \Sigma \textsf{A}$ and complete cotorsion pairs in the extended coheart $\textsf{C}$ . In the case that $\textsf{T}$ is Hom-finite, $\textbf{k}$ -linear and Krull–Schmidt, we show further that there is a bijection between complete cotorsion pairs in $\textsf{C}$ and functorially finite torsion classes in $\textsf{mod}\, \textsf{S}$ .