Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Groups acting on rooted trees : Dimension, subgroups, randomness and dynamics

Fariña Asategui, Jorge LU (2026)
Abstract
This thesis is devoted to the study of different aspects of groups acting on rooted trees and their applications.

First, we focus on the Hausdorff dimension of groups acting on rooted trees. We develop new tools that lead to the solution of several well-known open problems in the subject due to Abért-Virág, Bartholdi, Grigorchuk, Klopsch and Shalev among others.

Secondly, we study many aspects of the subgroup structure of these groups: first-order theory, rigidity of actions, profinite topology, virtual retracts, etc. The most remarkable application of the obtained results is the disproval of a well-known conjecture of Boston.

Then, we study several aspects of random elements and random subgroups of branch... (More)
This thesis is devoted to the study of different aspects of groups acting on rooted trees and their applications.

First, we focus on the Hausdorff dimension of groups acting on rooted trees. We develop new tools that lead to the solution of several well-known open problems in the subject due to Abért-Virág, Bartholdi, Grigorchuk, Klopsch and Shalev among others.

Secondly, we study many aspects of the subgroup structure of these groups: first-order theory, rigidity of actions, profinite topology, virtual retracts, etc. The most remarkable application of the obtained results is the disproval of a well-known conjecture of Boston.

Then, we study several aspects of random elements and random subgroups of branch groups. We generalize several results of Abért and Virág.

Lastly, we develop a new ergodic theory for self-similar groups. This has found many unexpected applications, the most remarkable ones being to several problems in arithmetic dynamics. In fact, we use this new theory to obtain a long-awaited classification of the fixed-point proportion of geometric iterated Galois groups of polynomials. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
This thesis is devoted to the study of different aspects of groups acting on rooted trees and their applications.

First, we focus on the Hausdorff dimension of groups acting on rooted trees. We develop new tools that lead to the solution of several well-known open problems in the subject due to Abért-Virág, Bartholdi, Grigorchuk, Klopsch and Shalev among others.

Secondly, we study many aspects of the subgroup structure of these groups: first-order theory, rigidity of actions, profinite topology, virtual retracts, etc. The most remarkable application of the obtained results is the disproval of a well-known conjecture of Boston.

Then, we study several aspects of random elements and random subgroups of branch... (More)
This thesis is devoted to the study of different aspects of groups acting on rooted trees and their applications.

First, we focus on the Hausdorff dimension of groups acting on rooted trees. We develop new tools that lead to the solution of several well-known open problems in the subject due to Abért-Virág, Bartholdi, Grigorchuk, Klopsch and Shalev among others.

Secondly, we study many aspects of the subgroup structure of these groups: first-order theory, rigidity of actions, profinite topology, virtual retracts, etc. The most remarkable application of the obtained results is the disproval of a well-known conjecture of Boston.

Then, we study several aspects of random elements and random subgroups of branch groups. We generalize several results of Abért and Virág.

Lastly, we develop a new ergodic theory for self-similar groups. This has found many unexpected applications, the most remarkable ones being to several problems in arithmetic dynamics. In fact, we use this new theory to obtain a long-awaited classification of the fixed-point proportion of geometric iterated Galois groups of polynomials. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Bartholdi, Laurent, University of Geneva
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Hausdorff dimension, Hausdorff spectra, self-similar groups, branch groups, random subgroups, dynamical systems, ergodicity, fixed-point proportion, iterated monodromy groups, iterated Galois groups, polynomials, Hausdorff dimension, Hausdorff spectra, self-similar groups, branch groups, random subgroups, dynamical systems, ergodicity, fixed-point proportion, iterated monodromy groups, iterated Galois groups, polynomials
pages
490 pages
publisher
Lund University
defense location
MH:Hörmander i Matematikhuset
defense date
2026-05-22 13:00:00
ISSN
1404-0034
ISBN
978-91-8104-933-6
978-91-8104-934-3
project
Hausdorff Dimension of Branch Groups and Applications
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
718511b0-6347-4ee9-9ed3-2b99bf54c08a
date added to LUP
2026-04-24 14:54:45
date last changed
2026-04-28 15:08:47
@phdthesis{718511b0-6347-4ee9-9ed3-2b99bf54c08a,
  abstract     = {{This thesis is devoted to the study of different aspects of groups acting on rooted trees and their applications.<br/><br/>First, we focus on the Hausdorff dimension of groups acting on rooted trees. We develop new tools that lead to the solution of several well-known open problems in the subject due to Abért-Virág, Bartholdi, Grigorchuk, Klopsch and Shalev among others.<br/><br/>Secondly, we study many aspects of the subgroup structure of these groups: first-order theory, rigidity of actions, profinite topology, virtual retracts, etc. The most remarkable application of the obtained results is the disproval of a well-known conjecture of Boston.<br/><br/>Then, we study several aspects of random elements and random subgroups of branch groups. We generalize several results of Abért and Virág.<br/><br/>Lastly, we develop a new ergodic theory for self-similar groups. This has found many unexpected applications, the most remarkable ones being to several problems in arithmetic dynamics. In fact, we use this new theory to obtain a long-awaited classification of the fixed-point proportion of geometric iterated Galois groups of polynomials.}},
  author       = {{Fariña Asategui, Jorge}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8104-933-6}},
  issn         = {{1404-0034}},
  keywords     = {{Hausdorff dimension; Hausdorff spectra; self-similar groups; branch groups; random subgroups; dynamical systems; ergodicity; fixed-point proportion; iterated monodromy groups; iterated Galois groups; polynomials; Hausdorff dimension; Hausdorff spectra; self-similar groups; branch groups; random subgroups; dynamical systems; ergodicity; fixed-point proportion; iterated monodromy groups; iterated Galois groups; polynomials}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Groups acting on rooted trees : Dimension, subgroups, randomness and dynamics}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}