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Abstract:Let $\Gamma$ be a countable abelian group, let $k\geq 1$, and let $\mathrm{X}=(X,\mathcal{X},\mu,T)$ be an ergodic $\Gamma$-system of order $k$ in the sense of Host--Kra--Ziegler. The $\Gamma$-system $\mathrm{X}$ is said to be totally disconnected if all its structure groups are totally disconnected. We show that any totally disconnected $\Gamma$-system of order $k$ is a generalized factor of a $\mathbb{Z}^\omega$-system with the structure of a Weyl system. As a consequence of this structure theorem, we show that totally disconnected $\Gamma$-systems of order $k$ are represented by translations on double cosets of nilpotent Polish groups. By a correspondence principle of two of us, we can use this representation to establish a (weak) inverse theorem for the $U^k$ Gowers uniformity norms on finite abelian groups of bounded torsion.

Submission history

From: Or Shalom [view email]
[v1] Wed, 8 Mar 2023 19:55:42 UTC (104 KB)
[v2] Mon, 3 Aug 2026 10:58:32 UTC (102 KB)