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We make progress on several interrelated problems at the intersection of geometric measure theory, additive combinatorics and harmonic analysis: the discretised sum-product problem, exceptional estimates for orthogonal projections, and the dimension of Furstenberg sets. We give a new proof of the following asymmetric sum-product theorem: Let $A,B,C \subset \mathbb{R}$ be Borel sets with $0 < {\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} B \leq {\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} A < 1$ and ${\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} B + {\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} C > {\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} A$. Then, there exists $c \in C$ such that $${\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} (A + cB) > {\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} A. $$ Here we only mention special cases of our results on projections and Furstenberg sets. We prove that every $s$-Furstenberg set $F \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}$ has Hausdorff dimension $$ {\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} F \geq \max\{ 2s + (1 - s)^{2}/(2 - s), 1+s\}.$$ We prove that every $(s,t)$-Furstenberg set $F \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}$ associated with a $t$-Ahlfors-regular line set has $${\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} F \geq \min\left\{s + t,\tfrac{3s + t}{2},s + 1\right\}.$$ Let $\pi_{\theta}$ denote projection onto the line spanned by $\theta\in S^1$. We prove that if $K \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}$ is a Borel set with ${\dim_{\mathrm{H}}}(K)\le 1$, then $$ {\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} \{\theta \in S^{1} : {\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} \pi_{\theta}(K) < u\} \leq \max\{ 2(2u - {\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} K),0\}, $$ whenever $u \leq {\dim_{\mathrm{H}}} K$, and the factor "$2$" on the right-hand side can be omitted if $K$ is Ahlfors-regular., Comment: 74 pages. v2: Added author and new results

We provide several new answers on the question: how do radial projections distort the dimension of planar sets? Let $X,Y \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}$ be non-empty Borel sets. If $X$ is not contained on any line, we prove that \[ \sup_{x \in X} \dim_{\mathrm{H}} \pi_{x}(Y) \geq \min\{\dim_{\mathrm{H}} X,\dim_{\mathrm{H}} Y,1\}. \] If $\dim_{\mathrm{H}} Y > 1$, we have the following improved lower bound: \[ \sup_{x \in X} \dim_{\mathrm{H}} \pi_{x}(Y \, \setminus \, \{x\}) \geq \min\{\dim_{\mathrm{H}} X + \dim_{\mathrm{H}} Y - 1,1\}. \] Our results solve conjectures of Lund-Thang-Huong, Liu, and the first author. Another corollary is the following continuum version of Beck's theorem in combinatorial geometry: if $X \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}$ is a Borel set with the property that $\dim_{\mathrm{H}} (X \, \setminus \, \ell) = \dim_{\mathrm{H}} X$ for all lines $\ell \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}$, then the line set spanned by $X$ has Hausdorff dimension at least $\min\{2\dim_{\mathrm{H}} X,2\}$. While the results above concern $\mathbb{R}^{2}$, we also derive some counterparts in $\mathbb{R}^{d}$ by means of integralgeometric considerations. The proofs are based on an $\epsilon$-improvement in the Furstenberg set problem, due to the two first authors, a bootstrapping scheme introduced by the second and third author, and a new planar incidence estimate due to Fu and Ren., Comment: 31 pages. This paper supersedes arXiv:2205.13890

We show that the Hausdorff dimension of $(s,t)$-Furstenberg sets is at least $s+t/2+\epsilon$, where $\epsilon>0$ depends only on $s$ and $t$. This improves the previously best known bound for $2s, Comment: 15 pages

We prove two new exceptional set estimates for radial projections in the plane. If $K \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}$ is a Borel set with $\dim_{\mathrm{H}} K > 1$, then $$\dim_{\mathrm{H}} \{x \in \mathbb{R}^{2} \, \setminus \, K : \dim_{\mathrm{H}} \pi_{x}(K) \leq \sigma\} \leq \max\{1 + \sigma - \dim_{\mathrm{H}} K,0\}, \qquad \sigma \in [0,1).$$ If $K \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}$ is a Borel set with $\dim_{\mathrm{H}} K \leq 1$, then $$\dim_{\mathrm{H}} \{x \in \mathbb{R}^{2} \, \setminus \, K : \dim_{\mathrm{H}} \pi_{x}(K) < \dim_{\mathrm{H}} K\} \leq 1.$$ The finite field counterparts of both results above were recently proven by Lund, Thang, and Huong Thu. Our results resolve the planar cases of conjectures of Lund-Thang-Huong Thu, and Liu., Comment: 25 pages

We establish the dimension version of Falconer's distance set conjecture for sets of equal Hausdorff and packing dimension (in particular, for Ahlfors-regular sets) in all ambient dimensions. In dimensions $d=2$ or $3$, we obtain the first explicit estimates for the dimensions of distance sets of general Borel sets of dimension $d/2$; for example, we show that the set of distances spanned by a planar Borel set of Hausdorff dimension $1$ has Hausdorff dimension at least $(\sqrt{5}-1)/2\approx 0.618$. In higher dimensions we obtain explicit estimates for the lower Minkowski dimension of the distance sets of sets of dimension $d/2$. These results rely on new estimates for the dimensions of radial projections that may have independent interest., v2: added figures. 71 pages, 4 figures

Let $0 \leq s \leq 1$ and $0 \leq t \leq 2$. An $(s,t)$-Furstenberg set is a set $K \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}$ with the following property: there exists a line set $\mathcal{L}$ of Hausdorff dimension $\dim_{\mathrm{H}} \mathcal{L} \geq t$ such that $\dim_{\mathrm{H}} (K \cap \ell) \geq s$ for all $\ell \in \mathcal{L}$. We prove that for $s\in (0,1)$, and $t \in (s,2]$, the Hausdorff dimension of $(s,t)$-Furstenberg sets in $\mathbb{R}^{2}$ is no smaller than $2s + \epsilon$, where $\epsilon > 0$ depends only on $s$ and $t$. For $s>1/2$ and $t = 1$, this is an $\epsilon$-improvement over a result of Wolff from 1999. The same method also yields an $\epsilon$-improvement to Kaufman's projection theorem from 1968. We show that if $s \in (0,1)$, $t \in (s,2]$ and $K \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}$ is an analytic set with $\dim_{\mathrm{H}} K = t$, then $$\dim_{\mathrm{H}} \{e \in S^{1} : \dim_{\mathrm{H}} \pi_{e}(K) \leq s\} \leq s - \epsilon,$$ where $\epsilon > 0$ only depends on $s$ and $t$. Here $\pi_{e}$ is the orthogonal projection to $\mathrm{span}(e)$., Comment: 53 pages, 2 figures. v2: many small fixes and clarifications; all results unchanged

Let $\lbrace f_i(x)=s_i \cdot x+t_i \rbrace$ be a self-similar IFS on $\mathbb{R}$ and let $\beta >1$ be a Pisot number. We prove that if $\frac{\log |s_i|}{\log \beta}\notin \mathbb{Q}$ for some $i$ then for every $C^1$ diffeomorphism $g$ and every non-atomic self similar measure $\mu$, the measure $g\mu$ is supported on numbers that are normal in base $\beta$., Comment: This article supersedes arXiv:2107.02699

We survey the history and recent developments around two decades-old problems that continue to attract a great deal of interest: the slicing $\times 2$, $\times 3$ conjecture of H. Furstenberg in ergodic theory, and the distance set problem in geometric measure theory introduced by K. Falconer. We discuss some of the ideas behind our solution of Furstenberg's slicing conjecture, and recent progress in Falconer's problem. While these two problems are on the surface rather different, we emphasize some common themes in our approach: analyzing fractals through a combinatorial description in terms of ``branching numbers'', and viewing the problems through a ``multiscale projection'' lens., Comment: 25 pages, submitted to the Proceedings ofthe ICM 2022

We prove a version of Bourgain's projection theorem for parametrized families of $C^2$ maps, that refines the original statement even in the linear case. As one application, we show that if $A$ is a Borel set of Hausdorff dimension close to $1$ in $\mathbb{R}^2$ or close to $3/2$ in $\mathbb{R}^3$, then for $y\in A$ outside of a very sparse set, the pinned distance set $\{|x-y|:x\in A\}$ has Hausdorff dimension at least $1/2+c$, where $c$ is universal. Furthermore, the same holds if the distances are taken with respect to a $C^2$ norm of positive Gaussian curvature. As further applications, we obtain new bounds on the dimensions of spherical projections, and an improvement over the trivial estimate for incidences between $\delta$-balls and $\delta$-neighborhoods of curves in the plane, under fairly general assumptions. The proofs depend on a new multiscale decomposition of measures into ``Frostman pieces'' that may be of independent interest., Comment: 51 pages. v2: several fixes and clarifications, main results unchanged but numbering has changed

We show that non-trivial $\times N$-invariant sets in $[0,1]^d$, such as the Sierpi��ski carpet and the Sierpi��ski sponge, are tube-null, that is, they can be covered by a union of tubular neighbourhoods of lines of arbitrarily small total volume. This introduces a new class of tube-null sets of dimension strictly between $d-1$ and $d$. We utilize ergodic-theoretic methods to decompose the set into finitely many parts, each of which projects onto a set of Hausdorff dimension less than $1$ in some direction. We also discuss coverings by tubes for other self-similar sets, and present various applications., 24 pages, 2 figures

We show that given $��\in (0, 1)$ there is a constant $c=c(��) > 0$ such that any planar $(��, 2��)$-Furstenberg set has Hausdorff dimension at least $2��+ c$. This improves several previous bounds, in particular extending a result of Katz-Tao and Bourgain. We follow the Katz-Tao approach with suitable changes, along the way clarifying, simplifying and/or quantifying many of the steps., 29 pages. v2: many small corrections, results unchanged

We present a self-contained proof of a formula for the $L^q$ dimensions of self-similar measures on the real line under exponential separation (up to the proof of an inverse theorem for the $L^q$ norm of convolutions). This is a special case of a more general result of the author from [Shmerkin, Pablo. On Furstenberg's intersection conjecture, self-similar measures, and the $L^q$ norms of convolutions. Ann. of Math., 2019], and one of the goals of this survey is to present the ideas in a simpler, but important, setting. We also review some applications of the main result to the study of Bernoulli convolutions and intersections of self-similar Cantor sets., Comment: 33 pages, no figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1609.07802

We investigate the box dimensions of compact sets in $\mathbb{R}^2$ that contain a unit distance in every direction (such sets may have zero Hausdorff dimension). Among other results, we show that the lower box dimension must be at least $\frac{4}{7}$ and can be as low as $\frac{2}{3}$. This quantifies in a certain sense how far the unit circle is from being a difference set., Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures. v3: the proof of lower bound in dimension d\ge 3 contained a gap hence we have removed this claim; the lower bounds in the plane remain valid

We show that a set of small box counting dimension can be covered by a H��lder graph from all but a small set of directions, and give sharp bounds for the dimension of the exceptional set, improving a result of B. Hunt and V. Kaloshin. We observe that, as a consequence, H��lder graphs can have positive doubling measure, answering a question of T. Ojala and T. Rajala. We also give remarks on H��lder coverings in polar coordinates and, on the other hand, prove that a Homogenous set of small box counting dimension can be covered by a Lipschitz graph from all but a small set of directions.

We survey some of our recent results on the geometry of spatially independent martingales, in a more concrete setting that allows for shorter, direct proofs, yet is general enough for several applications and contains the well-known fractal percolation measure. We study self-convolutions and Fourier decay of measures in our class, and present applications of these results to the restriction problem for fractal measures, and the connection between arithmetic structure and Fourier decay., 28 pages, 2 figures

Under mild conditions we show that the affinity dimension of a planar self-affine set is equal to the supremum of the Lyapunov dimensions of self-affine measures supported on self-affine proper subsets of the original set. These self-affine subsets may be chosen so as to have stronger separation properties and in such a way that the linear parts of their affinities are positive matrices. Combining this result with some recent breakthroughs in the study of self-affine measures and their associated Furstenberg measures, we obtain new criteria under which the Hausdorff dimension of a self-affine set equals its affinity dimension. For example, applying recent results of B\'{a}r\'{a}ny, Hochman-Solomyak and Rapaport, we provide new explicit examples of self-affine sets whose Hausdorff dimension equals its affinity dimension, and for which the linear parts do not satisfy any domination assumptions., Comment: v3: added several examples and figures, corrected statement of Proposition 7.2. v2: Added some new examples to show that the SOSC cannot be relaxed to the OSC in Theorems 1.2 and 1.3. Applications of some results of Hochman-Solomyak have been updated to more accurately reflect the form which those results take in Hochman and Solomyak's recent preprint. Minor additional typographical fixes

In recent years there has been much interest -and progress- in understanding projections of many concrete fractals sets and measures. The general goal is to be able to go beyond general results such as Marstrand's Theorem, and quantify the size of every projection - or at least every projection outside some very small set. This article surveys some of these results and the techniques that were developed to obtain them, focusing on linear projections of planar self-similar sets and measures., 21 pages, 1 figure

We give a fractal-geometric condition for a measure on [0,1] to be supported on points x that are normal in base n, i.e. such that the sequence x,nx,n^2 x,... equidistributes modulo 1. This condition is robust under C^1 coordinate changes, and it applies also when n is a Pisot number and equidistribution is understood with respect to the beta-map and Parry measure. As applications we obtain new results (and strengthen old ones) about the prevalence of normal numbers in fractal sets, and new results on measure rigidity, specifically completing Host's theorem to multiplicatively independent integers and proving a Rudolph-Johnson-type theorem for certain pairs of beta transformations., 46 pages. v3: minor corrections and elaborations

Besicovitch showed that if a set is null for the Hausdorff measure associated to a given dimension function, then it is still null for the Hausdorff measure corresponding to a smaller dimension function. We prove that this is not true for packing measures. Moreover, we consider the corresponding questions for sets of non-$\sigma$-finite packing measure, and for pre-packing measure instead of packing measure., Comment: 10 pages, no figures

We present a complete proof of a theorem of C.G. Moreira. Under mild checkable conditions, the theorem asserts that the Hausdorff dimension of the arithmetic sum of two dynamically defined Cantor subsets of the real line, equals either the sum of the dimensions or 1, whichever is smaller., Comment: 15 pages. Expository notes, will not be submitted

The multifractal spectrum of a Borel measure $\mu$ in $\mathbb{R}^n$ is defined as \[ f_\mu(\alpha) = \dim_H {x:\lim_{r\to 0} \frac{\log \mu(B(x,r))}{\log r}=\alpha}. \] For self-similar measures under the open set condition the behavior of this and related functions is well-understood; the situation turns out to be very regular and is governed by the so-called ''multifractal formalism''. Recently there has been a lot of interest in understanding how much of the theory carries over to the overlapping case; however, much less is known in this case and what is known makes it clear that more complicated phenomena are possible. Here we carry out a complete study of the multifractal structure for a class of self-similar measures with overlap which includes the 3-fold convolution of the Cantor measure. Among other things, we prove that the multifractal formalism fails for many of these measures, but it holds when taking a suitable restriction.