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We solve Boshernitzan's problem of characterization (in terms of so called Furstenberg systems) of bounded sequences that are orthogonal to all uniquely ergodic systems. Some variations of Boshernitzan's problem involving characteristic classes are considered. As an application, we characterize sequences orthogonal to all uniquely ergodic systems whose (unique) invariant measure yields a discrete spectrum automorphism as those satisfying an averaged Chowla property., Comment: 1 figure

Basic properties of stationary processes called Sarnak processes are studied. As an application, a combinatorial reformulation of Sarnak's conjecture on M{\"o}bius orthogonality is provided.

We consider vanishing properties of exponential sums of the Liouville function $\lambda$ of the form $$ \lim_{H\to\infty}\limsup_{X\to\infty}\frac{1}{\log X}\sum_{m\leq X}\frac{1}{m}\sup_{\alpha\in C}\bigg|\frac{1}{H}\sum_{h\leq H}\lambda(m+h)e^{2\pi ih\alpha}\bigg|=0, $$ where $C\subset\mathbb{T}$. The case $C=\mathbb{T}$ corresponds to the local $1$-Fourier uniformity conjecture of Tao, a central open problem in the study of multiplicative functions with far-reaching number-theoretic applications. We show that the above holds for any closed set $C\subset\mathbb{T}$ of zero Lebesgue measure. Moreover, we prove that extending this to any set $C$ with non-empty interior is equivalent to the $C=\mathbb{T}$ case, which shows that our results are essentially optimal without resolving the full conjecture. We also consider higher-order variants. We prove that if the linear phase $e^{2\pi ih\alpha}$ is replaced by a polynomial phase $e^{2\pi ih^t\alpha}$ for $t\geq 2$ then the statement remains true for any set $C$ of upper box-counting dimension $<1/t$. The statement also remains true if the supremum over linear phases is replaced with a supremum over all nilsequences coming form a compact countable ergodic subsets of any $t$-step nilpotent Lie group. Furthermore, we discuss the unweighted version of the local $1$-Fourier uniformity problem, showing its validity for a class of ``rigid'' sets (of full Hausdorff dimension) and proving a density result for all closed subsets of zero Lebesgue measure., Comment: 25 pages; added Theorems 1.2 and 4.1 on the optimality of results; to appear in IMRN

We prove structural results for measure preserving systems, called Furstenberg systems, naturally associated with bounded multiplicative functions. We show that for all pretentious multiplicative functions these systems always have rational discrete spectrum and, as a consequence, zero entropy. We obtain several other refined structural and spectral results, one consequence of which is that the Archimedean characters are the only pretentious multiplicative functions that have Furstenberg systems with trivial rational spectrum, another is that a pretentious multiplicative function has ergodic Furstenberg systems if and only if it pretends to be a Dirichlet character, and a last one is that for any fixed pretentious multiplicative function all its Furstenberg systems are isomorphic. We also study structural properties of Furstenberg systems of a class of multiplicative functions, introduced by Matom\"aki, Radziwill, and Tao, which lie in the intermediate zone between pretentiousness and strong aperiodicity. In a work of the last two authors and Gomilko, several examples of this class with exotic ergodic behavior were identified, and here we complement this study and discover some new unexpected phenomena. Lastly, we prove that Furstenberg systems of general bounded multiplicative functions have divisible spectrum. When these systems are obtained using logarithmic averages, we show that trivial rational spectrum implies a strong dilation invariance property, called strong stationarity, but, quite surprisingly, this property fails when the systems are obtained using Ces\`aro averages., Comment: 66 pages. Referee's comments incorporated. To appear in ETDS

We study the complexity of $\mathscr{B}$-free subshifts which are proximal and of zero entropy. Such subshifts are generated by Behrend sets. The complexity is shown to achieve any subexponential growth and is estimated for some classical subshifts (prime and semiprime subshifts). We also show that $\mathscr{B}$-admissible subshifts are transitive only for coprime sets $\mathscr{B}$ which allows one to characterize dynamically the subshifts generated by the Erd\"os sets.

We prove that on B-free subshifts, with B satisfying the Erd\"os condition, all cellular automata are determined by monotone sliding block codes. In particular, this implies the validity of the Garden of Eden theorem for such systems., Comment: 23 pages

We prove Veech's conjecture on the equivalence of Sarnak's conjecture on M\"obius orthogonality with a Kolmogorov type property of Furstenberg systems of the M\''obius function. This yields a combinatorial condition on the M\"obius function itself which is equivalent to Sarnak's conjecture. As a matter of fact, our arguments remain valid in a larger context: we characterize all bounded arithmetic functions orthogonal to all topological systems whose all ergodic measures yield systems from a fixed characteristic class (zero entropy class is an example of such a characteristic class) with the characterization persisting in the logarithmic setup. As a corollary, we obtain that the logarithmic Sarnak's conjecture holds if and only if the logarithmic M\''obius orthogonality is satisfied for all dynamical systems whose ergodic measures yield nilsystems.

This is a survey on Sarnak's Conjecture

This is a survey on spectral theory of dynamical systems.

It is shown that in a class of counterexamples to Elliott's conjecture by Matomaki, Radziwill and Tao, the Chowla conjecture holds along a subsequence.

It is proved that each Gaussian cocycle over a mildly mixing Gaussian transformation is either a Gaussian coboundary or sharply weak mixing. The class of nonsingular infinite direct products $T$ of transformations $T_n$, $n\in\Bbb N$, of finite type (IDPFT) is studied. It is shown that if $T_n$ is mildly mixing, $n\in\Bbb N$, the sequence of the Radon-Nikodym derivatives of $T_n$ is asymptotically translation quasi-invariant and $T$ is conservative then the Maharam extension of $T$ is sharply weak mixing. This techniques provides a new approach to the nonsingular Gaussian transformations studied recently by Arano, Isono and Marrakchi., Comment: Some new references are added

We prove that neither a prime nor {an l-almost prime} number theorem hold in the class of regular Toeplitz subshifts. But, {when a quantitative strengthening of the regularity with respect to the periodic structure involving Euler's totient function is assumed}, then the two theorems hold., Comment: 25 pages, no figures

We obtain a complete classification of complex-valued sequences which are both multiplicative and automatic., Comment: 30 pages

We establish a prime number theorem for all uniquely ergodic, analytic skew products on the $2$-torus $\mathbb{T}^2$. More precisely, for every irrational $\alpha$ and every $1$-periodic real analytic $g:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ of zero mean, let $T_{\alpha,g} : \mathbb{T}^2 \rightarrow \mathbb{T}^2$ be defined by $(x,y) \mapsto (x+\alpha,y+g(x))$. We prove that if $T_{\alpha, g}$ is uniquely ergodic then, for every $(x,y) \in \mathbb{T}^2$, the sequence $\{T_{\alpha, g}^p(x,y)\}$ is equidistributed on $\mathbb{T}^2$ as $p$ traverses prime numbers. This is the first example of a class of natural, non-algebraic and smooth dynamical systems for which a prime number theorem holds. We also show that such a prime number theorem does not necessarily hold if $g$ is only continuous on $\mathbb{T}^2$.

Higher-dimensional binary shifts of number-theoretic origin with positive topological entropy are considered. We are particularly interested in analysing their symmetries and extended symmetries. They form groups, known as the topological centraliser and normaliser of the shift dynamical system, which are natural topological invariants. Here, our focus is on shift spaces with trivial centralisers, but large normalisers. In particular, we discuss several systems where the normaliser is an infinite extension of the centraliser, including the visible lattice points and the $k$-free integers in some real quadratic number fields., Comment: 25 pages, 1 figure; revised version with minor improvements and additions

Let $(X, T)$ be a topological dynamical system. We show that if each invariant measure of $(X, T)$ gives rise to a measure-theoretic dynamical system that is either: a. rigid along a sequence of "bounded prime volume" or b. admits a polynomial rate of rigidity on a linearly dense subset in $C(X)$, then $(X, T)$ satisfies Sarnak's conjecture on M\"obius disjointness. We show that the same conclusion also holds if there are countably many invariant ergodic measures, and each of them satisfies a. or b. This recovers some earlier results and implies Sarnak's conjecture in the following new cases: for almost every interval exchange map of $d$ intervals with $d \geq 2$, for $C^{2+\epsilon}$-smooth skew products over rotations and $C^{2+\epsilon}$-smooth flows (without fixed points) on the torus. In particular, these are improvements of earlier results of respectively Chaika-Eskin, Wang and Huang-Wang-Ye. We also discuss some purely arithmetic consequences for the Liouville function., Comment: First version had a gap in the proof of Theorem 3.1. The gap is fixed in the current version (at a cost of a slightly weaker statement)

It is proved that whenever a zero entropy dynamical system $(X,T)$ has only countably many ergodic measures and $\mu$ stands for the arithmetic M{\"o}bius function, then there exists a subset $A$ of integers depending only on the system, of logarithmic density one, such that for each $f$ continuous on $X$, $\frac1N \sum_{n\leq N} f(T^nx)\mu(n) \to 0$ as $N\to\infty$, $N\in A$, uniformly in $x\in X$. In particular, the density version of M{\"o}bius orthogonality holds.

Given a finite alphabet $\mathbb{A}$ and a primitive substitution $\theta:\mathbb{A}\to\mathbb{A}^\lambda$ (of constant length $\lambda$), let $(X_\theta,S)$ denote the corresponding dynamical system, where $X_{\theta}$ is the closure of the orbit via the left shift $S$ of a fixed point of the natural extension of $\theta$ to a self-map of $\mathbb{A}^{\mathbb{Z}}$. The main result of the paper is that all continuous observables in $X_{\theta}$ are orthogonal to any bounded, aperiodic, multiplicative function $\mathbf{u}:\mathbb{N}\to\mathbb{C}$, i.e. \[ \lim_{N\to\infty}\frac1N\sum_{n\leq N}f(S^nx)\mathbf{u}(n)=0\] for all $f\in C(X_{\theta})$ and $x\in X_{\theta}$. In particular, each primitive automatic sequence, that is, a sequence read by a primitive finite automaton, is orthogonal to any bounded, aperiodic, multiplicative function., Comment: 45 pages

The Ratner property, a quantitative form of divergence of nearby trajectories, is a central feature in the study of parabolic homogeneous flows. Discovered by Marina Ratner and used in her 1980th seminal works on horocycle flows, it pushed forward the disjointness theory of such systems. In this paper, exploiting a recent variation of the Ratner property, we prove new disjointness phenomena for smooth parabolic flows beyond the homogeneous world. In particular, we establish a general disjointness criterion based on the switchable Ratner property. We then apply this new criterion to study disjointness properties of smooth time changes of horocycle flows and smooth Arnol'd flows on the torus, focusing in particular on disjointness of distinct flow rescalings. As a consequence, we answer a question by Marina Ratner on the Moebius orthogonality of time-changes of horocycle flows. In fact, we prove Moebius orthogonality for all smooth time-changes of horocycle flows and uniquely ergodic realizations of Arnol'd flows considered., Comment: 77 pages, 3 figures

We show that the M\"obius disjointess of zero entropy dynamical systems implies the existence of an increasing sequence of positive integers along which the Chowla conjecture on autocorrelations of the M\"obius function holds., Comment: Proceedings of the Chair Morlet semester "Ergodic Theory and Dynamical Systems in their Interactions with Arithmetic and Combinatorics" 1.08.2016--31.01.2017, Springer, to appear

Given a level set $E$ of an arbitrary multiplicative function $f$, we establish, by building on the fundamental work of Frantzikinakis and Host [13,14], a structure theorem which gives a decomposition of $\mathbb{1}_E$ into an almost periodic and a pseudo-random parts. Using this structure theorem together with the technique developed by the authors in [3], we obtain the following result pertaining to polynomial multiple recurrence. Let $E=\{n_10$, all $\ell\geq 1$ and all polynomials $p_i\in\mathbb{Z}[x]$, $i=1,\ldots,\ell$, with $p_i(0)=0$ we have $$ \lim_{N\to\infty}\frac{1}{N}\sum_{j=1}^N \mu\big(A\cap T^{-p_1(n_j)}A\cap\ldots\cap T^{-p_\ell(n_j)}A\big)>0. $$ We also show that if a level set $E$ of a multiplicative function has positive upper density, then any self-shift $E-r$, $r\in E$, is a set of averaging polynomial multiple recurrence. This in turn leads to the following refinement of the polynomial Szemer\'edi theorem (cf. [4]). Let $E$ be a level set of an arbitrary multiplicative function, suppose $E$ has positive upper density and let $r\in E$. Then for any set $D\subset \mathbb{N}$ with positive upper density and any polynomials $p_i\in\mathbb{Q}[t]$, $i=1,\ldots,\ell$, which satisfy $p_i(\mathbb{Z})\subset\mathbb{Z}$ and $p_i(0)=0$ for all $i\in\{1,\ldots,\ell\}$, there exists $\beta>0$ such that the set $$ \left\{\,n\in E-r:\overline{d}\Big(D\cap (D-p_1(n))\cap \ldots\cap(D-p_\ell(n)) \Big)>\beta \,\right\} $$ has positive lower density., Comment: 32 pages. Formerly part of arXiv:1705.07322

The liftable centralizer for special flows over irrational rotations is studied. It is shown that there are such flows under piecewise constant roof functions which are rigid and whose liftable centralizer is trivial.

Given a topological dynamical system $(X,T)$ and an arithmetic function $\boldsymbol{u}\colon\mathbb{N}\to\mathbb{C}$, we study the strong MOMO property (relatively to $\boldsymbol{u}$) which is a strong version of $\boldsymbol{u}$-disjointness with all observable sequences in $(X,T)$. It is proved that, given an ergodic measure-preserving system $(Z,\mathcal{D},\kappa,R)$, the strong MOMO property (relatively to $\boldsymbol{u}$) of a uniquely ergodic model $(X,T)$ of $R$ yields all other uniquely ergodic models of $R$ to be $\boldsymbol{u}$-disjoint. It follows that all uniquely ergodic models of: ergodic unipotent diffeomorphisms on nilmanifolds, discrete spectrum automorphisms, systems given by some substitutions of constant length (including the classical Thue-Morse and Rudin-Shapiro substitutions), systems determined by Kakutani sequences are M\"obius (and Liouville) disjoint. The validity of Sarnak's conjecture implies the strong MOMO property relatively to $\boldsymbol{\mu}$ in all zero entropy systems, in particular, it makes $\boldsymbol{\mu}$-disjointness uniform. The absence of strong MOMO property in positive entropy systems is discussed and, it is proved that, under the Chowla conjecture, a topological system has the strong MOMO property relatively to the Liouville function if and only if its topological entropy is zero., Comment: 35 pages

We show that there are an irrational rotation $Tx=x+\alpha$ on the circle $\mathbb{T}$ and a continuous $\varphi\colon\mathbb{T}\to\mathbb{R}$ such that for each (continuous) uniquely ergodic flow $\mathcal{S}=(S_t)_{t\in\mathbb{R}}$ acting on a compact metric space $Y$, the automorphism $T_{\varphi,\mathcal{S}}$ acting on $(X\times Y,\mu\otimes\nu)$ by the formula $T_{\varphi,\mathcal{S}}(x,y)=(Tx,S_{\varphi(x)}(y))$, where $\mu$ stands for Lebesgue measure on $\mathbb{T}$ and $\nu$ denotes the unique $\mathcal{S}$-invariant measure, has the property of asymptotically orthogonal powers. This gives a class of relatively weakly mixing extensions of irrational rotations for which Sarnak's conjecture on M\"obius disjointness holds for all uniquely ergodic models of $T_{\varphi,\mathcal{S}}$. Moreover, we obtain a class of "random" ergodic sequences $(c_n)\subset\mathbb{Z}$ such that if $\boldsymbol{\mu}$ denotes the M\"obius function, then $$ \lim_{N\to\infty}\frac1N\sum_{n\leq N}g(S_{c_n}y)\boldsymbol{\mu}(n)=0 $$ for all (continuous) uniquely ergodic flows $\mathcal{S}$, all $g\in C(Y)$ and $y\in Y$., Comment: 38 pages

Let $\mathcal B$ be an infinite subset of $\{1,2,\dots\}$. We characterize arithmetic and dynamical properties of the $\mathcal B$-free set $\mathcal F_{\mathcal B}$ through group theoretical, topological and measure theoretic properties of a set $W$ (called the window) associated with $\mathcal B$. This point of view stems from the interpretation of the set $\mathcal F_{\mathcal B}$ as a weak model set. Our main results are: $\mathcal B$ is taut if and only if the window is Haar regular; the dynamical system associated to $\mathcal F_{\mathcal B}$ is a Toeplitz system if and only if the window is topologically regular; the dynamical system associated to $\mathcal F_{\mathcal B}$ is proximal if and only if the window has empty interior; and the dynamical system associated to $\mathcal F_{\mathcal B}$ has the "na\"ively expected" maximal equicontinuous factor if and only if the interior of the window is aperiodic.

A set $R\subset \mathbb{N}$ is called rational if it is well-approximable by finite unions of arithmetic progressions. Examples of rational sets include many classical sets of number-theoretical origin such as the set of squarefree numbers, the set of abundant numbers, or sets of the form $\Phi_x:=\{n\in\mathbb{N}: \frac{\boldsymbol{\varphi}(n)}{n}0$, then the following are equivalent: (a) $R$ is divisible, i.e. $\overline{d}(R\cap u \mathbb{N})>0$ for all $u\in\mathbb{N}$. (b) $R$ is an averaging set of polynomial single recurrence. (c) $R$ is an averaging set of polynomial multiple recurrence. As an application, we show that if $R$ is rational and divisible, then for any set $E\subset\mathbb{N}$ with $\overline{d}(E)>0$ and any polynomials $p_i\in\mathbb{Q}[t]$,$i=1,\ldots,\ell$, which satisfy $p_i(\mathbb{Z})\subset\mathbb{Z}$ and $p_i(0)=0$ for all $i\in\{1,\ldots,\ell\}$, there exists $\beta>0$ such that the set $$\{n\in R:\overline{d}( E\cap (E-p_1(n))\cap\ldots\cap(E-p_\ell(n)))>\beta\}$$ has positive lower density. Ramsey-theoretical applications naturally lead to problems in symbolic dynamics, which involve rationally almost periodic sequences. We prove that if $\mathcal{A}$ is a finite alphabet, $\eta\in\mathcal{A}^\mathbb{N}$ is rationally almost periodic, $S$ denotes the left-shift on $\mathcal{A}^\mathbb{Z}$ and $$X:=\{y\in \mathcal{A}^\mathbb{Z} : \text{each finite word appearing in $y$ appears in }\eta\},$$ then $\eta$ is a generic point for an $S$-invariant probability measure $\nu$ on $X$ such that $(X,\nu,S)$ is ergodic and has rational discrete spectrum., Comment: 53 pages

It is shown that each conservative nonsingular Bernoulli shift is either of type $II_1$ or $III_1$. Moreover, in the latter case the corresponding Maharam extension of the shift is a $K$-automorphism. This extends earlier results obtained by Z.~Kosloff for the equilibrial shifts. Nonequilibrial shifts of type $III_1$ are constructed. We further generalize (partly) the main results to nonsingular Markov shifts., Comment: A little gap in the proof of Proposition 1.5 is corrected

Let $ G $ be a connected, simply connected nilpotent Lie group and $ \Gamma < G $ a lattice. We prove that each ergodic diffeomorphism $ \phi(x\Gamma)=uA(x)\Gamma $ on the nilmanifold $ G/\Gamma $, where $ u\in G $ and $ A:G\to G $ is a unipotent automorphism satisfying $ A(\Gamma)=\Gamma $, enjoys the property of asymptotically orthogonal powers (AOP). Two consequences follow: (i) Sarnak's conjecture on M\"obius orthogonality holds in every uniquely ergodic model of an ergodic affine unipotent diffeomorphism; (ii) For ergodic affine unipotent diffeomorphisms themselves, the M\"obius orthogonality holds on so called typical short interval: $ \frac1 M\sum_{M\leq m<2M}\left|\frac1H\sum_{m\leq n

We show that a free, ergodic action of $\mathbb{R}$ with (finite) Ratner's property has countable discrete essential centralizer. Moreover we show that such flows are mildly mixing., Comment: 9 pages

Let $B\subset \mathbb{N}$ and let $\eta\in \{0,1\}^\mathbb{Z}$ be the characteristic function of the set $F_B:=\mathbb{Z}\setminus\bigcup_{b}b\mathbb{Z}$ of B-free numbers. Consider $(S,X_\eta)$, where $X_\eta$ is the closure of the orbit of $\eta$ under the left shift S. When $B=\{p^2 : p\in P\}$, $(S,X_\eta)$ was studied by Sarnak. This case + some generalizations, including the case (*) of B infinite, coprime with $\sum_{b}1/b<\infty$, were discussed by several authors. For general B, contrary to (*), we may have $X_\eta\subsetneq X_B:=\{x\in \{0,1\}^\mathbb{Z} : |\text{supp }x\bmod b|\leq b-1 \forall_b\}$. Also, $X_\eta$ may not be hereditary (heredity means that if $x\in X$ and $y\leq x$ coordinatewise then $y\in X$). We show that $\eta$ is quasi-generic for a natural measure $\nu_\eta$. We solve the problem of proximality by showing first that $X_\eta$ has a unique minimal (Toeplitz) subsystem. Moreover B-free system is proximal iff B contains an infinite coprime set. B is taut when $\delta(F_B)<\delta(F_{B\setminus \{b\} })$ for each b. We give a characterization of taut B in terms of the support of $\nu_\eta$. Moreover, for any B there exists a taut B' with $\nu_\eta=\nu_{\eta'}$. For taut sets B,B', we have B=B' iff $X_B=X_{B'}$. For each B there is a taut B' with $\tilde{X}_{\eta'}\subset \tilde{X}_\eta$ and all invariant measures for $(S,\tilde{X}_\eta)$ live on $\tilde{X}_{\eta'}$. $(S,\tilde{X}_\eta)$ is shown to be intrinsically ergodic for all B. We give a description of all invariant measures for $(S,\tilde{X}_\eta)$. The topological entropies of $(S,\tilde{X}_\eta)$ and $(S,X_B)$ are both equal to $\overline{d}(F_B)$. We show that for a subclass of taut B-free systems proximality is the same as heredity. Finally, we give applications in number theory on gaps between consecutive B-free numbers. We apply our results to the set of abundant numbers., Comment: 79 pages

We show that Sarnak's conjecture on M\"obius disjointness holds in every uniquely ergodic modelof a quasi-discrete spectrum automorphism. A consequence of this result is that, for each non constant polynomial $P\in\R[x]$ with irrational leading coefficient and for each multiplicative function $\bnu:\N\to\C$, $|\bnu|\leq1$, we have\[ \frac{1}{M} \sum\_{M\le m\textless{}2M} \frac{1}{H} \left| \sum\_{m\le n \textless{} m+H} e^{2\pi iP(n)}\bnu(n) \right|\longrightarrow 0 \] as $M\to\infty$, $H\to\infty$, $H/M\to 0$.

We give a sufficient condition for the simplex of invariant measures for a hereditary system to be Poulsen. In particular, we show that this simplex is Poulsen in case of positive entropy $\mathscr{B}$-free systems. We also give an example of a positive entropy hereditary system whose simplex of invariant measures is not Poulsen., Comment: 10 pages

We rephrase the conditions from the Chowla and the Sarnak conjectures in abstract setting, that is, for sequences of numbers in {-1,0,1}, and introduce several natural generalizations. We study the relationships between these properties and other notions from topological dynamics and ergodic theory.

We show that the $\mathscr{B}$-free subshift $(S,X_{\mathscr{B}})$ associated to a $\mathscr{B}$-free system is intrinsically ergodic, i.e.\ it has exactly one measure of maximal entropy. Moreover, we study invariant measures for such systems. It is proved that each ergodic invariant measure is of joining type, determined by a joining of the Mirsky measure of a $\mathscr{B}'$-free subshift contained in $(S,X_{\mathscr{B}})$ and an ergodic invariant measure of the full shift on $\{0,1\}^{\mathbb{Z}}$. Moreover, each ergodic joining type measure yields a measure-theoretic dynamical system with infinite rational part of the spectrum corresponding to the above Mirsky measure. Finally, we show that, in general, hereditary systems may not be intrinsically ergodic., Comment: 45 pages

Let $p$ be an idempotent ultrafilter over $\mathbb{N}$. For a positive integer $N$, let ${\cal P}_{\leq N}$ denote the additive group of polynomials $P\in\mathbb{Z}[x]$ with ${\rm deg}\, P\leq N$ and $P(0)=0$. Given a unitary operator $U$ on a Hilbert space ${\cal H}$, we prove, for each $N\geq1$, the existence of a unique decomposition ${\cal H}=\bigoplus_{r\geq 1}{\cal H}^{(N)}_r$ into closed, $U$-invariant subspaces such that (a) for any polynomial $P\in{\cal P}_{\leq N}$, we have $$ p\, \text{-}\!\lim_{n\in\mathbb{N}} \left(U|_{{\cal H}_r^{(N)}}\right)^{P(n)}=0_{{\cal H}_r^{(N)}}\;\mbox{or}\; Id_{{\cal H}_r^{(N)}},\; \mbox{for each}\; r\geq1 ; $$ (b) for each $r\neq s$ there exists $Q\in{\cal P}_{\leq N}$ such that $$ p\,\text{-}\!\lim_{n\in\mathbb{N}} \left(U|_{{\cal H}_r^{(N)}}\right)^{Q(n)}\neq p\,\text{-}\!\lim_{n\in\mathbb{N}} \left(U|_{{\cal H}_s^{(N)}}\right)^{Q(n)}. $$ In connection with this result we introduce the notion of rigidity group. Namely, a subgroup $G\subset {\cal P}_{\leq N}$ is called an $N$-rigidity group if there exist an idempotent ultrafilter $p$ over $\mathbb{N}$ and a unitary operator $U$ on a Hilbert space $\cal H$ such that $$\label{ab1} G=\{P\in{\cal P}_{\leq N}:\: p\,\text{-}\!\lim_{n\in\mathbb{N}} U ^{P(n)}=Id\}$$ and $p\,\text{-}\!\lim_{n\in\mathbb{N}} U ^{Q(n)}=0\;\;\mbox{for each}\;\;Q\in{\cal P}_{\leq N}\setminus G.$ The main result of the paper states that a subgroup $G\subset {\cal P}_{\leq N}$ satisfying $\max\{{\rm deg}\, P:\:P\in G\}=N$ is an $N$-rigidity group if and only if $G$ has finite index in ${\cal P}_{\leq N}$.

We extend the study of the square-free flow, recently introduced by Sarnak, to the more general context of B-free integers, that is to say integers with no factor in a given family B of pairwise relatively prime integers, the sum of whose reciprocals is finite. Relying on dynamical arguments, we prove in particular that the distribution of patterns in the characteristic function of the B-free integers follows a shift-invariant probability measure, and gives rise to a measurable dynamical system isomorphic to a specific minimal rotation on a compact group. As a by-product, we get the abundance of twin B-free integers. Moreover, we show that the distribution of patterns in small intervals also conforms to the same measure. When elements of B are squares, we introduce a generalization of the M\"obius function, and discuss a conjecture of Chowla in this broader context.

Let $f\colon \mathbb{T}\to \mathbb{R}$ be of class $C^{1+\delta}$ for some $\delta>0$ and let $c\in\mathbb{Z}$. We show that for a generic $\alpha\in\mathbb{R}$, the extension $T_{c,f}\colon \mathbb{T}^2\to\mathbb{T}^2$ of the irrational rotation $Tx=x+\alpha$, given by $T_{c,f}(x,u)=(x+\alpha, u+cx+f(x))$ ($\bmod\ 1$) satisfies Sarnak's conjecture., Comment: 26 pages. The paper has been shortened. It covers now only compact group extensions of rotations, Rokhlin extensions have been removed. A remark on disjointness criterion for irrational rotation was added

Let $H_3(\Bbb R)$ denote the 3-dimensional real Heisenberg group. Given a family of lattices $\Gamma_1\supset\Gamma_2\supset\cdots$ in it, let $T$ stand for the associated uniquely ergodic $H_3(\Bbb R)$-{\it odometer}, i.e. the inverse limit of the $H_3(\Bbb R)$-actions by rotations on the homogeneous spaces $H_3(\Bbb R)/\Gamma_j$, $j\in\Bbb N$. The decomposition of the underlying Koopman unitary representation of $H_3(\Bbb R)$ into a countable direct sum of irreducible components is explicitly described. The ergodic 2-fold self-joinings of $T$ are found. It is shown that in general, the $H_3(\Bbb R)$-odometers are neither isospectral nor spectrally determined., Comment: To appear in J. d'Anal. Math