\tutorial{11}{2024-01-09}{} An equivalent definition of subflows can be given as follows: \begin{definition} Let $(X,T)$ be a flow with action $\alpha_x$. Let $Y \subseteq X$ be a compact subspace of $X$. If $Y$ is invariant under $\alpha_x$, we say that $(Y,T)$ (with action $\alpha_x\defon{T \times Y}$ is a subflow of $(X,T)$. \end{definition} \begin{example}[Flows with a non-closed orbit] \begin{enumerate}[1.] \item Consider $(S^1, \Z)$ with action given by $1 \cdot x = x + c$ for a fixed $c \in \R\setminus\Q$.\footnote{We identify $S^1$ and $\faktor{\R}{\Z}$.} Then the orbit of $0$, $\{nc : n \in \Z\}$ is dense but consists only of irrationals (except $0$), so it is not closed. \item Consider $(S^1, \Q)$ with action $qx \coloneqq x + q$. The orbit of $0$, $\faktor{\Q}{\Z} \subseteq S^1$, is dense but not closed. $(S^1,\Q)$ is minimal. \end{enumerate} \end{example} \begin{example}[\vocab{Left Bernoulli shift}] Consider $(\{0,1\}^{\Z}, T)$, where $T = \Z$ and the action is given by \begin{IEEEeqnarray*}{rCl} \Z \times \{0,1\}^{\Z}&\longrightarrow & \Z \\ (m, (x_n)_{n \in \Z})&\longmapsto & (x_{n+m})_{n \in \Z}. \end{IEEEeqnarray*} The orbit of $z \coloneqq (0)_{n \in \Z}$ consist of only on point. In particular it is closed. Let $x \coloneqq ( [n = 0])_{n \in \Z}$. Then $Tx = \{([n = m])_{n \in \Z} | m \in \Z\}$. Clearly $z \not\in Tx$. \begin{claim} $z \in \overline{Tx}$ \end{claim} \begin{proof} Consider a basic open $z \in U_I = \{y : y_i = 0, i \in I\}$ where $I \subseteq \Z$ is finite. Then $U_I \cap Tx \neq \emptyset$ as we can shift the $1$ out of $I$, i.e.~$(\max I + 1) x \in U_I$. \end{proof} \end{example} Flows are always on non-empty spaces $X$. \begin{fact} Consider a flow $(X,T)$. The following are equivalent: \begin{enumerate}[(i)] \item Every $T$-orbit is dense. \item There is no proper subflow, \end{enumerate} If these conditions hold, the flow is called \vocab{minimal}. \end{fact} \begin{proof} (i) $\implies$ (ii): Let $(Y,T)$ be a subflow of $(X,T)$. take $y \in Y$. Then $Ty$ is dense in $X$. But $Ty \subseteq Y$, so $Y$ is dense in $X$. Since $Y$ is closed, we get $Y = X$. (ii) $\implies$ (i): Take $x \in X$. Consider $Tx$. It suffices to show that $\overline{Tx}$ is a subflow. Clearly $\overline{Tx}$ is closed, so it suffices to show that it is $T$-invariant. Let $y \in \overline{Tx}$ and $t \in T$. Take $ty \in U \overset{\text{open}}{\subseteq} X$. Since $t^{-1}$ acts as a homeomorphism we have $y \in t^{-1} U \overset{\text{open}}{\subseteq} X$. We find some $t'x \in t^{-1}U$ since $y \in \overline{Tx}$. So $tt'x \in Tx \cap U$. \end{proof} \begin{fact} Every flow $(X,T)$ contains a minimal subflow. \end{fact} \begin{proof} We use Zorn's lemma: Let $S$ be the set of all subflows of $(X,T)$ ordered by $Y \le Y' :\iff Y \supseteq Y'$. We need to show that for a chain $\langle Y_i : i \in I \rangle$, there exists a lower bound. Consider $\bigcap_{i \in I} Y_i$. This a subflow: \begin{itemize} \item It is closed as it is an intersection of closed sets. \item It is $T$-invariant, since each of the $Y_i$ is. \item It is non-empty by \yaref{tut10fact}. \end{itemize} \end{proof} \begin{fact} \label{tut10fact} Let $X$ be a topological space. Then $X$ is compact iff every family of closed sets with FIP\footnote{finite intersection property, i.e.~the intersection of every finite sub-family is non-empty} has non-empty intersection. \end{fact} \begin{proof} Note that families of closed sets correspond to families of open sets by taking complements. A family of open sets is a cover iff the corresponding family has empty intersection, and is admits a finite subcover iff the corresponding family has the FIP. \end{proof}