Weak mixing suspension flows over shifts of finite type are universal

Abstract

Let S be an ergodic measure-preserving automorphism on a non-atomic probability space, and let T be the time-one map of a topologically weak mixing suspension flow over an irreducible subshift of finite type under a Holder ceiling function. We show that if the measure-theoretic entropy of S is strictly less than the topological entropy of T, then there exists an embedding from the measure-preserving automorphism into the suspension flow. As a corollary of this result and the symbolic dynamics for geodesic flows on compact surfaces of negative curvature developed by Bowen and Ratner, we also obtain an embedding from the measure-preserving automorphism into a geodesic flow, whenever the measure-theoretic entropy of S is strictly less than the topological entropy of the time-one map of the geodesic flow.

27 pages, 1 figure