Følner-sequence density conjecture for sumsets in the integers

Let A,BsubseteqewlineZA,B subseteq ewline \mathbb Z be nonempty, and let F=(Fn)nN\mathbf F=(F_n)_{n\in\mathbb N} be a Følner sequence of finite subsets of Z\mathbb Z, meaning that

limn(Fn+t)FnFn=0\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{|(F_n+t)\triangle F_n|}{|F_n|}=0

for every tZt\in\mathbb Z. For CZC\subseteq\mathbb Z, write

dF(C)=lim infnCFnFn,dF(C)=limnCFnFn\underline{\mathrm{d}}_{\mathbf F}(C)=\liminf_{n\to\infty}\frac{|C\cap F_n|}{|F_n|},\qquad \mathrm{d}_{\mathbf F}(C)=\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{|C\cap F_n|}{|F_n|}

when the latter limit exists. Følner-sequence density conjecture. If

dF(A+B)<dF(A)+dF(B),\underline{\mathrm{d}}_{\mathbf F}(A+B)<\underline{\mathrm{d}}_{\mathbf F}(A)+\underline{\mathrm{d}}_{\mathbf F}(B),

then there is a kNk\in\mathbb N such that

dF(A+B)=dF(A+B+kZ).\mathrm{d}_{\mathbf F}(A+B)=\mathrm{d}_{\mathbf F}(A+B+k\mathbb Z).

The source explicitly says that this appealing generalization is false; the displayed example shows why the related cofinite conclusion cannot be retained, while the conjectured density conclusion is also not valid in the stated generality.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

John T. Griesmer, “Kneser- and Jin-type inverse theorems in discrete abelian groups”, arXiv:2602.19014 (2026).

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