Følner-sequence density conjecture for sumsets in the integers

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

lim⁡n→∞∣(Fn+t)△Fn∣∣Fn∣=0\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{|(F_n+t)\triangle F_n|}{|F_n|}=0

for every t∈Zt\in\mathbb Z. For C⊆ZC\subseteq\mathbb Z, write

d‾F(C)=lim inf⁡n→∞∣C∩Fn∣∣Fn∣,dF(C)=lim⁡n→∞∣C∩Fn∣∣Fn∣\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

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

then there is a k∈Nk\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.

References

Primary source

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

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