Multiple correlations and nilsequences

ABSTRACT
Multiple correlation sequences first appeared implicitly in Furstenberg’s proof of Szemeredi’s theorem. Bergelson, Host and Kra later proved they can be decomposed into the sum of a nilsequence and a sequence tending to zero in density. Motivated by this, Frantzikinakis asks whether we have a similar decomposition along the sequence of primes p_n, or Hardy sequence [n^c], or 2^n. In this talk, I’ll answer this question affirmatively. Even though the positive answers to the prime and Hardy sequences are expected, the positive answer to 2^n is somewhat surprising and has an interesting connection with harmonic analysis.