On maximal subgroups of ample groups

Abstract

The paper is concerned with maximal subgroups of the ample (better known as topological full) groups of homeomorphisms of totally disconnected compact metrizable topological spaces. We describe all maximal subgroups that are stabilizers of finite sets. Under certain assumptions on the ample group (including minimality), we describe all maximal subgroups that are stabilizers of closed sets or stabilizers of partitions into clopen sets. In particular, our results apply to the ample groups associated with Cantor minimal systems and to some Higman-Thompson groups.

50 pages. The paper underwent a radical revision: all nonessential results removed, new results added, many proofs simplified. Sections "Regularity properties" and "Property E" have been rewritten almost completely