The Z^d Alpern multi-tower theorem for rectangles: a tiling approach

Abstract

We provide a proof of the Alpern multi-tower theorem for Z^d actions. We reformulate the theorem as a problem of measurably tiling orbits of a Z^d action by a collection of rectangles whose corresponding sides have no non-trivial common divisors. We associate to such a collection of rectangles a special family of generalized domino tilings. We then identify an intrinsic dynamic property of these tilings, viewed as symbolic dynamical systems, which allows for a multi-tower decomposition.