Minimal Dynamical Systems and Approximate Conjugacy

Several versions of approximate conjugacy for minimal dynamical systems are introduced. Relation between approximate conjugacy and corresponding crossed product $C^*$-algebras is discussed. For the Cantor minimal systems, a complete description is given for these relations via $K$-theory and $C^*$-algebras. For example, it is shown that two Cantor minimal systems are approximately $\tau$-conjugate if and only if they are orbit equivalent and have the same periodic spectrum. It is also shown that two such systems are approximately $K$-conjugate if and only if the corresponding crossed product $C^*$-algebras have the same scaled ordered $K$-theory. Consequently, two Cantor minimal systems are approximately $K$-conjugate if and only if the associated transformation $C^*$-algebras are isomorphic. Incidentally, this approximate $K$-conjugacy coincides with Giordano, Putnam and Skau's strong orbit equivalence for the Cantor minimal systems.