Infinite unrestricted sumsets of the form $B+B$ in sets with large density

Abstract

For a set $A \subset \mathbb{N}$ we characterize in terms of its density when there exists an infinite set $B \subset \mathbb{N}$ and $t \in \{0,1\}$ such that $B+B \subset A-t$, where $B+B : =\{b_1+b_2\colon b_1,b_2 \in B\}$. Specifically, when the lower density $\underline{d}(A) >1/2$ or the upper density $\overline{d}(A)> 3/4$, the existence of such a set $B\subset \mathbb{N}$ and $t\in \{0,1\}$ is assured. Furthermore, whenever $\underline{d}(A) > 3/4$ or $\overline{d}(A)>5/6$, we show that the shift $t$ is unnecessary and we also provide examples to show that these bounds are sharp. Finally, we construct a syndetic three-coloring of the natural numbers that does not contain a monochromatic $B+B+t$ for any infinite set $B \subset \mathbb{N}$ and number $t \in \mathbb{N}$.