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Take $\mathbb{N}=\{1,2,\dots \}$. We first prove the Ellis–Numakura lemma in the one-sided continuity convention needed here. Let $S$ be a nonempty compact Hausdorff space with an associative multiplication for which each map $x\mapsto xa$ is continuous. Among its nonempty closed subsemigroups, there is an inclusion-minimal one, $M$: a decreasing chain has nonempty intersection by compactness, and that intersection is a closed subsemigroup, so Zorn's lemma applies.

Fix $a\in M$. The set $Ma$ is nonempty and compact, hence closed in the Hausdorff space, and is a subsemigroup becauseMinimality gives $Ma=M$. Thus the set $T=\{x\in M:xa=a\}$ is nonempty. It is closed by the stated continuity, and it is a subsemigroup, since $(xy)a=x(ya)=xa=a$ for $x,y\in T$. Minimality again gives $T=M$, so $a\in T$ and $\boxed{a^2=a}$, giving a semigroup idempotent. If one instead uses the opposite one-sided continuity convention, the same proof uses $aM$ and $\{x:ax=a\}$; no joint continuity is required.

Apply this lemma to the Stone-Čech compactification of the natural numbers with its given addition. In the addition on the Stone-Čech compactification of the natural numbers convention,The continuous variable is $p$ when $q$ is fixed. The granted compactness, Hausdorff property and associativity therefore imply there exists an idempotent ultrafilter $p$ with $p+p=p$.

On the positive integers such a $p$ is nonprincipal: a principal ultrafilter at $n$ adds to itself to give the one at $2n$, which is different. Hence every cofinite set belongs to $p$. If zero is included in one's convention for $\mathbb{N}$, use the same compact semigroup argument on the closed space of nonprincipal ultrafilters: it is nonempty by compactness of the infinite discrete set's compactification, and the displayed addition sends two free ultrafilters to a free ultrafilter. This avoids the trivial principal idempotent at zero.

To deduce Hindman's theorem, let $A$ be the unique colour class belonging to $p$. DefineIdempotence gives $A^{\ast }\in p$. The idempotent-ultrafilter star-set lemma also gives $A^{\ast }-n\in p$ whenever $n\in A^{\ast }$. Here is its proof: $A-n\in p$, and applying idempotence to $A-n$ givesIntersecting this set with $A-n$ produces exactly $A^{\ast }-n$.

Choose $x_1\in A^{\ast }$. Suppose $x_1<\cdots <x_r$ have been chosen with every nonempty finite sum in $A^{\ast }$. The finite intersectionbelongs to $p$, and is therefore nonempty. Choose $x_{r+1}$ from it. The new sums are $x_{r+1}$ and $s+x_{r+1}$, and they all lie in $A^{\ast }$. Induction yieldsThis proves every finite colouring of the positive integers admits a monochromatic finite-sums set generated by a strictly increasing infinite sequence, the required Hindman theorem.

The ultrafilter space. An ultrafilter $U$ on $\mathbb{N}$ is a proper filter on a set: it is upward closed, closed under finite intersections, excludes $\varnothing$, and contains exactly one of $A,A^c$ for each $A\subseteq \mathbb{N}$. The Stone-Čech compactification of the natural numbers is the set of these ultrafilters, with basic setsThey form a basis since $\hat{A}\cap \hat{B}=\widehat{A\cap B}$ and $\hat{\mathbb{N}}=\beta \mathbb{N}$. Moreover $(\hat{A}{)}^c=\widehat{A^c}$, so each is a clopen set. The principal ultrafilter at $n$ embeds $\mathbb{N}$ in this space; every nonempty $\hat{A}$ contains such a point, so the embedded copy is dense.

Distinct ultrafilters $U,V$ have some $A\in U$ with $A\notin V$. Then $A^c\in V$, and $\hat{A},\widehat{A^c}$ are disjoint open sets separating them. Thus the space is Hausdorff.

For compactness, any open set cover can be refined to a cover by basic sets. If $\{\widehat{A_i}\}$ has no finite subcover, the sets $A_i^c$ have the finite intersection property: otherwise finitely many $A_i$ cover $\mathbb{N}$, and their basic sets cover every ultrafilter. Extend the proper filter on a set generated by these complements to an ultrafilter $U$. This extension follows from Zorn lemma: unions of chains of proper filters remain proper, and a maximal proper filter decides every $A$ versus $A^c$. Indeed, if adding $A$ made the filter improper, some existing filter member would be disjoint from $A$, forcing $A^c$ into the filter. This $U$ contains every $A_i^c$ and misses every $\widehat{A_i}$, a contradiction. HenceThis proves the compact Hausdorff topology on ultrafilters directly.

An idempotent. The addition on the Stone-Čech compactification of the natural numbers can be defined byAssociativity is supplied. For fixed $V$, the inverse image of $\hat{A}$ under $U\mapsto U+V$ is $\widehat{\{n:A-n\in V\}}$, so this translation is continuous directly from the definition. This makes a left-topological semigroup in the convention used here.

We prove the Ellis–Numakura lemma in this case. Among nonempty compact subsemigroups choose one, $K$, minimal by inclusion. It exists by Zorn lemma: a descending chain has nonempty intersection by compactness, and that intersection is again a compact subsemigroup. For $a\in K$, the set $K+a$ is a nonempty compact subsemigroup contained in $K$. Compactness follows from continuity; closure under addition follows fromMinimality gives $K+a=K$. Hence there is $b\in K$ with $b+a=a$. The setis nonempty, compact, and a subsemigroup: if $x,y\in L$, then $(x+y)+a=x+(y+a)=x+a=a$. Thus minimality gives $L=K$, and in particular $a+a=a$. ThereforeThis is an idempotent ultrafilter on the natural numbers.

Isolating the sequence terms. Now use the hypothetical convergent sequence of distinct ultrafilters. For each $n$, choose $C_n\in U_n$ with $C_n^c\in U$, possible since $U_n\ne U$. Convergence implies $C_n^c\in U_m$ for all sufficiently large $m$. Thus only finitely many indices $m\ne n$ have $C_n\in U_m$. Call this finite set $E_n$.

For each $m\in E_n$, choose $D_{n,m}\in U_n$ with $D_{n,m}\notin U_m$, using distinctness. SetFinite-intersection closure puts $A_n$ in $U_n$. For $m\ne n$, either $C_n\notin U_m$ or one of the chosen $D_{n,m}$ is absent from $U_m$; upward closure then prevents $A_n$ from belonging to $U_m$. Hence

For a sequence of positive integers, the nested closures of its tail finite-sums sets have nonempty compact intersection in the Stone-Čech compactification of the natural numbers. This intersection is a subsemigroup. For a sum $s$ from one tail, all sums supported beyond a chosen finite representation of $s$ lie in that tail translated by $-s$. The ultrafilter addition formula then establishes closure under addition. The Ellis–Numakura lemma supplies an idempotent ultrafilter containing every tail finite-sums set and hence any set containing the full finite-sums set.