The structure of higher sumsets

Abstract: Merging together a result of Nathanson from the early 70s and a recent result of Granville and Walker, we show that for any finite set $A$ of integers with $\min(A)=0$ and $\gcd(A)=1$ there exist two sets, the "head" and the "tail", such that if $m\ge\max(A)-|A|+2$, then the $m$-fold sumset $mA$ consists of the union of these sets and a long block of consecutive integers separating them. We give sharp estimates for the length of the block, and investigate the corresponding stability problem classifying those sets $A$ for which the bound $\max(A)-|A|+2$ cannot be substantially improved.