On the leading term and the degree of the polynomial trace mapping associated with a substitution (Q1897030)

A useful tool to study one-dimensional Schrödinger operators with potentials generated by substitutions or finite automata is the trace map. An important new tool has been introduced by \textit{A. Bovier} and \textit{J.-M. Ghez} [Commun. Math. Phys. 158, 45-66 (1993; Zbl 0820.35099); Erratum in Commun. Math. Phys. 166, 431-432 (1994)]: the reduced trace map, which allows one to obtain information (for example the leading terms of the trace map) even when the trace map is not explicitly known. The aim of the paper under review is to determine these leading terms by using only combinatorial properties of the substitution. The ideas are very nice and interesting from the triple point of view of physics, mathematics and theoretical computer science.