Dynamics of twisted Alexander invariants (Q1032922)

In generalizing the authors' work [Topology 41, No.~5, 979--991 (2002; Zbl 1024.57007)], for a representation from a classical link group to the general linear group of the integers, a based twisted Alexander module and a twisted Alexander polynomial are introduced and analogous results are proved. In particular, the Pontyagin dual of the former carries a shift whose topological entropy is determined by the twisted torsion numbers and lies between the logarithmic Mahler measure of the Alexander-Lin polynomial and the (smaller) logarithmic Mahler measure of Wada's related invariant (Theorem 3.10). In more special cases, the logarithmic Mahler measure of the twisted Alexander polynomial is similarly related to the twisted torsion numbers (Theorem 3.13). Torus knots and 2-bridge knots serve as a source for model calculations.