Markov partitions and \(K_ 2\) (Q1094701)

Let \(\sigma_ A\) denote the shift transformation on a subshift of finite type over a finite or countable symbol set defined by the 0-1 matrix A. The paper provides a new method for studying invariants of the automorphism group \(Aut(\sigma_ A)\) in connection with the old finite order generation conjecture. The author introduces an action of \(Aut(\sigma_ A)\) on the space \(p_ A\) of uniform Markov partitions of \(\sigma_ A\). It is first shown that \(p_ A\) can be given the structure of a contractible simplicial complex. Then it is possible to construct homomorphisms from \(Aut(\sigma_ A)\) into other simpler groups: automorphisms of the dimension group or the algebraic K-theory group \(K_ 2\). This is achieved via a canonical homomorphism of \(Aut(\sigma_ A)\) into the fundamental group of the space of all shift equivalences in the category of nonnegative integral matrices. Another basic fact is triangle inequalities derived from the geometric structure of \(p_ A\).