Dynamical systems and the homology norm of a 3-manifold. II (Q1187486)

Let \(M\) be an irreducible atoroidal 3-manifold. \textit{W. P. Thurston} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 339, 99-130 (1986; Zbl 0585.57006)] showed that there is a natural norm on \(H_ 2(M;\mathbb{R})\). For a homology class \(\alpha\neq 0\) contained in the integer lattice \(H_ 2(M,\mathbb{Z})\subset H_ 2(M;\mathbb{R})\), \(x(\alpha)\) is a positive integer which measures the minimal complexity of a surface representing \(\alpha\). In this paper the author begins a programme of finding methods of computing the Thurston norm \(x\) and finding geometric objects in \(M\) which correspond to the faces of the unit ball \(B_ x\). The main result of the work asserts that if a pseudo-Anosov flow \(\phi\) on \(M\) satisfies certain extra hypotheses, then \(\phi\) dynamically represents some face \(\sigma\) of \(B_ x\). This result was motivated by the work of \textit{D. Fried} [Asterisque 66-67, 251-266 (1979; Zbl 0446.57023)]. The author describes also some of the difficulties that lie ahead in extending his partial answer to a more complete answer of the problem.