Galois groups of periodic points (Q1270357)

A monic polynomial \(f(x)\) over a Dedekind domain \(R\) defines a dynamical system on the algebraic closure of the field of fractions of \(R\). The main result of this paper is an algebraic proof of a theorem characterizing the structure of the Galois group associated with the periodic orbits of \(f(x)\). One first constructs the polynomial \(\Phi_n(x)\) over \(R\), of degree \(nr\), whose roots are the periodic orbits of \(f(x)\) of essential period \(n\). If \(\Phi_n(x)\) is irreducible, and if some additional assumptions on its discriminant are verified, then the Galois group of \(\Phi_n(x)\) is shown to be either the wreath product of the cyclic group \(C_n\) with the symmetric group \(S_r\), or the wreath product of \(C_n\) with an imprimitive subgroup of \(S_r\). The occurrence of the two possibilities is characterized. Previously, results of this type had only been obtained in the context of holomorphic dynamics, using topological and analytical methods. The present algebraic proof extends a basic construct of algebraic dynamics to a much more general setting.