Algebraic degrees of pseudo-Anosov stretch factors (Q1688816)

The author justifies a remark by Thurston stating that the algebraic degree of stretch factors of pseudo-Anosov maps on a surface \(S\) can be as high as the dimension of the space of \(S\). In addition the author completely determines the set of possible algebraic degrees of pseudo-Anosov stretch factors on almost all finite-type surfaces. As a corollary, the author finds the possible degrees of the number fields that arise as trace fields of Veech groups of flat surfaces homeomorphic to closed orientable surfaces. The author's construction also gives an algorithm for finding a pseudo-Anosov map on a given surface whose stretch factor has a prescribed degree. An ingredient of the proof is a novel asymptotic irreducibility criterion for polynomials.