Polynomial entropy and expansivity (Q1705822)

For a homeomorphism \(f:X\to X\) of a compact metric space \((X,d)\) a set \(E\) is said to \((n,\epsilon)\)-span if for any \(x\in X\) there is some \(y\in E\) with \(d(f^kx,f^ky)\leqslant\epsilon\) for \(k=0,\dots,n-1\). Writing \(r_n(\epsilon)\) for the minimum cardinality of an \((n,\epsilon)\)-spanning set, the usual topological entropy of \(f\) is defined to be \(\lim_{\epsilon\to0}\limsup_{n\to\infty}(1/n)\log r_n(\epsilon)\). Here a `polynomial entropy' is defined, following the work of \textit{J.-P. Marco} [Regul. Chaotic Dyn. 18, No. 6, 623--655 (2013; Zbl 1286.70022)], as \(\lim_{\epsilon\to0}\limsup_{n\to\infty}(1/\log n)\log r_n(\epsilon)\). This may be viewed as a measure of the orbit complexity for systems with zero topological entropy. Here examples are given of homeomorphisms with vanishing polynomial entropy that are not equicontinuous, and it is shown that expansive homeomorphisms have polynomial entropy greater than or equal to \(1\) unless the space \(X\) is finite.