Minimal sets of periods for torus maps via Nielsen numbers (Q1902036)

From MaRDI portal
scientific article
Language Label Description Also known as
English
Minimal sets of periods for torus maps via Nielsen numbers
scientific article

    Statements

    Minimal sets of periods for torus maps via Nielsen numbers (English)
    0 references
    0 references
    0 references
    0 references
    0 references
    0 references
    18 August 1996
    0 references
    For a map \(f : X \to X\), the composite maps \(f^n\) are defined by setting \(f^1(x) = f(x)\) and then \(f^n(x) = f(f^{n-1} (x))\). A natural number \(n \in \mathbb{N}\) is the periodic set \(\text{Per} (f)\) if \(f\) has a periodic point of period \(n\), that is, a solution \(x\) to \(f^n (x) = x\) such that \(f^k(x) \neq x\) for all \(k < n\). The minimal periodic set \(\text{MPer}(f)\) of the title is the intersection of \(\text{Per}(g)\) for all \(g\) homotopic to \(f\). If \(X\) is a finite polyhedron, the Nielsen numbers \(N(f^n)\) can be used to study \(\text{Per} (f)\). The authors show that if the sequence \(\{N(f^{(n)})\}\) grows fast enough, in a sense they make precise, then \(\text{Per} (f) = \mathbb{N}\) and, more generally, if the \(N(f^n)\) grow rapidly for \(n\) sufficiently large, then \(\text{Per} (f)\) is cofinite in \(\mathbb{N}\). In the case that \(X = S^1 \times \dots \times S^1 = T^m\), the \(m\)-torus, then \(N(f^n)\) can be calculated readily from a knowledge of \(f_{1^*}\), the endomorphism of the integer homology group \(H_1(T^m)\) induced by \(f\). Specifically, letting \(A\) be an integer matrix corresponding to \(f_{1*}\), then \(N(f^n) = |\text{det} (I - A^n)|\). For \(f_A : T^m \to T^m\) the map homotopic to \(f\) covered by the linear map \(A : \mathbb{R}^m \to \mathbb{R}^m\), the authors verify a conjecture of \textit{B. Halpern} [Pac. J. Math. 83, 117-133 (1979; Zbl 0438.58023)] that \(\text{MPer}(f)\) consists of those \(n \in \text{Per}(f_A)\) such that \(N(f^n) \neq 0\). Using this result and techniques from number theory, the authors prove that if \(f : T^m \to T^m\) is a map such that \(A\) has some nonzero eigenvalue, but no eigenvalue that is a root of unity, then \(\text{Per}(f)\) is cofinite in \(\mathbb{N}\). If, for \(f : T^m \to T^m\), the sequence \(\{N(f^n)\}\) is strictly increasing, then \(\text{Per} (f) = \mathbb{N}\). For maps of the circle, the determination of \(\text{MPer }(f)\) in terms of the degree \(d\) of the map has been known for some years. For instance, if \(d = -2\) then \(\text{MPer}(f) = \mathbb{N} \smallsetminus \{2\}\) whereas \(\text{MPer}(f) = \mathbb{N}\) if \(d < - 2\). This paper contains the complete determination of \(\text{MPer}(f)\) for \(f : T^2 \to T^2\) in terms of the determinant \(d\) and trace \(t\) of the \(2\)-by-\(2\) matrix \(A\) defined above. For instance, if \(t \neq 0\) and \(t + d = -1\), then \(\text{MPer}(f)\) consists of the odd natural numbers whereas if \(t + d = 0\) or \(-2\), then \(\text{MPer} (f) = \mathbb{N} \smallsetminus \{2\}\).
    0 references
    torus map
    0 references
    periodic point
    0 references
    Nielsen number
    0 references

    Identifiers