On the stable dynamical spectrum of complex surfaces (Q2182388)

If \(F\) is an automorphism of a complex surface \(X\), then its \textit{dynamical degree} \(\lambda(F)\) is the spectral radius of its induced action on \(H^2(X,\mathbb{Z})\). It is known that \(\lambda(F)\) is either \(1\) or a Salem number, i.e. an algebraic integer \(\lambda > 1\) which is Galois conjugate to \(1/\lambda\) and all whose other conjugates lie on the unit circle. The question whether a given Salem number is realized as the dynamical degree of an automorphism of a surface was investigated by \textit{T. Uehara} [Ann. Inst. Fourier 66, No. 1, 377--432 (2016; Zbl 1360.14042)] and \textit{P. Reschke} [Math. Res. Lett. 19, No. 2, 475--482 (2012; Zbl 1427.14087)], in the case when \(X\) is rational or a \(2\)-torus respectively. This article tackles the case when \(X\) is a \(K3\) surface. It is shown that a given Salem number \(\lambda\) has one of its powers realized as the dynamical degree of an automorphism of a projective \(K3\) surface if and only if the degree of the minimal polynomial of \(\lambda\) is \(\le 20\). The author then extends this result to \(2\)-tori and Enriques surfaces, by characterizing which Salem numbers have a power arising as the dynamical degree of an automorphism of one of these classes of (projective) surfaces. The answer only depends on the Betti and Hodge numbers \(b_2(X)\) and \(h^{1,1}(X)\) of such surfaces.