On the entropies of subshifts of finite type on countable amenable groups (Q2245021)

The topological entropy of the action of a group \(G\) on a compact metrizable space \(X\) by homeomorphisms is a non-negative number that quantifies the complexity of the action. It has been defined first for a single homeomorphism (i.e., a \(\mathbb{Z}\)-action), then extended to finitely many commuting homeomorphisms (i.e., \(\mathbb{Z}^d\)-actions) and finally to all countable amenable groups. This is a conjugacy invariant and thus it may distinguish non-conjugated such actions. Among such dynamical systems, subshifts of finite type (SFT) are of particular interest because of their ubiquity and simplicity. Let us recall the definition. Let \(A\) be a finite alphabet and \(G\) a countable group. The space \(X=A^G\) with the product topology is a compact metrizable space and \(G\) acts continuously by precomposition (when elements of \(A^G\) are thought as function \(G\to A\)). A subshift of finite type is a \(G\)-invariant closed subset of \(X\) that is defined by conditions on finite subsequences of elements of \(X\) with a fixed length. For a fixed group \(G\), there are only countable many different conjugacy classes of SFTs and thus at most countably many possible values for the topological entropy. Since a few decades, people tried to characterize these possible values. \textit{D. A. Lind} [Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 4, 283--300 (1984; Zbl 0546.58035)] was the first to give a complete characterization for \(G=\mathbb{Z}\). This was extended to \(\mathbb{Z}^d\) by \textit{M. Hochman} and \textit{T. Meyerovitch} [Ann. Math. (2) 171, No. 3, 2011--2038 (2010; Zbl 1192.37022)]. The goal of this paper is to describe the set of values of the topological entropy for all SFTs of some amenable groups. This goal is achieved for a subclass of amenable groups, namely those that have a decidable word problem and a translation-like action by \(\mathbb{Z}^2\). This includes for example, polycyclic-by-finite groups or products of infinite, amenable and finitely generated groups with decidable word problem. The main tool established in the paper is a formula relating the possible values of the topological entropy of SFTs for a group \(G\) and for a subgroup \(H\leq G\).