An algorithmic approach to the Polydegree Conjecture for plane polynomial automorphisms (Q2318359)

By the classical Jung-van der Kulk Theorem the group \({\mathcal G}={\mathcal G}({\mathbb C})\) of the polynomial automorphisms of the affine plane is an amalgamated free product of the affine subgroup \({\mathcal A}({\mathbb C})\) and the triangular subgroup \({\mathcal B}({\mathbb C})\) over their intersection. Hence \(\theta\in{\mathcal G}({\mathbb C})\) has the form \(\theta=\alpha_0\tau_1\alpha_1\cdots\tau_k\alpha_k\), where \(\alpha_i\in{\mathcal A}({\mathbb C})\) and \(\tau_i\in{\mathcal B}({\mathbb C})\). This decomposition is not unique but the degrees \(d_i\) of the triangular automorphisms \(\tau_i\) are invariants of \(\theta\). One defines the polydegree of \(\theta\) as the sequence \((d_1,\ldots,d_k)=(\deg\tau_1,\ldots,\deg\tau_k)\). Let \({\mathcal G}_{(d_1,\ldots,d_k)}\) be the set of all automorphisms of polydegree \((d_1,\ldots,d_k)\) and let \(\overline{{\mathcal G}_{(d_1,\ldots,d_k)}}\) be its closure in the Zariski topology. The Polydegree Conjecture is related with the description of \(\overline{{\mathcal G}_{(d,e)}}\) in the length 2 case when \(d,e>2\). Partial results in this direction were obtained in [\textit{E. Edo}, Acta Math. Vietnam. 32, No. 2--3, 155--168 (2007; Zbl 1147.14030)] and [\textit{J. P. Furter}, J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 91, No. 1, 180--202 (2015; Zbl 1341.14024)]. In the paper under review, the authors conjecture more generally that if \(k<l\) and the degree sequences \((d_1,\ldots,d_k)\) and \((e_1,\ldots,e_l)\) satisfy \(d_1+\cdots+d_k<e_1+\cdots+e_l\), then \({\mathcal G}_{(d_1,\ldots,d_k)}\subset\overline{{\mathcal G}_{(e_1,\ldots,e_l)}}\). The authors take a direct approach with the hopes that the techniques will prove more generalizable to the length 3 case. They establish three successively stronger results which provide means of concluding that their conjecture holds in certain cases. The authors show that their methods give a unified and shorter method of recovering the results of Edo and Furter. They also prove that the Polydegree Conjecture is algorithmically decidable for any fixed \(d\) and \(e\). Using a computer, the authors show that the conjecture holds for \(e=3\) and \(d<50\) and for \(e=4\) and \(d<20\). Finally, they affirmatively answer a question of Arzhantsev regarding the infinite transitivity of certain group actions on \({\mathbb C}^2\).