Invariant varieties for polynomial dynamical systems (Q2436023)

This work is concerned with the algebraic dynamical systems obtained by iterating coordinatewise a finite sequence of univariate polynomials over the complex numbers. The aim is an explicit description of the algebraic varieties that are invariant under such maps. This is achieved by representing polynomials as composition of indecomposable polynomials, which are regrouped into `clusters', determined by combinatorial properties. From this (nearly canonical) decomposition, compositional identities are easily derived. By considering a weaker form of skew-invariance for varieties, the authors import techniques from the model theory of difference fields (which also provides motivations for this work). The original problem is thus reduced to the characterisation of the affine plane curves that are skew-invariant, in the case in which the polynomials involved are of a particular type (`disintegrated' polynomials). This work may be viewed as a refinement of the classic work of \textit{J. F. Ritt} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 23, 51--66 (1922; JFM 48.0079.01)] on compositional identities among polynomials, and of a related recent development by \textit{M. E. Zieve} and \textit{P. Müller} [``On Ritt's polynomial decomposition theorems'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:0807.3578}]. Applications to algebraic dynamics include the proof of variants of two conjectures by \textit{S.-W. Zhang} [in: Essays in geometry in memory of S. S. Chern. Somerville, MA: International Press. 381--430 (2006; Zbl 1207.37057)].