Entropy and flatness in local algebraic dynamics (Q2637445)

\((R,\varphi)\) is defined to be a local algebraic dynamical system if \(R\) is a noetherian local ring with maximal ideal \(\mathfrak m\) and \(\varphi:R\rightarrow R\) is a local homomorphism such that \(\varphi(\mathfrak m)R\) is \(\mathfrak m\)-primary. Such a situation arises for the local ring at a fixed point under a finite self-morphism of an algebraic variety. In this paper, the authors introduce the following new invariant, called the local entropy, and explore many properties: \[ h_{\mathrm{loc}}(\varphi) = \lim_{n\rightarrow \infty} \frac 1n \log\left(\mathrm{length}_R(R/\varphi^n(\mathfrak m )R)\right). \] In Theorem 1, they show that (1) \(0\leq h_{\mathrm{loc}}(\varphi) < \infty\), (2) if \(R\) is of dimension \(d\) and of embedding dimension \(\delta\), then any \(\varphi\) which is contracting (i.e. \(\varphi^\delta(\mathfrak m) \subset \mathfrak m^2\)) satisfies \(\delta h_{\mathrm{loc}}(\varphi) \geq d \log 2\), (3) if \(R\) is of characteristic \(p>0\), then \(h_{\mathrm{loc}}(\mathrm{Frob}_R) = d\log p\). The local entropy shares many properties with topological entropy. For example, the local entropy of the \(m\)-th iterate of \(\varphi\) is \(m h_{\mathrm{loc}}(\varphi)\), and the local entropy on a finite union of closed \(\varphi\)-stable subspaces is the maximum of the local entropies on the subspaces. The authors also compare \(h_{\mathrm{loc}}(\varphi)\) with invariants of endomorphisms on germs of analytic functions, studied in [\textit{C. Favre} and \textit{M. Jonsson}, Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 40, No. 2, 309--349 (2007; Zbl 1135.37018)]. The authors then study regular local rings. \textit{E. Kunz} [Am. J. Math. 91, 772--784 (1969; Zbl 0188.33702)] proved that \(R\) of characteristic \(p>0\) is regular \(\Longleftrightarrow \mathrm{Frob}_R\) is flat \(\Longleftrightarrow \mathrm{length}(R/(\mathrm{Frob}_R(\mathfrak m)R) )= p^d\). In Theorem 2, they generalize this to any \((R,\varphi)\): \(R\) is regular \(\Longrightarrow \varphi\) is flat \(\Longrightarrow \mathrm{length}(R/(\varphi(\mathfrak m)R) ) = e^{h_{\mathrm{loc}}(\varphi)}\), and all three become equivalent when \(\varphi\) is contracting. This inspires the authors to define Hilbert--Kunz multiplicity for any \((R,\varphi)\) regardless of characteristic, generalizing the case of \(\mathrm{Frob}_R\) treated in [\textit{P. Monsky}, Math. Ann. 263, 43-49 (1983; Zbl 0509.13023)]. For non-regular rings, it still remains open if this multiplicity even exists. Finally, in Theorem 3, the authors show that any local algebraic dynamical system can be lifted to that on an equicharacteristic complete regular local ring. This is inspired by \textit{N. Fakhruddin} [J. Ramanujan Math. Soc. 18, No. 2, 109--122 (2003; Zbl 1053.14025)] and \textit{A. Bhatnagar} and \textit{L. Szpiro} [J. Algebra 351, No. 1, 251--253 (2012; Zbl 1254.37066)], where a polarized self-morphism of a projective variety is extended to an ambient projective space.