Entropy rigidity and harmonic fields (Q4515410)

Let \(M\) be a hyperbolic manifold equipped with a closed 2-form \(\Omega\), and, for \(\lambda\in\mathbb{R}\), let \(\varphi_\lambda\) be the geodesic flow of \(M\) twisted by the magnetic force due to \(\lambda\Omega\). Let \(T_\lambda\) denote the topological entropy of \(\varphi_\lambda\), and \(L_\lambda\) denote the entropy of \(\varphi_\lambda\) with respect to the Liouville measure. The main result is that the second derivative at \(\lambda=0\) of \(T_\lambda-L_\lambda\) is \(\geq 0\), and equals 0 if and only if \(\Omega\) is harmonic. (The first derivative at \(\lambda=0\) vanishes, since \(T_{-\lambda}=T_\lambda\) and \(L_{-\lambda}= L_\lambda)\). As a first corollary, when \(\Omega\) is exact, then, for small enough \(|\lambda|\), \(T_\lambda=L_\lambda\) if and only if \(\Omega\equiv 0\). As another corollary, for \(M\) a closed Riemannian surface and for small enough \(|\lambda|\), \(T_\lambda=L_\lambda\) if and only if \(M\) is hyperbolic and \(\Omega\) is proportional to the area form of \(M\).