Dynamical zeta functions, Nielsen theory and Reidemeister torsion (Q4520063)

Let \(f:X\to X\) be a map and denote its \(n\)-th iterate by \(f^n\), that is, \(f^n(x)= f(f^{n-1}(x))\). Artin and Mazur defined a zeta function \(F_f (z)\), modelled on a zeta function of algebraic geometry, by setting \[ F_f(z)= \exp\left( \sum^\infty_{n=1} {F(f^n)\over n}z^n \right) \] where \(F(f^n)\) is the number of isolated fixed points of \(f^n\). They showed that, under suitable hypotheses, \(F_f(z)\) has a positive radius of convergence and is a rational function. Smale replaced the \(F(f^n)\) by the Lefschetz numbers of \(f^n\) and found conditions for the resulting zeta function to be rational. In a number of papers published during the past 15 years or so, the author has very thoroughly investigated the zeta functions that result from replacing the Lefschetz numbers of \(f^n\) by their Nielsen or Reidemeister numbers. The Nielsen number of a map is a homotopy invariant lower bound for the number of fixed points of the map and the Reidemeister number is a closely related, basically algebraic, concept. After a brief exposition of the Nielsen and Reidemeister numbers, the main part of this monograph presents the author's results concerning the corresponding zeta functions. This is followed by an exposition of the author's congruence relations for the Nielsen and Reidemeister numbers of \(f^n,\) that relate to those zeta functions in much the same way as Dold's celebrated congruence result for the Lefschetz numbers of \(f^n\) relates to that zeta function. The final chapter concerns Reidemeister torsion, with regard to its connection to the zeta function based on the Reidemeister numbers of \(f^n\), as well as other aspects of Reidemeister torsion that have been explored by the author.