Zariski density of points with maximal arithmetic degree (Q6108391)

Let \(f:X\dashrightarrow X\) be a dominant rational self-map of a projective variety \(X\) over a number field \(K\). There are two dynamical invariants to measure the complexity of \(f\): (1) the first dynamical degree \(\delta_f\) and (2) the arithmetic degree \(\alpha_f(x)\) at each rational point \(x\in X(\overline{K})\). It was proved by \textit{S. Kawaguchi} and \textit{J. H. Silverman} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 713, 21--48 (2016; Zbl 1393.37115)] and \textit{Y. Matsuzawa} [Am. J. Math. 142, No. 6, 1797--1820 (2020; Zbl 1489.37118)] that \(\overline{\alpha}_f(x)\le\delta_f\) for any point \(x\in X(\overline{K})\). In the paper under review, the authors consider the case when a point \(x\in X(\overline{K})\) has maximal arithmetic degree, i.e., it satisfies \(\alpha_f(x)=\delta_f\), and study how rational points with maximal arithmetic degrees distribute. The authors first show that there are densely many \(\overline{\mathbb{Q}}\)-rational points with maximal arithmetic degree for self-morphisms on projective varieties (see Theorem 1.8). If the projective variety is further assumed to be unirational (resp. an Abelian variety), the authors then prove that there are densely many \(K\)-rational points (resp. \(L\)-rational points where \(L\supset K\) is a finite extension field) with maximal arithmetic degree; see Theorem 1.11 (resp. Theorem 1.12). In the appendix, a generalization of a result of Kawaguchi and Silverman is also given.