On the dynamical height zeta functions (Q677637)

The author proves a basic conjecture of Silverman concerning the dynamical height zeta function. For a morphism \(\phi:{\mathbb{P}}^1\to{\mathbb{P}}^1\) of degree \(>1\) and defined over a global field \(K\), and a fixed divisor class \(E\), \textit{G. S. Call} and \textit{J. H. Silverman} [Compos. Math. 89, No. 2, 163-205 (1993; Zbl 0826.14015)] introduced a canonical height \(\widehat{H}_{\phi,E}:{\mathbb{P}}^1(\overline{K})\to{\mathbb{R}}\) that measures the appropriately normalized growth in (ordinary Weil) height of orbits of points under iteration of the morphism. The dynamical height zeta function is then defined to be \(Z_K(\phi,s)=\sum_{\alpha\in K}\widehat{H}_{\phi,E}(\alpha)^{-s}\) where \(\phi\) is a polynomial map and \(E\) is the divisor associated to the unique totally ramified fixed point of \(\phi\). Standard estimates on the number of rational points of bounded height in projective space show that the series converges absolutely to an analytic function on \(\text{Re}(s)>2\). The conjecture mentioned above is that \(Z_K(\phi,\cdot)\) has a meromorphic continuation to the complex plane with a simple pole at \(s=2\). Under the technical assumption that the morphism \(\phi\) has `mildly bad reduction' and for the case of \(K\) a function field of positive characteristic, the author establishes the meromorphic continuation and a form of functional equation. The residue at the simple pole is computed in terms of the genus of \(K\), \(\zeta_K\), and certain integrals of localized forms of the dynamical height zeta function.