Sharp lower bounds for the asymptotic entropy of symmetric random walks (Q748375)

Summary: The entropy, the spectral radius and the drift are important numerical quantities associated to random walks on countable groups. We prove sharp inequalities relating those quantities for walks with a finite second moment, improving upon previous results of \textit{A. Avez} [Lect. Notes Math. 532, 35--49 (1976; Zbl 0368.60011)], \textit{N. T. Varopoulos} [Bull. Sci. Math., II. Sér. 109, 225--252 (1985; Zbl 0583.60063)], \textit{T. K. Carne} [Bull. Sci. Math., II. Sér. 109, 399--405 (1985; Zbl 0584.60078)] and \textit{F. Ledrappier} [Sharp estimates for the entropy, in: Harmonic analysis and discrete potential theory. New York, NY: Springer US (1992; \url{doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-2323-3_23}), pp. 281--288]. We also deduce inequalities between these quantities and the volume growth of the group. Finally, we show that the equality case in our inequality is rather rigid.