Homotopy minimal periods for expanding maps on infra-nilmanifolds (Q873731)

Given a self map \(f\colon X\to X\), the set \(Hper(f)\) of homotopy minimal periods of \(f\) is defined to be the set of natural number \(k\) such that each self map on \(X\) homotopic to \(f\) has a periodic point with least period \(k\). The main result of the present paper is that for any expanding map \(f\) on an \(n\)-dimensional infra-nilmanifold, there is an integer \(m\), which depends only on on \(n\), such that \(Hper(f)\) contains all integers greater or equal to \(m\). This result generalizes the well-known fact in dynamical system theory: any map in the circle with the absolute value of degree greater than \(1\) must have period point with least period greater or equal to \(3\), i.e. if \(n=1\), then \(m\) can be chosen as \(3\). The key step is the computation of the Nielsen numbers of a given map and its iterates, which was introduced in [\textit{L. Alseda, S. Baldwin, J. Llibre, R. Swanson} and \textit{W. Szlenk}, Pac. J. Math. 169, No. 1, 1--32 (1995; Zbl 0843.55004)] as a basic method to deal with \(Hper(f)\). By definition, any infra-nilmanifold is finitely covered by a nilmanifold. The authors show that for any given infra-nilmanifold \(M\), there is a nilmanifold \(N\), which is said to be a universal nil-covering, finitely covering \(M\) such that each self map on \(M\) admits a lifting to \(N\). Applying the result in [\textit{S. W. Kim, J. B. Lee} and \textit{K. B. Lee}, Nagoya Math. J. 178, 37--53 (2005; Zbl 1080.55003)], the Nielsen number of any self map on an infra-nilmanifold \(M\) is a weighted sum of the Nielsen numbers of its liftings to the universal nil-covering. The Nielsen number of a selfmap on a nilmanifold was addressed in [\textit{D. V. Anosov}, Russ. Math. Surv. 40, No. 4, 149--150 (1985; Zbl 0594.55002)]. In order to make the method in [\textit{L. Alseda, S. Baldwin, J. Llibre, R. Swanson} and \textit{W. Szlenk}, loc. cit.] work, one has to verify the essential reducibilities of maps on infra-nilmanifolds. This property was proved to hold in the case of nilmanifolds [\textit{P. R. Heath} and \textit{E. Keppelmann}, Topology Appl. 76, No.~3, 217--247 (1997; Zbl 0881.55002)]. The authors prove that the essential reducibility is kept by finite covers, and hence this property holds for all self map on infra-nilmanifolds.