Dynamics of metrics in measure spaces and their asymptotic invariants

Abstract

We discuss the Kolmogorov's entropy and Sinai's definition of it; and then define a deformation of the entropy, called {\it scaling entropy}; this is also a metric invariant of the measure preserving actions of the group, which is more powerful than the ordinary entropy. To define it, we involve the notion of the $ε$-entropy of a metric in a measure space, also suggested by A. N. Kolmogorov slightly earlier. We suggest to replace the techniques of measurable partitions, conventional in entropy theory, by that of iterations of metrics or semi-metrics. This leads us to the key idea of this paper which as we hope is the answer on the old question: what is the natural context in which one should consider the entropy of measure-preserving actions of groups? the same question about its generalizations--scaling entropy, and more general problems of ergodic theory. Namely, we propose a certain research program, called {\it asymptotic dynamics of metrics in a measure space}, in which, for instance, the generalized entropy is understood as {\it the asymptotic Hausdorff dimension of a sequence of metric spaces associated with dynamical system.} As may be supposed, the metric isomorphism problem for dynamical systems as a whole also gets a new geometric interpretation.