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John Franks

Publications and source records attributed to John Franks.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2019

Polygonal ${\mathbb Z}^2$-subshifts

Let ${\mathcal P}\subset{\mathbb Z}^2$ be a convex polygon with each vertex in it labeled by an element from a finite set and such that the labeling of each vertex $v\in {\mathcal P}$ is uniquely determined by the labeling of all other points in the polygon. We introduce a class of ${\mathbb Z}^2$-shift systems, the {\em polygonal shifts}, determined by such a polygon: these are shift systems such that the restriction of any $x\in X$ to some polygon ${\mathcal P}$ has this property. These polygonal systems are related to various well studied classes of shift systems, including subshifts of finite type and algebraic shifts, but include many other systems. We give necessary conditions for a ${\mathbb Z}^2$-system $X$ to be polygonal, in terms of the nonexpansive subspaces of $X$, and under further conditions can give a complete characterization for such systems.

math.DS↗
arXiv2017

The spacetime of a shift endomorphism

The automorphism group of a one dimensional shift space over a finite alphabet exhibits different types of behavior: for a large class with positive entropy, it contains a rich collection of subgroups, while for many shifts of zero entropy, there are strong constraints on the automorphism group. We view this from a different perspective, considering a single automorphism (and sometimes endomorphism) and studying the naturally associated two dimensional shift system. In particular, we describe the relation between nonexpansive subspaces in this two dimensional system and dynamical properties of an automorphism of the shift.

math.DS↗
arXiv2017

Distortion and the automorphism group of a shift

The set of automorphisms of a one-dimensional \shift $(X, σ)$ forms a countable, but often very complicated, group. For zero entropy shifts, it has recently been shown that the automorphism group is more tame. We provide the first examples of countable groups that cannot embed into the automorphism group of any zero entropy \shiftno. In particular, we show that the Baumslag-Solitar groups ${\rm BS}(1,n)$ and all other groups that contain exponentially distorted elements cannot embed into ${\rm Aut}(X)$ when $h_{\rm top}(X)=0$. We further show that distortion in nilpotent groups gives a nontrivial obstruction to embedding such a group in any low complexity shift.

math.DS↗
arXiv2017

Notes on Chain Recurrence and Lyapunonv Functions

This short expository note provides an introduction to the concept of chain recurrence in topological dynamics and a proof of the existence complete Lyapunov functions for homeomorphisms of compact metric spaces due to Charles Conley. I have used it as supplementary material in introductory dynamics courses.

math.DS↗
arXiv2016

Zero entropy subgroups of mapping class groups

Let $M$ be a compact surface with boundary. We are interested in the question of how a group action on $M$ permutes a finite invariant set $X \subset int(M)$. More precisely, how the algebraic properties of the induced group of permutations of a finite invariant set affects the dynamical properties of the group. Our main result shows that in many circumstances if the induced permutation group is not solvable then among the homeomorphisms in the group there must be one with a pseudo-Anosov component. We formulate this in terms of the mapping class group relative to the finite set and show the stronger result that in many circumstances (e.g. if $\partial M \ne \emptyset$) this mapping class group is itself solvable if it has no elements with pseudo-Anosov components.

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arXiv2014

Rotation Numbers for $S^2$ diffeomorphisms

These largely expository notes describe the properties of the function ${\cal R}$ which assigns a number to a $4$-tuple of distinct fixed points of an orientation preserving homeomorphism or diffeomorphism of $S^2$.

math.DS↗
arXiv2013

Some virtually abelian subgroups of the group of analytic symplectic diffeomorphisms of $S^2$

We show that if $M$ is a compact oriented surface of genus 0 and $G$ is a subgroup of $\Symp^ω_μ(M)$ which has an infinite normal solvable subgroup, then $G$ is virtually abelian. In particular the centralizer of an infinite order $f \in \Symp^ω_μ(M)$ is virtually abelian. Another immediate corollary is that if $G$ is a solvable subgroup of $\Symp^ω_μ(M)$ then $G$ is virtually abelian. We also prove a special case of the Tits Alternative for subgroups of $\Symp^ω_μ(S^2).$

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arXiv2012

Entropy zero area preserving diffeomorphisms of $S^2$

In this paper we formulate and prove a structure theorem for area preserving diffeomorphisms of genus zero surfaces with zero entropy. As an application we relate the existence of faithful actions of a finite index subgroup of the mapping class group of a closed surface $Σ_g$ on $S^2$ by area preserving diffeomorphisms to the existence of finite index subgroups of bounded mapping class groups $MCG(S, \partial S)$ with non-trivial first cohomology.

math.DS↗
arXiv2011

Triviality of some representations of $MCG(S_g)$ in $GL(n,C), Diff(S^2)$ and $Homeo(T^2)$

We show the triviality of representations of the mapping class group of a genus $g$ surface in $GL(n,C), Diff(S^2)$ and $Homeo(T^2)$ when appropriate restrictions on the genus $g$ and the size of $n$ hold. For example, if $S_g$ is a surface of finite type and $ϕ: MCG(S_g) \to GL(n,C)$ is a homomorphism, then $ϕ$ is trivial provided the genus $g \ge 3$ and $n < 2g$. We also show that if $S_g$ is a closed surface with genus $g \ge 7$, then every homomorphism $ϕ: MCG(S_g) \to Diff(S^2)$ is trivial and that if $g \ge 3$, then every homomorphism $ϕ: MCG(S_g) \to Homeo(T^2)$ is trivial.

math.GT↗
arXiv2009

Notes on Measure and Integration

This text grew out of notes I have used in teaching a one quarter course on integration at the advanced undergraduate level. My intent is to introduce the Lebesgue integral in a quick, and hopefully painless, way and then go on to investigate the standard convergence theorems and a brief introduction to the Hilbert space of $L^2$ functions on the interval. The actual construction of Lebesgue measure and proofs of its key properties are relegated to an appendix. Instead the text introduces Lebesgue measure as a generalization of the concept of length and motivates its key properties: monotonicity, countable additivity, and translation invariance.

math.CA↗
arXiv2008

Global fixed points for centralizers and Morita's Theorem

We prove a global fixed point theorem for the centralizer of a homeomorphism of the two dimensional disk $D$ that has attractor-repeller dynamics on the boundary with at least two attractors and two repellers. As one application, we show that there is a finite index subgroup of the centralizer of a pseudo-Anosov homeomorphism with infinitely many global fixed points. As another application we give an elementary proof of Morita's Theorem, that the mapping class group of a closed surface $S$ of genus $g$ does not lift to the group of diffeormorphisms of $S$ and we improve the lower bound for $g$ from 5 to 3.

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arXiv2007

Complete semi-conjugacies for psuedo-Anosov homeomorphisms

Suppose $S$ is a surface of genus $\ge 2 $, $f: S \to S$ is a surface homeomorphism isotopic to a pseudo-Anosov map $α$ and suppose $\ti S$ is the universal cover of $S$ and $F$ and $A$ are lifts of $f$ and $α$ respectively. We show there is a semiconjugacy $Θ: \ti S \to \bar Ł^s \times \bar Ł^u$ from $F$ to $\bar A$, where $\bar Ł^s$ ($\bar Ł^u$) is the completion of the $R$-tree of leaves of the stable (resp. unstable) foliation for $A$ and $\bar A$ is the map induced by $A$. We also generalize a result of Markovich and show that for any $g \in Homeo(S)$ which commutes with $f$ and has identity lift $G : \ti S \to \ti S$ and for any $(c,w)$ in the image of $Θ$ each component of $Θ^{-1}(c,w)$ is $G$-invariant.

math.DS↗
arXiv2007

Distortion in Groups of Circle and Surface Diffeomorphisms

In these lectures we consider how algebraic properties of discrete subgroups of Lie groups restrict the possible actions of those groups on surfaces. The results show a strong parallel between the possible actions of such a group on the circle $S^1$ and the measure preserving actions on surfaces. Our aim is the study of the (non)-existence of actions of lattices in a large class of non-compact Lie groups on surfaces. A definitive analysis of the analogous question for actions on $S^1$ was carried out by É. Ghys. Our approach is topological and insofar as possible we try to isolate properties of a group which provide the tools necessary for our analysis. The two key properties we consider are almost simplicity and the existence of a distortion element. Both will be defined and described in the lectures. Our techniques are almost all from low dimensional dynamics. But we are interested in how algebraic properties of a group -- commutativity, nilpotence, etc. affect the possible kinds of dynamics which can occur. For most of the results we will consider groups of diffeomorphisms which preserve a Borel probability measure.

math.DS↗
arXiv2006

Fixed Points of abelian actions

We prove that if $\F$ is an abelian group of $C^1$ diffeomorphisms isotopic to the identity of a closed surface $S$ of genus at least two then there is a common fixed point for all elements of $\F.$

math.DS↗
arXiv2005

Fixed Points of abelian actions on $S^2$

We prove that if $F$ is a finitely generated abelian group of orientation preserving $C^1$ diffeomorphisms of $R^2$ which leaves invariant a compact set then there is a common fixed point for all elements of $F.$ We also show that if $F$ is any abelian subgroup of orientation preserving $C^1$ diffeomorphisms of $S^2$ then there is a common fixed point for all elements of a subgroup of $F$ with index at most two.

math.DS↗
arXiv2005

Distortion Elements in Group actions on surfaces

If $\G$ is a finitely generated group with generators $\{g_1,...,g_j\}$ then an infinite order element $f \in \G$ is a {\em distortion element} of $\G$ provided $\displaystyle{\liminf_{n \to \infty} |f^n|/n = 0,}$ where $|f^n|$ is the word length of $f^n$ in the generators. Let $S$ be a closed orientable surface and let $\Diff(S)_0$ denote the identity component of the group of $C^1$ diffeomorphisms of $S$. Our main result shows that if $S$ has genus at least two and if $f$ is a distortion element in some finitely generated subgroup of $\Diff(S)_0$, then $\supp(μ) \subset \Fix(f)$ for every $f$-invariant Borel probability measure $μ$. Related results are proved for $S = T^2$ or $S^2$. For $μ$ a Borel probability measure on $S$, denote the group of $C^1$ diffeomorphisms that preserve $μ$ by $\Diff_μ(S)$. We give several applications of our main result showing that certain groups, including a large class of higher rank lattices, admit no homomorphisms to $\Diff_μ(S)$ with infinite image.

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