arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Volodymyr Nekrashevych.
We construct Patterson-Sullivan measure and a natural metric on the unit space of a hyperbolic groupoid. In particular, this gives a new approach to defining SRB measures on Smale spaces using Gromov hyperbolic graphs.
For every infinite sequence $ω=x_1,x_2,...$, with $x_i\in\{0,1\}$, we construct an infinite 4-regular graph $X_ω$. These graphs are precisely the Schreier graphs of the action of a certain self-similar group on the space $\{0,1\}^{\infty}$. We solve the isomorphism and local isomorphism problems for these graphs, and determine their automorphism groups. Finally, we prove that all graphs $X_ω$ have intermediate growth.
We construct a combinatorial model of the Julia set of the endomorphism $f(z, w)=((1-2z/w)^2, (1-2/w)^2)$ of $PC^2$.
We define iterated monodromy groups of more general structures than partial self-covering. This generalization makes it possible to define a natural notion of a combinatorial model of an expanding dynamical system. We prove that a naturally defined "Julia set" of the generalized dynamical systems depends only on the associated iterated monodromy group. We show then that the Julia set of every expanding dynamical system is an inverse limit of simplicial complexes constructed by inductive cut-and-paste rules.
Motivated by the renormalization method in statistical physics, Itai Benjamini defined a finitely generated infinite group G to be scale-invariant if there is a nested sequence of finite index subgroups G_n that are all isomorphic to G and whose intersection is a finite group. He conjectured that every scale-invariant group has polynomial growth, hence is virtually nilpotent. We disprove his conjecture by showing that the following groups (mostly finite-state self-similar groups) are scale-invariant: the lamplighter groups F\wr\Z, where F is any finite Abelian group; the solvable Baumslag-Solitar groups BS(1,m); the affine groups A\ltimes\Z^d, for any A\leq GL(\Z,d). However, the conjecture remains open with some natural stronger notions of scale-invariance for groups and transitive graphs. We construct scale-invariant tilings of certain Cayley graphs of the discrete Heisenberg group, whose existence is not immediate just from the scale-invariance of the group. We also note that torsion-free non-elementary hyperbolic groups are not scale-invariant.
This article contains most of the known results on the classification of groups generated by 3-state automata over a 2-letter alphabet, extending the previous papers 0704.3876 and math/0612178.
We show that if a group $G$ acting faithfully on a rooted tree $T$ has a free subgroup, then either there exists a point $w$ of the boundary $\partial T$ and a free subgroup of $G$ with trivial stabilizer of $w$, or there exists $w\in\partial T$ and a free subgroup of $G$ fixing $w$ and acting faithfully on arbitrarily small neighborhoods of $w$. This can be used to prove absence of free subgroups for different known classes of groups. For instance, we prove that iterated monodromy groups of expanding coverings have no free subgroups and give another proof of a theorem by S. Sidki.
Classification of groups generated by 3-state automata over a 2-letter alphabet started in the first paper (see http://www.arxiv.org/abs/math/0612178) is continued.
In the first part of the article we introduce $C^*$-algebras associated to self-similar groups and study their properties and relations to known algebras. The algebras are constructed as sub-algebras of the Cuntz-Pimsner algebra (and its homomorphic images) associated with the self-similarity of the group. We study such properties as nuclearity, simplicity and Morita equivalence with algebras related to solenoids. The second part deals with the Schur complement transformations of elements of self-similar algebras. We study properties of such transformations and apply them to the spectral problem for Markov type elements in self-similar $C^*-$algebras. This is related to the spectral problem of the discrete Laplace operator on groups and graphs. Application of the Schur complement method in many situations reduces the spectral problem to study of invariant sets (very often of the type of a ``strange attractor'') of a multidimensional rational transformation. A number of illustrating examples is provided. Finally we observe a relation between the Schur complement transformations and Bartholdi-Kaimanovich-Virag transformations of random walks on self-similar groups.
We describe in terms of automata theory the automatic actions with post-critically finite limit space. We prove that these actions are precisely the actions by bounded automata and that any self-similar action by bounded automata is contracting.
An approach to a classification of groups generated by 3-state automata over a 2-letter alphabet and the current progress in this direction are presented. Several results related to the whole class are formulated. In particular, all finite, abelian, and free groups are classified. In addition, we provide detailed information and complete proofs for several groups from the class, with the intention of showing the main methods and techniques used in the classification.
We answer Hubbard's question on determining the Thurston equivalence class of ``twisted rabbits'', i.e. images of the ``rabbit'' polynomial under n-th powers of the Dehn twists about its ears. The answer is expressed in terms of the 4-adic expansion of n. We also answer the equivalent question for the other two families of degree-2 topological polynomials with three post-critical points. In the process, we rephrase the questions in group-theoretical language, in terms of wreath recursions.
We associate a group $IMG(f)$ to every covering $f$ of a topological space $M$ by its open subset. It is the quotient of the fundamental group $π_1(M)$ by the intersection of the kernels of its monodromy action for the iterates $f^n$. Every iterated monodromy group comes together with a naturally defined action on a rooted tree. We present an effective method to compute this action and show how the dynamics of $f$ is related to the group. In particular, the Julia set of $f$ can be reconstructed from $\img(f)$ (from its action on the tree), if $f$ is expanding.