Paul Reschke : Complex Surface Automorphisms with Positive Entropy

Posted by Paul Reschke , part of the Graduate Student Colloquium.

At

March 26, 2012, 4:15 p.m.

In

SEO 636

Abstract

The entropy of a dynamical system is an indicator of the richness of its dynamics. While automorphisms of complex curves cannot have positive entropy, certain complex surfaces do admit automorphisms with positive entropy. Because they preserve many cohomological structures, automorphisms with positive entropy offer opportunities to study rich dynamical systems in particularly great detail. We will explore these ideas by looking at explicit examples of automorphisms of abelian surfaces and projective K3 surfaces. This talk is intended to be accessible to graduate students of all levels; no technical knowledge of complex geometry or complex dynamics is expected.