Arithmetic-dynamic simplicity dichotomy for geodesics

Consider a lattice FPSL2(R)F\subset \operatorname{PSL}_2(\mathbb{R}) with invariant trace field \K=Q({disc(γ)γF})\K=\mathbb{Q}(\{\operatorname{disc}(\gamma)\mid \gamma\in F\}). Let S=F\HS=F\backslash\mathbb{H}, with mapping class group Mod(S)=Out(F)\operatorname{Mod}(S)=\operatorname{Out}(F). Fix a simple geodesic αS\alpha\subset S, let α~H\widetilde{\alpha}\subset\mathbb{H} be its lift, viewed as an FF-invariant set of geodesics, and let α~RP1\partial\widetilde{\alpha}\subset\mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^1 be the set of their endpoints. Arithmetic-dynamic simplicity conjecture. The following dichotomy holds: if α\alpha is fixed by an element of infinite order in Mod(S)\operatorname{Mod}(S), then the endpoints in α~\partial\widetilde{\alpha} are algebraic over \K\K; if α\alpha is not fixed by any element of infinite order in Mod(S)\operatorname{Mod}(S), then the endpoints in α~\partial\widetilde{\alpha} are transcendental over \K\K. In the first case, the relevant algebraic extension is further determined by the type of infinite-order mapping class: for a maximal product of commuting Dehn twists, the lifted geodesics are bi-asymptotic to simple closed geodesics and their endpoints lie in a quadratic extension of \K\K; for a pseudo-Anosov element AMod(S)A\in\operatorname{Mod}(S), the endpoints are expected to belong to \K[μj]\K[\mu_j] for a Lyapunov exponent μj\mu_j given by a root of the Teichmüller polynomial of AA. This proposes an arithmetic/transcendence dichotomy for simple geodesics, relating the algebraicity of their endpoints to dynamical symmetries of the surface. The general status is not supplied in the source.

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Primary source

Scott Schmieding and Christopher-Lloyd Simon, “Geometry and Transcendence of the Hexponential”, arXiv:2402.17628 (2024).

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