Homologically undetectable entropy for Kummer diffeomorphisms

Let MM be the K3 surface obtained in the Kummer construction, and let fTf_T be the diffeomorphism associated with TSL(4,Z)T\in\operatorname{SL}(4,\mathbb{Z}). Suppose that TT has exactly three eigenvalues λ1,λ2,λ3\lambda_1,\lambda_2,\lambda_3 outside the unit circle, ordered so that

λ1λ2λ3>1.|\lambda_1|\geq |\lambda_2|\geq |\lambda_3|>1.

Homologically undetectable entropy. The minimal entropy of any gDiff(M)g\in\operatorname{Diff}(M) isotopic to fTf_T satisfies

htop(g)>logspecrad[g:H(M;R)H(M;R)],\operatorname{h_{\rm top}}(g)>\log\operatorname{specrad}[g_*:H_*(M;\mathbb{R})\to H_*(M;\mathbb{R})],

with the difference between the two sides being close to, or equal to, logλ3\log|\lambda_3|.

This would give a negative answer to Shub's question of whether the homological lower bound for topological entropy is always realized, or can at least be approached by diffeomorphisms in a fixed isotopy class. The proposed excess is associated with entropy not detected by the homological action on the K3 surface.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Benson Farb and Eduard Looijenga, “Entropy-minimizing diffeomorphisms of pseudo-Anosov type on K3 surfaces”, arXiv:2507.13139 (2025).

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