The Arithmetic of Dynamical Systems (eBook)

This book provides an introduction to the relatively new discipline of arithmetic dynamics. Whereas classical discrete dynamics is the study of iteration of self-maps of the complex plane or real line, arithmetic dynamics is the study of the number theoretic properties of points under repeated application of a polynomial or rational function. A principal theme of arithmetic dynamics is that many of the fundamental problems in the theory of Diophantine equations have dynamical analogs. This graduate-level text provides an entry for students into an active field of research and serves as a standard reference for researchers.

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This book is designed to provide a path for the reader into an amalgamation oftwo venerable areas ofmathematics, Dynamical Systems and Number Theory. Many of the motivating theorems and conjectures in the new subject of Arithmetic Dynamics may be viewed as the transposition ofclassical results in the theory ofDiophantine equations to the setting of discrete dynamical systems, especially to the iteration theory ofmaps on the projective line and other algebraic varieties. Although there is no precise dictionary connecting the two areas, the reader will gain a flavor of the correspondence from the following associations: Diophantine Equations Dynamical Systems rational and integral rational and integral points on varieties points in orbits torsion points on periodic and preperiodic abelian varieties points ofrational maps There are a variety of topics covered in this volume, but inevitably the choice reflects the author's tastes and interests. Many related areas that also fall under the heading ofarithmetic or algebraic dynamics have been omitted in order to keep the book to a manageable length. A brief list of some of these omitted topics may be found in the introduction. Online Resources The reader will find additonal material, references and errata at http://www. math. brown. ectu/-jhs/ADSHome. html Acknowledgments The author has consulted a great many sources in writing this book. Every attempt has been made to give proper attribution for all but the most standard results.