Texas A&M University, Department of Mathematics, 216 Milner Hall, 22nd of September 2004, 3:00-3:50

Groups and Dynamics Seminar


Dynamical zeta functions and Nielsen-Reidemeister theory

Alexander Fel'shtyn of Universität Siegen

The study of dynamical zeta functions is part of the theory of dynamical systems, but it is also intimately related to algebraic geometry, number theory, topology, geometric group theory and non-commutative geometry. In the talk I will discuss the Reidemeister and Nielsen zeta functions. These zeta functions count periodic points of a dynamical system in the presence of a fundamental group. Twisted Burnside theorem and arithmetical congruences for Reidemeister numbers will be described. I will explain how dynamical zeta functions give rise to the Reidemeister torsion, an important topological invariant, which has useful applications in topology, quantum field theory and dynamical systems.