Flow equivalence, hyperbolic systems and a new zeta function for flows

Abstract

We analyze the dynamics of diffeomorphisms in terms of their suspension flows. For many Axion A diffeomorphisms we find simplest representatives in their flow equivalence class and so reduce flow equivalence to conjugacy. The zeta functions of maps in a flow equivalence class are correlated with a zeta function ζ H for their suspended flow. This zeta function is defined for any flow with only finitely many closed orbits in each homology class, and is proven rational for Axiom A flows. The flow equivalence of Anosov diffeomorphisms is used to relate the spectrum of the induced map on first homology to the existence of fixed points. For Morse-Smale maps, we extend a result of Asimov on the geometric index.