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Consider the four punctured sphere ${\mathbb{S}}_4^2$. Each choice of four traces, one for each puncture, determines a relative character variety for the representations of the fundamental group of ${\mathbb{S}}_4^2$ in ${\sf{SL}}_2(\mathbb{C})$. We classify the stationary probability measures for the action of the mapping class group ${\sf{Mod}}({\mathbb{S}}_4^2)$ on these character varieties.

We confirm a conjecture of Friedland and Milnor: if two polynomial automorphisms f and g in Aut(C^2) with dynamical degree >1 are conjugate by some holomorphic diffeomorphism \phi of C^2, then \phi is a polynomial automorphism; thus, f and g are conjugate inside Aut(C^2). We also discuss a number of variations on this result.

We first present an overview of our previous work on the dynamics of subgroups of automorphism groups of compact complex surfaces, together with a selection of open problems and new classification results. Then, we study two families of examples in depth: the first one comes from folding plane pentagons, and the second one is a family of groups introduced by J\'er\'emy Blanc, which exhibits interesting new dynamical features.

We study the hyperbolicity properties of the action of a non-elementary automorphism group on a compact complex surface, with an emphasis on K3 and Enriques surfaces. A first result is that when such a group contains parabolic elements, Zariski diffuse invariant measures automatically have non-zero Lyapunov exponents. In combination with our previous work, this leads to simple criteria for a uniform expansion property on the whole surface, for groups with and without parabolic elements. This, in turn, has strong consequences on the dynamics: description of orbit closures, equidistribution, ergodicity properties, etc. Along the way, we provide a reference discussion on uniform expansion of non-linear discrete group actions on compact (real) manifolds and the construction of Margulis functions under optimal moment conditions.

We classify invariant probability measures for non-elementary groups of automorphisms, on any compact K\"ahler surface X, under the assumption that the group contains a so-called "parabolic automorphism". We also prove that except in certain rigid situations known as Kummer examples, there are only finitely many invariant, ergodic, probability measures with a Zariski dense support. If X is a K3 or Enriques surface, and the group does not preserve any algebraic subset, this leads to a complete description of orbit closures., Comment: Substantially revised version. Now includes a discussion on orbit closures (Theorem E). Precision added in section 8

We study finite orbits for non-elementary groups of automorphisms of compact projective surfaces. In particular we prove that if the surface and the group are defined over a number field k and the group contains parabolic elements, then the set of finite orbits is not Zariski dense, except in certain very rigid situations, known as Kummer examples. Related results are also established when k=C. An application is given to the description of "canonical vector heights" associated to such automorphism groups.

In the first part of this article, we answer a question of I. Dolgachev, which is related to the following problem: given a birational map $f\in\mathrm{Bir}(\mathbb{P}^m_\mathbf{k})$ and a linear projective map $A\in\mathrm{PGL}_{m+1}(\mathbf{k})$, when is $A\circ f$ regularizable? Dolgachev's initial question is whether this may happen for all $A$ in $\mathrm{PGL}_{m+1}(\mathbf{k})$, and the answer is negative. We then look at the sequence $n\mapsto\mathrm{deg}\, f^n$, $f\in\mathrm{Bir}(\mathbb{P}^2_\mathbf{k})$. We show that there is no constraint on the sequence $n\mapsto\mathrm{deg}\, f^n-\mathrm{deg}\, f^{n-1}$ for small values of $n$. Finally we study the degree of pencils of curves which are invariant by a birational map. When f is a Halphen or Jonqui\`eres twist, we prove that this degree is bounded by a function of $\mathrm{deg}\, f$. We derive corollaries on the structure of conjugacy classes, and their properties with respect to the Zariski topology of $\mathrm{Bir}(\mathbb{P}^2_\mathbf{k})$.

We initiate the study of random iteration of automorphisms of real and complex projective surfaces, or more generally compact K{\"a}hler surfaces, focusing on the fundamental problem of classification of stationary measures. We show that, in a number of cases, such stationary measures are invariant, and provide criteria for uniqueness, smoothness and rigidity of invariant probability measures. This involves a variety of tools from complex and algebraic geometry, random products of matrices, non-uniform hyperbolicity, as well as recent results of Brown and Rodriguez Hertz on random iteration of surface diffeomorphisms.

We proved that, in characteristic 0, if two dominant endomorphisms of the projective plane of degree at least 2 are conjugate by some birational transformation, then they are conjugate by an automorphism. We also gave counterexamples in positive characteristic., Comment: 10 pages

We study the automorphisms of compact K\"ahler manifolds having slow dynamics. By adapting Gromov's classical argument, we give an upper bound on the polynomial entropy and study its possible values in dimensions $2$ and $3$. We prove that every automorphism with sublinear derivative growth is an isometry ; a counter-example is given in the $C^{\infty}$ context, answering negatively a question of Artigue, Carrasco-Olivera and Monteverde on polynomial entropy. Finally, we classify minimal automorphisms in dimension $2$ and prove they exist only on tori. We conjecture that this is true for any dimension., Comment: 53 pages, 1 figure

We classify compact K\"ahler threefolds $X$ with a free group of automorphisms acting freely on $X$., Comment: 14 pages

In this paper we show that an affine space is determined by the abstract group structure of its group of regular automorphisms in the category of connected affine varieties. To prove this we study commutative subgroups of the group of automorphisms of affine varieties., Comment: 21 pages, final version, to appear in Amer. J. Math

We construct embeddings of surface groups into the group of germs of analytic diffeomorphisms in one variable.

Consider an algebraically closed field k and the Cremona group of all birational transformations of the projective plane over k. We characterize infinite order elements of this group having a non-zero power generating a proper normal subgroup of the Cremona group., Comment: To appear in International Mathematics Research Notices

We prove the geometric Bogomolov conjecture over a function field of characteristic zero., Comment: 18 pages

We study distortion of elements in two-dimensional Cremona groups over algebraically closed fields of characteristic zero. Namely, we obtain the following trichotomy: non-elliptic elements (i.e., those whose powers have unbounded degree) are undistorted; elliptic elements have a double exponential distortion when they are virtually unipotent and an exponential distortion otherwise., Comment: 33 pages

We prove that the degrees of the iterates ${\rm deg}(f^n)$ of a birational map satisfy $\liminf({\rm deg}(f^n))<+\infty$ if and only if the sequence ${\rm deg}(f^n)$ is bounded, and that the growth of ${\rm deg}(f^n)$ can not be arbitrarily slow, unless ${\rm deg}(f^n)$ is bounded.

Pseudo-automorphisms are birational transformations acting as regular automorphisms in codimension 1. We import ideas from geometric group theory to prove that a group of birational transformations that satisfies a fixed point property on CAT(0) cubical complexes, for example a discrete countable group with Kazhdan Property (T), is birationally conjugate to a group acting by pseudo-automorphisms on some non-empty Zariski-open subset. We apply this argument to classify groups of birational transformations of surfaces with this fixed point property up to birational conjugacy., Comment: V1 was a preliminary version. V1->V2: significantly expanded version with new sections. V2->V3: various corrections, and removal of the whole "categorical limit construction" section, now bypassed using divisorial valuations. 49 pages, 3 figures

We classify complex projective surfaces with an automorphism of positive entropy for which the unique invariant measure of maximal entropy is absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue measure., Comment: 57 pages, 1 figure

We construct an example of a birational transformation of a rational threefold for which the first and second dynamical degrees coincide and are $>1$, but which does not preserve any holomorphic (singular) foliation. In particular, this provides a negative answer to a question of Guedj. On our way, we develop several techniques to study foliations which are invariant under birational transformations.

The dynamical degree $\lambda(f)$ of a birational transformation $f$ measures the exponential growth rate of the degree of the formulae that define the $n$-th iterate of $f$. We study the set of all dynamical degrees of all birational transformations of projective surfaces, and the relationship between the value of $\lambda(f)$ and the structure of the conjugacy class of $f$. For instance, the set of all dynamical degrees of birational transformations of the complex projective plane is a closed and well ordered set of algebraic numbers., Comment: 65 pages

In this note, we prove, for instance, that the automorphism group of a rational manifold X which is obtained from CP^k by a finite sequence of blow-ups along smooth centers of dimension at most r with k>2r+2 has finite image in GL(H^*(X,Z)). In particular, every holomorphic automorphism $f:X\to X$ has zero topological entropy.

Thanks to the theory of Coxeter groups, we produce the first family of Calabi-Yau manifolds $X$ of arbitrary dimension $n$, for which $\Bir(X)$ is infinite and the Kawamata-Morrison movable cone conjecture is satisfied. For this family, the movable cone is explicitly described; it's fractal nature is related to limit sets of Kleinian groups and to the Apollonian Gasket. Then, we produce explicit examples of (biregular) automorphisms with positive entropy on some Calabi-Yau manifolds., Comment: 30 pages. Though the most main theorem is the same, many explanations and results are polished up or made stronger. Theorem 4.6 (based on section 2.2) is not in the previous version. A version with figure is in http://perso.univ-rennes1.fr/serge.cantat/

We classify rational surfaces for which the image of the automorphisms group in the group of linear transformations of the Picard group is the largest possible. This answers a question raised by Arthur Coble in 1928, and can be rephrased in terms of periodic orbits of a birational action of an infinite Coxeter group on ordered point sets in the projective plane modulo projective equivalence. We also outline the classification of non-rational surfaces with large automorphism groups., Comment: 48 pages, essentially revised version with corrected proofs, to appear in JAMS

We classify compact K\"ahler manifolds $M$ of dimension $n\geq 3$ on which acts a lattice of an almost simple real Lie group of rank $\geq n-1$. This provides a new line in the so-called Zimmer program, and characterizes certain type of complex tori by a property of their automorphisms groups., Comment: 35 pages

Let k be an algebraically closed field. We show that the Cremona group of all birational transformations of the projective plane P^2 over k is not a simple group. The strategy makes use of hyperbolic geometry, geometric group theory, and algebraic geometry to produce elements in the Cremona group that generate non trivial normal subgroups., Comment: With an appendix by Yves de Cornulier. Numerous but minors corrections were made, regarding proofs, references and terminology. This long version contains detailled proofs of several technical lemmas about hyperbolic spaces

This paper is an introduction to the dynamics of rational fractions over a p-adic field. It follows the lectures that Jean-Christophe Yoccoz gave during the \'Etats de la recherche in May 2006, and develops certain points. Most of the results to be explained here are due to Benedetto, B\'ezivin, Hsia, Lubin, Morton, Rivera-Letelier and Silverman. ----- Ce texte est une introduction \`a la dynamique des fractions rationnelles sur un corps $p$-adique. Il reprend le cours que Jean-Christophe Yoccoz avait fait lors des \emph{\'Etats de la recherche} de mai 2006 et en d\'eveloppe certains points. La plupart des r\'esultats pr\'esent\'es sont d\^us \`a Benedetto, B\'ezivin, Hsia, Lubin, Morton, Rivera-Letelier et Silverman., Comment: 47 pages, in French. To appear in \'Etats de la recherche 2006, Panoramas et synth\`eses, vol. 30, SMF, 2010

We classify all holomorphic actions of higher rank lattices on compact Kaehler manifolds of dimension 3. This provides a complete answer to Zimmer's program for holomorphic actions on compact Kaehler manifolds of dimension at most 3., Comment: 55 pages

We study the dynamics of mapping class groups on 2-dimensional character varieties. We shall show that the dynamics of pseudo-Anosov mapping classes resembles in many ways the dynamics of H\'enon mappings, and then apply this idea to answer open questions concerning the geometry of discrete and faithful representations, Painlev\'e sixth equation, and discrete Schroedinger operators.

We study the monodromy of Painlev\'e VI equation from a dynamical point of view. This is applied to the description of bounded orbits, and to a proof of the irreducibility of Painlev\'e VI equation in the sens of Casale and Malgrange. On our way, we compute the entropy of each element of the monodromy group, and we precise the dictionary between character varieties and Painlev\'e equations.

Numerical estimates are given for the spectral radius of simple random walks on Cayley graphs. Emphasis is on the case of the fundamental group of a closed surface, for the usual system of generators., Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures, amstex