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In this note we give an overview of various quantities that are used to measure the complexity of an algebraic dynamical system f:X-->X, including the dynamical degree d(f), which gives a coarse measure of the geometric complexity of the iterates of f, the arithmetic degree a(f,P), which gives a coarse measure of the arithmetic complexity of the orbit of a an algebraic point P in X, and various versions of the canonical height h_f(P) that provide more refined measures of arithmetic complexity. Emphasis is placed on open problems and directions for further exploration., Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the Simons Symposia on Algebraic, Complex, and Arithmetic Dynamics. This article is an expanded version of a talk presented at the Simons Symposium, May 2019, Germany. A small number of updates were added in 2023 and 2024 and are noted as such. 19 pages

Let $\mathbb{F}$ be the function field of a curve over an algebraically closed field with $\operatorname{char}(\mathbb{F})\ne2,3$, and let $E/\mathbb{F}$ be an elliptic curve. Then for all finite extensions $\mathbb{K}/\mathbb{F}$ and all non-torsion points $P\in{E(\mathbb{K})}$, the $\mathbb{F}$-normalized canonical height of $P$ is bounded below by \[ \hat{h}_E(P) \ge \frac{1}{10500\cdot h_{\mathbb{F}}(j_E)^{2}\cdot [\mathbb{K}:\mathbb{F}]^{2}}. \], Comment: 32 pages

Let $X/K$ be a smooth projective variety defined over a number field, and let $f:X\to{X}$ be a morphism defined over $K$. We formulate a number of statements of varying strengths asserting, roughly, that if there is at least one point $P_0\in{X(K)}$ whose $f$-orbit $\mathcal{O}_f(P_0):=\bigl\{f^n(P):n\in\mathbb{N}\bigr\}$ is Zariski dense, then there are many such points. For example, a weak conclusion would be that $X(K)$ is not the union of finitely many (grand) $f$-orbits, while a strong conclusion would be that any set of representatives for the Zariski dense grand $f$-orbits is Zariski dense. We prove statements of this sort for various classes of varieties and maps, including projective spaces, abelian varieties, and surfaces., Comment: 56 pages

Let $V$ be a projective variety defined over a number field $K$, let $S$ be a polarized set of endomorphisms of $V$ all defined over $K$, and let $P\in V(K)$. For each prime $\mathfrak{p}$ of $K$, let $m_{\mathfrak{p}}(S,P)$ denote the number of points in the orbit of $P\bmod\mathfrak{p}$ for the semigroup of maps generated by $S$. Under suitable hypotheses on $S$ and $P$, we prove an analytic estimate for $m_{\mathfrak{p}}(S,P)$ and use it to show that the set of primes for which $m_{\mathfrak{p}}(S,P)$ grows subexponentially as a function of $\operatorname{\mathsf{N}}_{K/\mathbb{Q}}\mathfrak{p}$ is a set of density zero. For $V=\mathbb{P}^1$ we show that this holds for a generic set of maps $S$ provided that at least two of the maps in $S$ have degree at least four., Comment: 17 pages

Charles, Goren, and Lauter [J. Cryptology 22(1), 2009] explained how one can construct hash functions using expander graphs in which it is hard to find paths between specified vertices. The set of solutions to the classical Markoff equation $X^2+Y^2+Z^2=XYZ$ in a finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$ has a natural structure as a tri-partite graph using three non-commuting polynomial automorphisms to connect the points. These graphs conjecturally form an expander family, and Fuchs, Lauter, Litman, and Tran [Mathematical Cryptology 1(1), 2022] suggest using this family of Markoff graphs in the CGL construction. In this note we show that in both a theoretical and a practical sense, assuming two randomness hypotheses, the path problem in a Markoff graph over $\mathbb{F}_q$ can be solved in subexponential time, and is more-or-less equivalent in difficulty to factoring $q-1$ and solving three discrete logarithm problem in $\mathbb{F}_q^*$., Comment: 21 pages

Let $\mathcal{W}\subset\mathbb{P}^1\times\mathbb{P}^1\times\mathbb{P}^1$ be a surface given by the vanishing of a $(2,2,2)$-form. These surfaces admit three involutions coming from the three projections $\mathcal{W}\to\mathbb{P}^1\times\mathbb{P}^1$, so we call them $\textit{tri-involutive K3 (TIK3) surfaces}$. By analogy with the classical Markoff equation, we say that $\mathcal{W}$ is of $\textit{Markoff type (MK3)}$ if it is symmetric in its three coordinates and invariant under double sign changes. An MK3 surface admits a group of automorphisms $\mathcal{G}$ generated by the three involutions, coordinate permutations, and sign changes. In this paper we study the $\mathcal{G}$-orbit structure of points on TIK3 and MK3 surfaces. Over finite fields, we study fibral connectivity and the existence of large orbits, analogous to work of Bourgain, Gamburd, Sarnak and others for the classical Markoff equation. For a particular $1$-parameter family of MK3 surfaces $\mathcal{W}_k$, we compute the full $\mathcal{G}$-orbit structure of $\mathcal{W}_k(\mathbb{F}_p)$ for all primes $p\le113$, and we use this data as a guide to find many finite $\mathcal{G}$-orbits in $\mathcal{W}_k(\mathbb{C})$, including a family of orbits of size $288$ parameterized by a curve of genus $9$., Comment: 55 pages

Let $K$ be a 1-dimensional function field over an algebraically closed field of characteristic $0$, and let $A/K$ be an abelian surface. Under mild assumptions, we prove a Lehmer-type lower bound for points in $A(\bar{K})$. More precisely, we prove that there are constants $C_1,C_2>0$ such that the normalized Bernoulli-part of the canonical height is bounded below by $$ \hat{h}_A^{\mathbb{B}}(P) \ge C_1\bigl[K(P):K\bigr]^{-2} $$ for all points $P\in{A(\bar{K})}$ whose height satisfies $0<\hat{h}_A(P)\le{C_2}$., Comment: 48 pages

We study arithmetic distribution relations and the inverse function theorem in algebraic and arithmetic geometry, with an emphasis on versions that can be applied uniformly across families of varieties and maps. In particular, we prove two explicit versions of the inverse function theorem, the first via general distribution and separation inequalities that may be of independent interest, the second via a careful implementation of classical Newton iteration., Comment: 49 pages

Let $f:{\mathbb P}^n\to{\mathbb P}^n$ be a morphism of degree $d\ge2$. The map $f$ is said to be post-critically finite (PCF) if there exist integers $k\ge1$ and $\ell\ge0$ such that the critical locus $\operatorname{Crit}_f$ satisfies $f^{k+\ell}(\operatorname{Crit}_f)\subseteq{f^\ell(\operatorname{Crit}_f)}$. The smallest such $\ell$ is called the tail-length. We prove that for $d\ge3$ and $n\ge2$, the set of PCF maps $f$ with tail-length at most $2$ is not Zariski dense in the the parameter space of all such maps. In particular, maps with periodic critical loci, i.e., with $\ell=0$, are not Zariski dense., Comment: 32 pages

In this paper we study the locus of generalized degree $d$ Henon maps in the parameter space $\operatorname{Rat}_d^N$ of degree $d$ rational maps $\mathbb{P}^N\to\mathbb{P}^N$ modulo the conjugation action of $\operatorname{SL}_{N+1}$. We show that Henon maps are in the GIT unstable locus if $N\ge3$ or $d\ge3$, and that they are semistable, but not stable, in the remaining case of $N=d=2$. We also give a general classification of all unstable maps in $\operatorname{Rat}_2^2$., Comment: 9 pages

A $\textit{portrait}$ $\mathcal{P}$ on $\mathbb{P}^N$ is a pair of finite point sets $Y\subseteq{X}\subset\mathbb{P}^N$, a map $Y\to X$, and an assignment of weights to the points in $Y$. We construct a parameter space $\operatorname{End}_d^N[\mathcal{P}]$ whose points correspond to degree $d$ endomorphisms $f:\mathbb{P}^N\to\mathbb{P}^N$ such that $f:Y\to{X}$ is as specified by a portrait $\mathcal{P}$, and prove the existence of the GIT quotient moduli space $\mathcal{M}_d^N[\mathcal{P}]:=\operatorname{End}_d^N//\operatorname{SL}_{N+1}$ under the $\operatorname{SL}_{N+1}$-action $(f,Y,X)^\phi=\bigl(\phi^{-1}\circ{f}\circ\phi,\phi^{-1}(Y),\phi^{-1}(X)\bigr)$ relative to an appropriately chosen line bundle. We also investigate the geometry of $\mathcal{M}_d^N[\mathcal{P}]$ and give two arithmetic applications., Comment: 91 pages

We study multiplicative dependence between elements in orbits ofalgebraic dynamical systems over number fields modulo a finitely generated multiplicative subgroup of the field. We obtain a series of results, many of which may be viewed as a blend of Northcott's theorem on boundedness of preperiodic points and Siegel's theorem on finiteness of solutions to $S$-unit equations.

Arithmetic dynamics is the study of number theoretic properties of dynamical systems. A relatively new field, it draws inspiration partly from dynamical analogues of theorems and conjectures in classical arithmetic geometry, and partly from $p$-adic analogues of theorems and conjectures in classical complex dynamics. In this article we survey some of the motivating problems and some of the recent progress in the field of arithmetic dynamics., Comment: 72 pages, survey article, comments welcome, v.2 corrects mistakes and has added material

Let $f:\mathbb{P}^N\to\mathbb{P}^N$ be an endomorphism of degree $d\ge2$ defined over $\overline{\mathbb{Q}}$ or $\overline{\mathbb{Q}}_p$, and let $K$ be the field of moduli of $f$. We prove that there is a field of definition $L$ for $f$ whose degree $[L:K]$ is bounded solely in terms of $N$ and $d$., Comment: 22 pages

Let $R$ be a ring of characteristic $0$ with field of fractions $K$, and let $m\ge2$. The B\"ottcher coordinate of a power series $\varphi(x)\in x^m + x^{m+1}R[\![x]\!]$ is the unique power series $f_\varphi(x)\in x+x^2K[\![x]\!]$ satisfying $\varphi\circ f_\varphi(x) = f_\varphi(x^m)$. In this paper we study the integrality properties of the coefficients of $f_\varphi(x)$, partly for their intrinsic interest and partly for potential applications to $p$-adic dynamics. Results include: (1) If $p$ is prime and $R=\mathbb Z_p$ and $\varphi(x)\in x^p + px^{p+1}R[\![x]\!]$, then $f_\varphi(x)\in R[\![x]\!]$. (2) If $\varphi(x)\in x^m + mx^{m+1}R[\![x]\!]$, then $f_\varphi(x)=x\sum_{k=0}^\infty a_kx^k/k!$ with all $a_k\in R$. (3) In (2), if $m=p^2$, then $a_k\equiv-1\pmod{p}$ for all $k$ that are powers of $p$., Comment: 27 pages. Version 2 fixes the statement and proof of Theorem 4

Let $K$ be a number field, let $S$ be a finite set of places of $K$, and let $R_S$ be the ring of $S$-integers of $K$. A $K$-morphism $f:\mathbb{P}^1_K\to\mathbb{P}^1_K$ has simple good reduction outside $S$ if it extends to an $R_S$-morphism $\mathbb{P}^1_{R_S}\to\mathbb{P}^1_{R_S}$. A finite Galois invariant subset $X\subset\mathbb{P}^1_K(\bar{K})$ has good reduction outside $S$ if its closure in $\mathbb{P}^1_{R_S}$ is \'etale over $R_S$. We study triples $(f,Y,X)$ with $X=Y\cup f(Y)$. We prove that for a fixed $K$, $S$, and $d$, there are only finitely many $\text{PGL}_2(R_S)$-equivalence classes of triples with $\text{deg}(f)=d$ and $\sum_{P\in Y}e_f(P)\ge2d+1$ and $X$ having good reduction outside $S$. We consider refined questions in which the weighted directed graph structure on $f:Y\to X$ is specified, and we give an exhaustive analysis for degree $2$ maps on $\mathbb{P}^1$ when $Y=X$., Comment: 47 pages - the original version of this paper is being split into two pieces. This piece contains the material on dynamical Shafarevich theorems. The second part, which will be posted separately, will contain material on moduli spaces for dynamical systems with portraits

The dynamical degree of a dominant rational map $f:\mathbb{P}^N\rightarrow\mathbb{P}^N$ is the quantity $\delta(f):=\lim(\text{deg} f^n)^{1/n}$. We study the variation of dynamical degrees in 1-parameter families of maps $f_T$. We make a conjecture and ask two questions concerning, respectively, the set of $t$ such that: (1) $\delta(f_t)\le\delta(f_T)-\epsilon$; (2) $\delta(f_t)<\delta(f_T)$; (3) $\delta(f_t)<\delta(f_T)$ and $\delta(g_t)<\delta(g_T)$ for "independent" families of maps. We give a sufficient condition for our conjecture to hold and prove that it is true for monomial maps. We describe non-trivial families of maps for which our questions have affirmative and negative answers., Comment: 18 pages. This is an expanded version of the article publishd in Acta Arithmetica. It contains a corrected statement and full proof of Propostion 11(c)

Let $K$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic $0$. In this paper we classify the $\text{PGL}_3(K)$-conjugacy classes of semi-stable dominant degree $2$ rational maps $f:{\mathbb P}^2_K\dashrightarrow{\mathbb P}^2_K$ whose automorphism group $$\text{Aut}(f):=\{\phi\in\text{PGL}_3(K): \phi^{-1}\circ f\circ\phi=f\}$$ is finite and of order at least $3$. In particular, we prove that $\#\text{Aut}(f)\le24$ in general, that $\#\text{Aut}(f)\le21$ for morphisms, and that $\#\text{Aut}(f)\le6$ for all but finitely many conjugacy classes of $f$., Comment: 76 pages - revised and corrected second version

We define the $\textit{Divisor Divisibility Sequence}$ associated to a Laurent polynomial $f\in\mathbb{Z}[X_1^{\pm1},\ldots,X_N^{\pm1}]$ to be the sequence $W_n(f)=\prod f(\zeta_1,\ldots,\zeta_N)$, where $\zeta_1,\ldots,\zeta_N$ range over all $n$'th roots of unity with $f(\zeta_1,\ldots,\zeta_N)\ne0$. More generally, we define $W_\Lambda(f)$ analogously for any finite subgroup $\Lambda\subset(\mathbb C^*)^N$. We investigate divisibility, factorization, and growth properties of $W_\Lambda(f)$ as a function of $\Lambda$. In particular, we give the complete factorization of $W_\Lambda(f)$ when $f$ has generic coefficients, and we prove an analytic estimate showing that the rank-of-apparition sets for $W_\Lambda(f)$ are not too large., Comment: 32 pages

Given a finite endomorphism $\varphi$ of a variety $X$ defined over the field of fractions $K$ of a Dedekind domain, we study the extension $K(\varphi^{-\infty}(\alpha)) : = \bigcup_{n \geq 1} K(\varphi^{-n}(\alpha))$ generated by the preimages of $\alpha$ under all iterates of $\varphi$. In particular when $\varphi$ is post-critically finite, i.e., there exists a non-empty, Zariski-open $W \subseteq X$ such that $\varphi^{-1}(W) \subseteq W$ and $\varphi : W \to X$ is \'etale, we prove that $K(\varphi^{-\infty}(\alpha))$ is ramified over only finitely many primes of $K$. This provides a large supply of infinite extensions with restricted ramification, and generalizes results of Aitken-Hajir-Maire in the case $X = \mathbb{A}^1$ and Cullinan-Hajir, Jones-Manes in the case $X = \mathbb{P}^1$. Moreover, we conjecture that this finite ramification condition characterizes post-critically finite morphisms, and we give an entirely new result showing this for $X = \mathbb{P}^1$. The proof relies on Faltings' theorem and a local argument.

Let $\phi:X\dashrightarrow X$ be a dominant rational map of a smooth variety and let $x\in X$, all defined over $\bar{\mathbb Q}$. The dynamical degree $\delta(\phi)$ measures the geometric complexity of the iterates of $\phi$, and the arithmetic degree $\alpha(\phi,x)$ measures the arithmetic complexity of the forward $\phi$-orbit of $x$. It is known that $\alpha(\phi,x)\le\delta(\phi)$, and it is conjectured that if the $\phi$-orbit of $x$ is Zariski dense in $X$, then $\alpha(\phi,x)=\delta(\phi)$, i.e., arithmetic complexity equals geometric complexity. In this note we prove this conjecture in the case that $X$ is an abelian variety, extending earlier work in which the conjecture was proven for isogenies., Comment: 17 pages

The classical (m,k)-Landen transform F_{m,k} is a self-map of the field of rational functions C(z) obtained by forming a weighted average of a rational function over twists by m'th roots of unity. Identifying the set of rational maps of degree d with an affine open subset of P^{2d+1}, we prove that F_{m,0} induces a dominant rational self-map R_{d,m,0} of P^{2d+1} of algebraic degree m, and for 0 < k < m, the transform F_{m,k} induces a dominant rational self-map R_{d,m,k} of algebraic degree m of a certain hyperplane in P^{2d+1}. We show in all cases that R_{d,m,k} extends nicely to a map of P^{2d+1} over Spec(Z), and that {R_{d,m,0} : m \ge 0} is a commuting family of maps., Comment: 35 pages

Let f : X --> X be an endomorphism of a normal projective variety defined over a global field K, and let D_0,D_1,D_2,... be divisor classes that form a Jordan block with eigenvalue b for the action of f^* on Pic(X) tensored with C. We construct appropriately normalized canonical heights h_0,h_1,h_2,... associated to D_0,D_1,D_2,... and satisfying Jordan transformation formulas h_k(f(x)) = b h_k(x) + h_{k-1}(x). As an application, we prove that for every x in X, the arithmetic degree a_f(x) exists, is an algebraic integer, and takes on only finitely many values as x varies over X. Further, if X is an abelian variety defined over a number field and D is a nonzero nef divisor, we characterize points satisfying h_D(x)=0, and we use this characterization to prove that if the f-orbit of x is Zariski dense in X, then a_f(x) is equal to the dynamical degree of f., Comment: 32 pages (major change in v3 is material on abelian varieties)

Let f : X --> X be a dominant rational map of a projective variety defined over a number field. An important geometric-dynamical invariant of f is its (first) dynamical degree d_f= lim SpecRadius((f^n)^*)^{1/n}. For algebraic points P of X whose forward orbits are well-defined, there is an analogous (upper) arithmetic degree a_f(P) = limsup h_X(f^n(P))^{1/n}, where h_X is an ample Weil height on X. In an earlier paper, we proved the fundamental inequality a_f(P) \le d_f and conjectured that a_f(P) = d_f whenever the orbit of P is Zariski dense. In this paper we show that the conjecture is true for several types of maps. In other cases, we provide support for the conjecture by proving that there is a Zariski dense set of points with disjoint orbits and satisfying a_f(P) = d_f., Comment: 25 pages

A primitive prime divisor of an element a_n of a sequence (a_1,a_2,a_3,...) is a prime P that divides a_n, but does not divide a_m for all m < n. The Zsigmondy set Z of the sequence is the set of n such that a_n has no primitive prime divisors. Let f : X --> X be a self-morphism of a variety, let D be an effective divisor on X, and let P be a point of X, all defined over the algebraic closure of Q. We consider the Zsigmondy set Z(X,f,P,D) of the sequence defined by the arithmetic intersection of the f-orbit of P with D. Under various assumptions on X, f, D, and P, we use Vojta's conjecture with truncated counting function to prove that the set of points f^n(P) with n in Z(X,f,P,D) is not Zariski dense in X., Comment: 18 pages

Let f : X --> X be a dominant rational map of a projective variety defined over a global field, let d_f be the dynamical degree of f, and let h_X be a Weil height on X relative to an ample divisor. We prove that h_X(f^n(P)) << (d_f + e)^n h_X(P), where the implied constant depends only on X, h_X, f, and e. As applications, we prove a fundamental inequality a_f(P) \le d_f for the upper arithmetic degree and we construct canonical heights for (nef) divisors. We conjecture that a_f(P) = d_f whenever the orbit of P is Zariski dense, and we describe some cases for which we can prove our conjecture., Comment: 32 pages

Let F : P^N --> P^N be a dominant rational map. The dynamical degree of F is the quantity d_F = lim (deg F^n)^(1/n). When F is defined over a number field, we define the arithmetic degree of an algebraic point P to be a_F(P) = limsup h(F^n(P))^(1/n) and the canonical height of P to be h_F(P) = limsup h(F^n(P))/n^k d_F^n for an appropriately chosen integer k = k_F. In this article we prove some elementary relations and make some deep conjectures relating d_F, a_F(P), and h_F(P). We prove our conjectures for monomial maps., Comment: 45 pages (substantially revised from first version)

Let F : P^n --> P^n be a morphism of degree d > 1 defined over C. The dynamical Mordell--Lang conjecture says that the intersection of an orbit O_F(P) and a subvariety X of P^n is usually finite. We consider the number of linear subvarieties L in P^n such that the intersection of O_F(P)and L is "larger than expected." When F is the d'th-power map and the coordinates of P are multiplicatively independent, we prove that there are only finitely many linear subvarieties that are "super-spanned" by O_F(P), and further that the number of such subvarieties is bounded by a function of n, independent of the point P or the degree d. More generally, we show that there exists a finite subset S, whose cardinality is bounded in terms of n, such that any n+1 points in O_F(P)-S are in linear general position in P^n., Comment: 18 pages

Let E/Q be an elliptic curve, let L(E,s)=\sum a_n/n^s be the L-series of E/Q, and let P be a point in E(Q). An integer n > 2 having at least two distinct prime factors will be be called an elliptic pseudoprime for (E,P) if E has good reduction at all primes dividing n and (n+1-a_n)P = 0 (mod n). Then n is an elliptic Carmichael number for E if n is an elliptic pseudoprime for every P in E(Z/nZ). In this note we describe two elliptic analogues of Korselt's criterion for Carmichael numbers, and we analyze elliptic Carmichael numbers of the form pq., Comment: 15 pages

We study the existence of primes and of primitive divisors in classical divisibility sequences defined over function fields. Under various hypotheses, we prove that Lucas sequences and elliptic divisibility sequences over function fields defined over number fields contain infinitely many irreducible elements. We also prove that an elliptic divisibility sequence over a function field has only finitely many terms lacking a primitive divisor., Comment: 28 pages

In the moduli space of polynomials of degree 3 with marked critical points c_1 and c_2, let C_{1,n} be the locus of maps for which c_1 has period n and let C_{2,m} be the locus of maps for which c_2 has period m. A consequence of Thurston's rigidity theorem is that the curves C_{1,n} and C_{2,m} intersect transversally. We give a purely algebraic proof that the intersection points are 3-adically integral and use this to prove transversality. We also prove an analogous result when c_1 or c_2 or both are taken to be preperiodic with tail length exactly 1., Comment: 16 pages

A number of authors have proven explicit versions of Lehmer's conjecture for polynomials whose coefficients are all congruent to 1 modulo m. We prove a similar result for polynomials f(X) that are divisible in (Z/mZ)[X] by a polynomial of the form 1+X+...+X^n for some n > \epsilon*deg(f). We also formulate and prove an analogous statement for elliptic curves., Comment: 22 pages

Let D = (D_n)_{n\ge1} be an elliptic divisibility sequence. We study the set S(D) of indices n satisfying n | D_n. In particular, given an index n in S(D), we explain how to construct elements nd in S(D), where d is either a prime divisor of D_n, or d is the product of the primes in an aliquot cycle for D. We also give bounds for the exceptional indices that are not constructed in this way.

An amicable pair for an elliptic curve E/Q is a pair of primes (p,q) of good reduction for E satisfying #E(F_p) = q and #E(F_q) = p. In this paper we study elliptic amicable pairs and analogously defined longer elliptic aliquot cycles. We show that there exist elliptic curves with arbitrarily long aliqout cycles, but that CM elliptic curves (with j not 0) have no aliqout cycles of length greater than two. We give conjectural formulas for the frequency of amicable pairs. For CM curves, the derivation of precise conjectural formulas involves a detailed analysis of the values of the Grossencharacter evaluated at a prime ideal P in End(E) having the property that #E(F_P) is prime. This is especially intricate for the family of curves with j = 0., Comment: 53 pages

Let f(z) be a rational function of degree at least 2 with coefficients in a number field K, and assume that the second iterate f^2(z) of f(z) is not a polynomial. The second author previously proved that for any b in K, the forward orbit O_f(b) contains only finitely many quasi-S-integral points. In this note we give an explicit upper bound for the number of such points., Comment: 23 pages

It is known that Szpiro's conjecture, or equivalently the ABC-conjecture, implies Lang's conjecture giving a uniform lower bound for the canonical height of nontorsion points on elliptic curves. In this note we show that a significantly weaker version of Szpiro's conjecture, which we call "prime-depleted," suffices to prove Lang's conjecture., Comment: 12 pages

Let F : W --> V be a dominant rational map between quasi-projective varieties of the same dimension. We give two proofs that h_V(F(P)) >> h_W(P) for all points P in a nonempty Zariski open subset of W. For dominant rational maps F : P^n --> P^n, we give a uniform estimate in which the implied constant depends only on n and the degree of F. As an application, we prove a specialization theorem for equidimensional dominant rational maps to semiabelian varieties, providing a complement to Habegger's recent theorem on unlikely intersections., Comment: 18 pages

Let K be a number field or a function field, let F:P^1 --> P^1 be a rational map of degree at least two defined over K, let P be a point in P^1(K) having infinite F-orbit, and let Z be a finite subset of Z. We prove a local-global criterion for the intersection of the F-orbit of P and the finite set Z. This is a special case of a dynamical Brauer-Manin criterion suggested by Hsia and Silverman., Comment: 10 pages

Let F : X --> X be a morphism of a variety defined over a number field K, let V be a K-subvariety of X, and let O_F(P)= {F^n(P) :n=0,1,2,...} be the orbit of a point P in X(K). We describe a local-global principle for the intersection of V and O_F(P). This principle may be viewed as a dynamical analog of the Brauer-Manin obstruction. We show that the rational points of V(K) are Brauer--Manin unobstructed for power maps on P^2 in two cases: (1) V is a translate of a torus. (2) V is a line and P has a preperiodic coordinate. A key tool in the proofs is the classical Bang-Zsigmondy theorem on primitive divisors in sequences. We also prove analogous local-global results for dynamical systems associated to endomoprhisms of abelian varieties., Comment: 17 pages