Dominated splitting, partial hyperbolicity and positive entropy

Abstract

Let $f:M\rightarrow M$ be a $C^1$ diffeomorphism with a dominated splitting on a compact Riemanian manifold $M$ without boundary. We state and prove several sufficient conditions for the topological entropy of $f$ to be positive. The conditions deal with the dynamical behaviour of the (non-necessarily invariant) Lebesgue measure. In particular, if the Lebesgue measure is $\delta$-recurrent then the entropy of $f$ is positive. We give counterexamples showing that these sufficient conditions are not necessary. Finally, in the case of partially hyperbolic diffeomorphisms, we give a positive lower bound for the entropy relating it with the dimension of the unstable and stable sub-bundles.