Entropies and Poisson boundaries of random walks on groups with rapid decay

Let $G$ be a countable group and $μ$ a probability measure on $G$. We build a new framework to compute asymptotic quantities associated with the $μ$-random walk on $G$, using methods from harmonic analysis on groups and Banach space theory, most notably complex interpolation. It is shown that under mild conditions, the Lyapunov exponent of the $μ$-random walk with respect to a weight $ω$ on $G$ can be computed in terms of the asymptotic behavior of the spectral radius of $μ$ in an ascending class of weighted group algebras, and we prove that for natural choices of $ω$ and $μ$, the Lyapunov exponent vanishes. Also, we show that the Avez entropy of the $μ$-random walk can be realized as the Lyapunov exponent of $μ$ with respect to a suitable weight. We apply our results to stationary dynamical systems consisting of an action of a group with the property of rapid decay on a probability space. We prove that whenever the associated Koopman representation is weakly contained in the left-regular representation of the group, then the Avez entropy coincides with the Furstenberg entropy of the stationary space. This gives a characterization of (Zimmer) amenability for actions of rapid decay groups on stationary spaces. Next, by considering the spectral radius in the algebras of $p$-pseudofunctions on $G$, we introduce a new asymptotic quantity, which we call convolution entropy. We show that for groups with the property of rapid decay, the convolution entropy coincides with the Avez entropy.

💡 Research Summary

The paper develops a novel analytic framework for studying asymptotic invariants of random walks on countable groups, with a particular focus on groups possessing the rapid‑decay (RD) property. By combining tools from harmonic analysis, Banach space theory, and especially complex interpolation, the authors obtain new formulas for the Lyapunov exponent and the Avez entropy of a μ‑random walk, and they establish deep connections between these quantities.

The first major contribution is the introduction of weighted group algebras ( \ell^1_\omega(G) ) and the associated spectral radius ( r_\omega(\mu) ). Using complex interpolation between ( L^p ) spaces, the authors prove that for a broad class of weights the map ( p \mapsto -p\log|f|_{q,\omega^{1/p}} ) is monotone (Proposition 2.1). This monotonicity yields Theorem 3.5, which expresses the Lyapunov exponent with respect to a weight ( \omega ) as a limit of logarithms of spectral radii in the ascending family of weighted algebras: \