Topological entropy for Reeb vector fields in dimension three via open book decompositions

Abstract

Given an open book decomposition of a contact three man-ifold (M, $\xi$) with pseudo-Anosov monodromy and fractional Dehn twist coefficient c = k n, we construct a Legendrian knot $\Lambda$ close to the stable foliation of a page, together with a small Legendrian pushoff $\Lambda$. When k $\ge$ 5, we apply the techniques of [CH2] to show that the strip Legen-drian contact homology of $\Lambda$ $\to$ $\Lambda$ is well-defined and has an exponential growth property. The work [Al2] then implies that all Reeb vector fields for $\xi$ have positive topological entropy.