Standardly embedded train tracks and pseudo-Anosov maps with minimum expansion factor

Abstract

We show that given a fully-punctured pseudo-Anosov map $f:S \to S$ whose punctures lie in at least two orbits under the action of $f$, the expansion factor $\lambda(f)$ satisfies the inequality $\lambda(f)^{|\chi(S)|} \ge \mu^4 \approx 6.85408$, where $\mu = \frac{1 + \sqrt{5}}{2} \approx 1.61803$ is the golden ratio. The proof involves a study of standardly embedded train tracks, and the Thurston symplectic form defined on their weight space.