Flow equivalence of shifts of finite type via positive factorizations. (Q701258)

Shifts of finite type are flow equivalent if they have topologically equivalent suspension flows. \textit{J. Franks} [Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 4, 53--66 (1984; Zbl 0555.54026)] classified irreducible shifts of finite type up to flow equivalence. \textit{D. Huang}, after dealing with several special cases, has found complete algebraic invariants in the general case [Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 21, No. 4, 1113--1137 (2001; Zbl 1055.37018) and a preprint]. This paper, together with a paper of the author and \textit{D. Huang} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 355, No. 10, 3861--3886 (2003; Zbl 1028.15006)], gives an alternative development of the classifying invariants. Additional functoriality properties are found, leading in particular to an analogue of the dimension group representation for flow equivalence.