Simple Homotopy Type of the Novikov Complex and Lefschetz Ζ-function of the Gradient Flow

Let f : M → S be a Morse map from a closed connected manifold to a circle. S.P.Novikov constructed an analog of the Morse complex for f . The Novikov complex is a chain complex defined over the ring of Laurent power series with integral coefficients and finite negative part. As its classical predecessor this complex depends on the choice of a gradient-like vector field. The homotopy type of the Novikov complex is the same as the homotopy type of the completed complex of the simplicial chains of the cyclic covering associated to f . In the present paper we prove that for every C-generic f -gradient there is a homotopy equivalence between these two chain complexes, such that its torsion equals the Lefschetz zeta-function of the gradient flow. For these gradients the Novikov complex is defined over the ring of rational functions and the Lefschetz zeta-function is also rational. The main theorem of the paper contains a more general statement concerning the Lefschetz zeta function with twisted coefficients and the version of the Novikov complex defined, respectively, over the completion of the group ring of H1(M). The paper contains also a survey of Morse-Novikov theory and of previous results of the author on the C-generic properties of the Novikov complex and the Novikov exponential growth conjecture.