Degree growth for tame automorphisms of an affine quadric threefold

Abstract: In this paper, we consider the degree sequences of the tame automorphisms preserving an affine quadric threefold. Using some valuatives estimates derived from the work of Shestakov-Umirbaev and the action of this group on a CAT(0), Gromov-hyperbolic square complex constructed by Bisi-Furter-Lamy, we prove that the dynamical degrees of tame elements avoid any value strictly between 1 and 4/3. As an application, these methods allow us to characterize when the growth exponent of the degree of a random product of finitely many tame automorphisms is positive.