Universal properties of maps on an interval

We consider itcrates of maps of an interval to itself and their stable periodic orbits. When these maps depend on a parameter, one can observe period doubling bifurcations as the parameter is varied. We investigate rigorously those aspects of these bifurcations which are universal, i.e. independent of the choice of a particular one-parameter family. We point out that this universality extends to many other situations such as certain chaotic regimes. We describe the ergodic properties of the maps for which the parameter value equals the limit of the bifurcation points.