On the existence of fixed points of the composition operator for circle maps

In the theory of circle maps with golden ratio rotation number formulated by Feigenbaum, Kadanoff, and Shenker [FKS], and by Ostlund, Rand, Sethna, and Siggia [ORSS], a central role is played by fixed points of a certain composition operator in map space. We define a common setting for the problem of proving the existence of these fixed points and of those occurring in the theory of maps of the interval. We give a proof of the existence of the fixed points for a wide range of the parameters on which they depend.     

Proper homothetic maps and fixed points

Let f be a proper homothetic map of the pseudo-Riemannian manifold M and assume f has a fixed point p. If all of the eigenvalues of either f* _p or f ^-1*_p have absolute values less than unity, then M is topologically R _n and M has a flat metric. This yields three characterizations of Minkowski spacetime. In general, a homothetic map of a complete pseudo-Riemannian manifold need not have fixed points. Furthermore, an example shows the existence of a proper homothetic map with a fixed point does not imply M is flat. The scalar curvature vanishes at a fixed point, but some of the sectional curvatures may be nonzero.     

Further scaling properties for circle maps

It is shown that certain iterations of (k–1)tuples of commuting invertible circle maps whose rotation numbers are algebraic of degree k, show very similar scaling properties to those found by Feigenbaum et al. in the case k=2.     

Rational rotation numbers for maps of the circle

We consider families of maps of the circle of degree 1 which are homeomorphisms but not diffeomorphisms, that is maps like

Transition to topological chaos for circle maps

Many biperiodic flows can be modelled by maps of a circle to itself. For such maps the transition from zero to positive topological entropy can be achieved in several ways. We describe all the possible routes for smooth circle maps, and discuss the relevance of our results to the transition to chaos for two-frequency systems.     

Rotation sets for networks of circle maps

We consider continuous maps of the torus, homotopic to the identity, that arise from systems of coupled circle maps and discuss the relationship between network architecture and rotation sets. Our main result is that when the map on the torus is invertible, network architecture can force the set of rotation vectors to lie in a low-dimensional subspace. In particular, the rotation set for an all-to-all coupled system of identical cells must be a subset of a line.     

Scalings in circle maps II

In this paper we consider one parameter families of circle maps with nonlinear flat spot singularities. Such circle maps were studied in [Circles I] where in particular we studied the geometry of closest returns to the critical interval for irrational rotation numbers of constant type. In this paper we apply those results to obtain exact relations between scalings in the parameter space to dynamical scalings near parameter values where the rotation number is the golden mean. Then results on [Circles I] can be used to compute the scalings in the parameter space. As far as we are aware, this constitutes the first case in which parameter scalings can be rigorously computed in the presence of highly nonlinear (and nonhyperbolic) dynamics.     

Josephson junctions and circle maps

The return map of a differential equation for the current driven Josephson junction, or the damped driven pendulum, is shown numerically to be a circle map. Phase locking, noise and hysteresis, can thus be understood in a simple and coherent way. The transition to chaos is related to the development of a cubic inflection point. Recent theoretical results on universal behavior at the transition to chaos can readily be checked experimentally by studying I–V characteristics.     

Critical circle maps near bifurcation

We estimate harmonic scalings in the parameter space of a one-parameter family of critical circle maps. These estimates lead to the conclusion that the Hausdorff dimension of the complement of the frequency-locking set is less than 1 but not less than 1/3. Moreover, the rotation number is a Hölder continuous function of the parameter.Partially supported by KBN grant Iteracje i Fraktale #210909101.Partially supported by NSF Grant #DMS-9206793 and the Sloan Research Fellowship.     

Near-critical behavior for one-parameter families of circle maps

Past studies of systems showing mixed-mode oscillations have revealed behavior along arbitrarily chosen parameter paths similar to that on the critical surface marking the break-up of invariant tori. Observations of this behavior in a model of the Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction is presented. Using the theory of circle maps, it is shown that near-critical behavior can arise along one-parameter paths.     

On the construction of invariant curves of period-two points in two-dimensional maps

We present an equation describing invariant curves associated with periodic points of period two in a wide class of two-dimensional invertible maps. Several branches of the unstable manifolds for the map x_n+1 = 1 - a|x_n| + bz_n, z_n+1 = x_n are constructed in a situation when they are related to a two-piece strange attractor.     

Scalings in circle maps (I)

Letf be a flat spot circle map with irrational rotation number. Located at the edges of the flat spot are non-flat critical points (S: xAx ^v ,v1). First, we define scalings associated with the closest returns of the orbit of the critical point. Under the assumption that these scalings go to zero, we prove that the derivative of long iterates of the critical value can be expressed in the scalings. The asymptotic behavior of the derivatives and the scalings can then be calculated. We concentrate on the cases for which one can prove the above assumption. In particular, let one of the singularities be linear. These maps arise for example as the lower bound of the non-decreasing truncations of non-invertible bimodal circle maps. It follows that the derivatives grow at a sub-exponential rate.     

Differentiable circle maps with a flat interval

We study weakly order preserving circle maps with a flat interval, which are differentiable even on the boundary of the flat interval. We obtain estimates on the Lebesgue measure and the Hausdorff dimension of the non-wandering set. Also, a sharp transition is found from degenerate geometry to bounded geometry, depending on the degree of the singularities at the boundary of the flat interval.Partially supported by KBN grant Iteracje i Fraktale #210909101.     

An integration formula for the square of moment maps of circle actions

The integration of the exponential of the square of the moment map of the circle action is studied by a direct stationary phase computation and by applying the Duistermaat-Heckman formula. Both methods yield two distinct formulas expressing the integral in terms of contributions from the critical set of the square of the moment map. Certain cohomological pairings on the symplectic quotient are computed explicitly using the asymptotic behavior of the two formulas.     

Universality and self-similarity in the bifurcations of circle maps

The bifurcation structure in a two-parameter family of circle maps is considered. These maps have a (topological) degree that may be different from one. A generalization of the rotation number is given and symmetries of the bifurcations in parameter space are described. Continuity arguments are used to establish the existence of periodic orbits. By plotting the locus of parameter values associated with superstable cycles, self-similar bifurcations are found. These bifurcations are a generalization of the familiar period-doubling cascade in maps with one extrema, to two-parameter maps with two extrema. Finally, a scheme for the global organization of bifurcation in these maps is proposed.     

On the minimal number of critical points of smooth maps between closed manifolds

New information concerning the minimal number of critical points of smooth proper mappings between closed connected surfaces (possibly with boundary) without critical points on the boundary is presented.     

Controlling chaos: Stabilization of fixed points and creation of new stable attractors in 1-D maps

In this paper we have tried to stabilize the unstable fixed points for a class of 1-D maps by using a multiplicative nonlinear feedback control mechanism. We have also used such control to create new attractors (which did not exist in the original system), to suit our requirement. The control is also found to work in the presence of noise.