Questions tagged [ds.dynamical-systems]

Dynamics of flows and maps (continuous and discrete time), including infinite-dimensional dynamics, Hamiltonian dynamics, ergodic theory.

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The Dedekind eta function in physics

This interesting little fellow (a nice introduction is the video "Mock Modular Forms are Everywhere" by Cheng and Felder) popped up in some operator algebra (Witt / Virasoro Lie algebra) I ...
22 votes
3 answers
2k views

A Collatz-like function that bifurcates on primes

This is likely piling one mystery on another, but ... I was exploring a function $f(n): \mathbb{N} \mapsto \mathbb{N}$ defined as follows: $$ f(n) = \begin{cases} n^2 & \text{if} \;n \;\text{is ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
20 votes
2 answers
2k views

Applications of number theory in dynamical systems

I am looking for references (or ways to find references) on significant and/or recent applications of techniques in number theory to problems in the areas of dynamical systems and nonlinear dynamics. ...
J W's user avatar
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19 votes
2 answers
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Existence of continuous map on real numbers with dense orbit?

Does there exist a continuous map $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that the forward orbit of 0 is dense in $\mathbb{R}$?
yogamat's user avatar
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18 votes
2 answers
953 views

"Derived" polyhedra and polytopes

The notion of derived polygon is natural and leads to remarkable convergence. Start with a polygon, and replace it by locating a point on every edge a fraction $\alpha$ between the two endpoints. For ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
17 votes
3 answers
1k views

Codimension zero immersions

Given an immersion of the n-1-sphere into a (closed) n-manifold, when does it extend to an immersion of the n-disk? Remark: If the sphere had dimension k smaller than n-1, then such an immersion ...
ThiKu's user avatar
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15 votes
1 answer
439 views

Nonperiodic points of homeomorphisms of a ball

Suppose $B$ is a $d$-dimensional ball (for some $d \geq 1$) and $T$ is a homeomorphism from $B$ to itself. Suppose also that $T$ is not of finite order (that is, for no $n \geq 1$ is it the case that $...
James Propp's user avatar
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14 votes
7 answers
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Furstenberg $\times 2 \times 3$ conjecture, bibliography

Furstenberg $\times 2 \times 3$ original conjecture states that the unique continuous invariant probability measure for $2x$ mod $1$ and $3x$ mod $1$ is the Lebesgue measure. I wanted to have a ...
13 votes
2 answers
1k views

Connectedness of space of ergodic measures

Let $X = \Sigma_p^+ = \{1,\dots,p\}^\mathbb{N}$ and let $f=\sigma\colon X\to X$ be the shift map. Let $\mathcal{M}$ be the space of Borel $f$-invariant probability measures on $X$ endowed with the ...
Vaughn Climenhaga's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
1k views

Vector field with holomorphic flow

Let $(M,J)$ be a complex manifold. Suppose that $X$ is a real vector field such that the flow of $X$ is by biholomorphisms.Question Show the flow of $JX$ is by biholomorphisms. I know one reference ...
Nick L's user avatar
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11 votes
3 answers
876 views

Integer dynamics hitting infinitely many primes

I am wondering if there are any rigorous results telling that some dynamical system hits infinitely many primes (except for the case when orbits are just arithmetic progressions). To make it specific, ...
DmitryZ's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
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is there a diffeomorphism with only finite orbits but of infinite order?

I asked this in stackexchange, but got no answer, so I am trying here. Is it possible for a diffeomorphism $\phi$ (of a smooth manifold $M$) to have the following properties: All its orbits are ...
Asaf Shachar's user avatar
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9 votes
2 answers
629 views

An algebraic Hamiltonian vector field with a finite number of periodic orbits(1)

Edit: The previous version of this question contained 2 part. In this new version, I deleted the first part and move it to a new question. Is There a polynomial Hamiltonian $H(x,y,z,w)=zP(x,y)+wQ(...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
2k views

Uniform convergence of Birkhoff averages and unique ergodicity

I am looking for a proof or a reference for the following two facts (which appear proofless in my notes from an ergodic theory course- they might be easy but i am no expert in ET): Let $T$ be a ...
user44316's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
2k views

What's the probability distribution of a deterministic signal or how to marginalize dynamical systems? (functional integrals in probability theory)

Because I still have no idea how it is possible for me to write down seemingly important equations ... that don't make any sense (at least for me) and because I haven't got any helpful comment so far, ...
Fabrice Pautot's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
639 views

Is there a topologically mixing and minimal homeomorphism on the circle (or on $\mathbb S^2$)?

The irrational rotation on the circle is both a homeomorphism and minimal but is not topologically mixing. The argument-doubling transformation on the circle is topologically mixing but is neither a ...
user's user avatar
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6 votes
0 answers
282 views

A concept weaker than geodesibility of flows which is possibly useful in limit cycle theory

The main objective of this post is to apply the Gauss Bonnet Theorem to count the number of limit cycles of a polynomial vector field as described in this MO post and its linked MO posts But in this ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

A generalization of Gradient vector fields and Curl of vector fields

Let $M$ be a smooth Riemannian manifold. The Riemannian metric enables us to equip the tangent bundle $TM$ with a symplectic structure $\omega$, which is the pullback of the standard symplectic $2$ ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
581 views

On equation $\Delta \circ \partial/\partial X=\partial/\partial X \circ \Delta$ on a Riemannian manifold

Assume that $M$ is a compact Riemannian manifold whose Laplacian is denoted by $\Delta$. Assume that the Euler characteristic of $M$ is zero. Does $M$ admit a non vanishing vector field ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
284 views

The spectral radius of a binary matrix - polynomial growth?

(This is a follow-up to The spectral radius of a binary matrix) Let $\mathcal B_n$ denote the set of $n\times n$ matrices with entries in $\{0,1\}$. QUESTION. Is there a $\delta\in\bigl(0,\frac12\...
Nikita Sidorov's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
325 views

The Moyal action of a planar vector field

Let $X=P\frac{\partial}{\partial x}+Q\frac{\partial}{\partial y}$ be a polynomial vector field on $\mathbb{R}^{2}$. Consider the following (Moyal) operator on $\mathbb{C}[x,y]$: $\tilde{D}_{X}(f)=...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
178 views

A Stochastic Dynamical Billiard

Consider the following stochastic dynamical system. Fix $a > 0$, $b > 0$ and $v > 0$, and let $\mathbf{r}(t)=(x(t),y(t))$ be the position at time $t$ of a point which moves in the rectangle ...
Maurizio Barbato's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
315 views

The study of dynamics of a polynomial vector field via Green's function methods

In the litterature, in particular in the papers on dynamical investigation of polynomial vector fields on the plane, are there some research devoting to study the Green's function for the PDE which is ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
210 views

A complex limit cycle not intersecting the real plane(2)

Inspired by this question and the counter example provided in its answer we ask: Is there a polynomial vector field on $\mathbb{R}^2$ such that after complexification of the equation, the ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
563 views

A non-vanishing vector field on $S^3$ whose flow does not preserve any transversal foliation

Is there a non-vanishing vector field $X$ on $S^3$ which does not admit a transversal $2$-dimensional foliation? if the answer is negative, is there a non-vanishing vector field $X$ on $S^3$ which ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
263 views

Is there an entire solution for the Van der pol equation?

Is there a non constant entire function $\gamma(t)=(x(t),y(t)): \mathbb{C} \to \mathbb{C}^{2}$ which satisfy the following Vander pol dififferential equation? $$\begin{cases}\dot{x}=y-x^{3}\\\dot y=-...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
214 views

Behavior of a non-linear differential equation

Let us consider the following differential equation $$ \dot{x}(t)=a - b\sin(x(t)), \quad a,b\in\mathbb{R}. $$ My question. Suppose $a>|b|$ and $x(0)=x_0\in\mathbb{R}$. Can the solution to the ...
Ludwig's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
100 views

Lyapunov vectors along a trajectory

I have the equation: $$ \dot{x}_i = F_i(x) \tag{1} $$ with $x\in \mathbb{R}^n$. To deal with the Lyapunov exponents, we write the equation for small displacements $\delta x_i$: $$ \dot{\delta x}_i = \...
Doriano Brogioli's user avatar
127 votes
2 answers
16k views

What are the shapes of rational functions?

I would like to understand and compute the shapes of rational functions, that is, holomorphic maps of the Riemann sphere to itself, or equivalently, ratios of two polynomials, up to Moebius ...
Bill Thurston's user avatar
65 votes
4 answers
4k views

Perron number distribution

A Perron number is a real algebraic integer $\lambda$ that is larger than the absolute value of any of its Galois conjugates. The Perron-Frobenius theorem says that any non-negative integer matrix $M$ ...
Bill Thurston's user avatar
44 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is there an elementary proof that distal maps are invertible?

Let $T: X \to X$ be a continuous map on a compact metric space $X$. We say $T$ is distal if $\inf_n d(T^n x, T^n y) = 0$ implies $x = y$. Then it is true that $T$ is bijective. Question: Is there an ...
Nate River's user avatar
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41 votes
5 answers
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Which polynomial's roots are its coefficients?

Start with any polynomial of degree $n$ with complex coefficients, e.g., $$z^3+z^2+2 z+3 \;.$$ Find its $n$ roots, and list them in order of their modulus: $$-1.28, (0.14\pm 1.53 i)$$ Now form a new ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
37 votes
1 answer
3k views

Is the area of the Mandelbrot provably computable?

Recall the Mandelbrot set $M$ is the set of points $c$ in the complex plane such that the sequence $z_0 = 0, z_{n+1} = z_n^2 + c$ is bounded. It is well-known that $M$ is a compact set of positive ...
Jason Rute's user avatar
  • 6,237
33 votes
4 answers
3k views

Does there exist a shot in ideal pocket billiards?

Assume you have one shot with the cue ball in pocket billiards (a.k.a. pool), with the game idealized in that no spin is placed on the cue ball in the initial shot, all collisions between billiard ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
33 votes
4 answers
5k views

Is there a categorical treatment of dynamical systems?

Let $X$ be a set and $(T,\cdot)$ an abelian group. Is there a category of $T$-dynamical systems on $X$ which yields useful information about $X$ and $T$? More precisely, is there a category whose ...
Vidit Nanda's user avatar
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32 votes
2 answers
2k views

A Collatz-like problem on prime numbers

Consider the function $f$ on the prime numbers defined by $$ f(p):= \text{ the greatest prime factor of } 2p+1.$$ The iteration of $f$ from any prime $p<10^8$ converges to the cycle $$(3,7,5,11,23,...
Sebastien Palcoux's user avatar
31 votes
1 answer
1k views

Vanishing line on Conway's game of life

If the initial state of Conway's game of life is a line of $n \in [0,100]$ alive cells, then it vanishes completely after some steps iff $n \in \{0,1,2,6,14,15,18,19,23,24 \}$. See below for $n=24$. ...
Sebastien Palcoux's user avatar
29 votes
3 answers
2k views

Rational functions with a common iterate

Let $f$ and $g$ be two rational functions. To avoid trivialities, we suppose that their degrees are at least $2$. We say that they have a common iterate if $f^m=g^n$ for some positive integers $m,n$, ...
Alexandre Eremenko's user avatar
27 votes
10 answers
10k views

Book recommendation for ergodic theory and/or topological dynamics?

Hello, I'd like to hear your opinion for ergodic theory books which would suit a beginner (with background in measure theory, real analysis and topological groups). I am looking for something well ...
26 votes
5 answers
3k views

Do complex iterates of functions have any meaning?

Using a method explained in this answer to How to solve $f(f(x)) = \cos(x)$?, it is possible to calculate not only integer and real iterates of functions but also complex ones, for example, the $i$-th ...
Anixx's user avatar
  • 9,306
25 votes
6 answers
5k views

Parametrization of the boundary of the Mandelbrot set

Does anyone know how to parametrize the boundary of the Mandelbrot set? I am not a fractal-geometer or a dynamical systems person. I just have some idle curiosity about this question. The ...
David Richter's user avatar
25 votes
4 answers
13k views

Hamiltonian, Lagrangian and Newton formalism of mechanics

If my thinking is wrong please let me know. I have little knowledge on beyond-college physics. For research purposes, I read a few introductions to these three formalisms of classical mechanics [1,2,...
Henry.L's user avatar
  • 7,951
23 votes
1 answer
2k views

Time for Langton's ant to cover a "square" torus

Langton's ant is a cellular automaton running as follows: Squares on a plane are colored variously either black or white. We arbitrarily identify one square as the "ant". The ant can travel in ...
Sebastien Palcoux's user avatar
22 votes
5 answers
2k views

When is the time evolution of a Hamiltonian system described by the geodesic flow on a Riemannian manifold?

Here is my precise question. Let $M, \omega$ be a symplectic manifold and let $H: M \to \mathbb{R}$ be any smooth function. The symplectic form gives rise to an isomorphism between the tangent ...
Paul Siegel's user avatar
  • 28.8k
22 votes
13 answers
6k views

Is there a "crash-course" book on Abelian varieties (e.g., an introduction for physicists)?

Hello, In our (rather applied) theoretical physics research, we have encountered an important class of problems, which seem to require an understanding of Abelian functions (unfortunately, this ...
Victor Galitski's user avatar
22 votes
3 answers
1k views

Cyclic action on Kreweras walks

A Kreweras walk of length $3n$ is a word consisting of $n$ $A$'s, $n$ $B$'s, and $n$ $C$'s such that in any prefix there are at least as many $A$'s as $B$'s, and at least as many $A$'s as $C$'s. For ...
Sam Hopkins's user avatar
  • 22.7k
22 votes
6 answers
3k views

Quantitative versions of ergodic theorem

Are there any general theorems similar to Birkhoff's ergodic theorem, but giving quantitative estimates on the rate of convergence or average time of recurrence (perhaps with additional assumptions)? ...
Marcin Kotowski's user avatar
21 votes
2 answers
1k views

How does it End?

A recent project has forced my colleague and me to take a rather abstract approach to dynamical systems, and the following definition arose naturally in that context. Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a category. ...
Vidit Nanda's user avatar
  • 15.4k
21 votes
4 answers
2k views

Prime factorization "demoted" leads to function whose fixed points are primes

Let $n$ be a natural number whose prime factorization is $$n=\prod_{i=1}^{k}p_i^{\alpha_i} \; .$$ Define a function $g(n)$ as follows $$g(n)=\sum_{i=1}^{k}p_i {\alpha_i} \;,$$ i.e., exponentiation is "...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
19 votes
5 answers
999 views

Lightray trapped between two mirror disks: Computation formulation?

I would like to calculate the angle of a ray $r$ from a given point $p$ such that it gets "stuck" reflecting between two congruent mirror-disks. For why there is such a ray, see the (amazing!) answer ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar