Dynamical system

Last updated 2026-10-16
Definition A dynamical system is a pair (X,F), where X is a compact metric space and F:X→X is a continuous function. Hereafter, assume that (X,F) is a dynamical system.

An important kind of dynamical system is a symbolic dynamical system.

Definition A subset Y⊆X is invariant if F(Y)⊆Y.
Definition The orbit of a point x∈X is
𝒪(x)≔{Fn(x)|n∈ℕ}.
Definition A morphism between two dynamical systems (X,F),(Y,G) is a continuous function π:X→Y such that π∘F=G∘π.
Definition A subset Z⊆X is invariant if F(Z)⊆Z.
Definition The orbit relation 𝒪⊆X2 is defined as
(x,y)∈𝒪⟺∃n>0,y=Fn(x).
Definition The recurrence relation ℛ⊆X×X is defined as
(x,y)∈ℛ⟺∀B(y),∃n>0,Fn(x)∈B(y).
Definition The nonwandering relation 𝒩⊆X×X is defined as
(x,y)∈𝒩⟺∀B(x),B(y),∃n>0,∃z∈B(x),Fn(z)∈B(y).
Definition The chain relation 𝒞⊆X×X is defined as
(x,y)∈𝒞⟺∀ε>0,∃(x=x0,x1,…,xn−1,xn=y),∀i∈⟦0,n⦈,d(F(xi),xi+1)<ε.
Theorem 𝒪⊆ℛ⊆𝒩=𝒪¯⊆𝒞.
Theorem 𝒪 and 𝒞 are transitive.
Theorem 𝒩 and 𝒞 are closed.
Definition (X,F) is
Definition A point x∈X is transitive if its orbit is dense, i.e. 𝒪(x)¯=X. The set of all transitive points is denoted 𝒯.
Theorem (X,F) is minimal iff:
Theorem (X,F) is transitive iff:
Definition Denote by |R| the diagonal of a relation R. Then
Theorem |𝒪|⊆|ℛ|⊆|𝒩|⊆|𝒞|.
Theorem |𝒪|,|ℛ|,|𝒩|,|𝒞| are invariant.
Theorem |𝒩|,|𝒞| are closed.
Definition (X,F) is chaotic if 𝒩=X2, |𝒪|¯=X and X is infinite.
Definition A point x∈X is fixed if F(x)=x.
Definition A point x∈X is preperiodic if Fm(x) is periodic for some m∈ℕ.
Definition A point x∈X is quasi-periodic if ∀B(x),∃p>0,∀n≥0,Fnp(x)∈B(x).
Definition A point x∈X is almost periodic if ∀B(x),∃p>0,∀n≥0,∃k<p,Fn+k(x)∈B(x).
Theorem For a given point x∈X, the following series of implications holds:
fixed⟹periodic⟹quasi-periodic⟹almost periodic⟹recurrent⟹nonwandering⟹chain-recurrent
Theorem Birkhoff A point x∈X is almost periodic iff 𝒪(x)¯ is a minimal system.
Definition A point x∈X is equicontinuous if
∀ε>0,∃B(x),∀y∈B(x),∀n≥0,d(Fn(y),Fn(x))<ε.
The set of all equicontinuous points is denoted ℰ. If ℰ=X, (X,F) is equicontinuous. If ℰ is residual, (X,F) is almost equicontinuous.
Definition (X,F) is sensitive if
∃ε>0,∀x∈X,∀B(x),∃y∈B(x),∃n≥0,d(Fn(y),Fn(x))≥ε.
Note If (X,F) is sensitive, then ℰ=∅. The inverse implication does not hold.
Theorem Akin, Auslander, Berg A transitive system is either sensitive or almost equicontinuous.
Definition A dynamical system is open if F(u) is open for all open U⊂X.

Bibliography

Petr Kůrka: Topological and Symbolic Dynamics