Natural equilibrium states for multimodal maps (Q711593)

This paper studies the thermodynamic formalism for a class \({\mathcal F}\) of real multimodal maps with negative Schwarzian derivative. The main result shows for \(f \in{\mathcal F}\) and \(t\) in a maximal parameter interval that there exists a unique equilibrium measure \(\mu_t\) for the geometric potential \(- t \log |Df|\), generalizing results of \textit{H. Bruin} and \textit{G. Keller} [Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 18, No. 4, 765--789 (1998; Zbl 0916.58020)], \textit{Y. Pesin} and \textit{S. Senti} [J. Mod. Dyn. 2, No. 3, 397--430 (2008; Zbl 1159.37007)], and \textit{H. Bruin} and \textit{M. Todd} [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 42, No. 4, 559--600 (2009; Zbl 1192.37051)]. To obtain their main result, the authors use the theory of inducing schemes [see \textit{H. Bruin}, Commun. Math. Phys. 168, No. 3, 571--580 (1995; Zbl 0827.58015) and \textit{H. Bruin} and \textit{M. Todd}, Commun. Math. Phys. 283, No. 3, 579--611 (2008; Zbl 1157.82022)]. The authors also prove for \(f \in{\mathcal F}\) that the pressure function is \(C^1\), strictly convex, and strictly decreasing over the maximal parameter interval. Additional results study how first order phase transitions relate to the existence of absolutely continuous invariant probability measures.