On statistical properties of hyperbolic systems with singularities (Q1035829)

The authors depart from the seminal work by [\textit{A. Katok} and \textit{J.-M. Strelcyn}, Invariant manifolds, entropy and billiards; smooth maps with singularities. With the collab. of F. Ledrappier and F. Przytycki. Lecture Notes in Mathematics, 1222. Berlin etc.: Springer-Verlag (1986; Zbl 0658.58001)] on invariant manifolds, entropy and billiards with a focus on smooth maps with singularities. There is a subclass of hyperbolic dynamical systems that cannot be handled by means of analytic methods developed earlier. Therefore the coupling lemma and the exponential decay of correlatons (equivalently, rates of mixing) were considered anew to single out weaker assumptions than adopted so far. Previous experience with non traditional planar billiards with non-uniform expansion and contraction (hence weak hyperbolicity) has motivated a discussion of reduced maps that show stronger singularities than regular maps. The main technical tool for the general demonstration that the pertinent maps enjoy exponential decay of correlations (hence exponential mixing), were unstable curves with regular probability densities on them. Refined construction of invariant (SRB) measures requires somewhat restrictive assumptions on the closed set of singularities of the dynamical map. Special examples of the modified Bunimovich stadium bounded by minor arcs and flower-type regions that are bounded by major arcs, are considered as prototype illustrations of the developed formalism.