Center curves in the moduli space of the real cubic maps (Q1320547)

The paper is about the dynamics of real cubic center maps from the real line into itself. A smooth map is called a center map if the set \(\bigcup_{n = 1}^ \infty f^ n(X)\) is finite, where \(X\) is the set of critical points of \(f\). One can classify center maps in types according to the behaviour of iterates of \(f\) on \(X\). For example, a center map is of type \({\mathcal A}_ k\) if \(X\) consists of one point, \(p\) say, and \(k\) is the smallest positive integer such that \(f^ k(p) = p\). The paper's main result states that, with respect to a certain correspondence between conjugacy classes of cubic maps and points of the real plane, all cubic center maps of certain infinite classes of the above mentioned types lie on an algebraic curve, called a center curve. The authors conclude the paper by conjecturing that the growth number, and hence the topological entropy, of center maps varies monotonously along a center curve. The reviewer finds the paper rather inaccurately written. For example, the authors give a list of \(4\) classes of types of center maps which they claim to be exhaustive. As stated, the statement is false. The examples of cubic center maps \(x \mapsto x^ 3 - 3x\) or even \(x \mapsto x^ 3- {3\over 2} \sqrt{3} x\) belong to none of the given types. Apparently, some conditions (or types) are missing.