Fixed point index for iterations of maps, topological horseshoe and chaos (Q1381013)

In most cases where chaotic dynamics has been proven, the strategy has involved analysing a simple singular map or integrable problem and then perturbating the results. This usually required some estimates on the derivatives of the mappings under consideration. A strategy to tackle such problems is to appropriately homotope the given system to a model problem for which some algebraic invariants could be explicitly computed and show that these invariants remain unchanged. As the algebraic invariant the author chooses the fixed point index and formulates general sufficient conditions for a homotopy to be appropriate. As the model, maps are taken for which all fixed point indices of the periodic points are easily calculable.