The ergodic theory of shrinking targets (Q1891511)

Let \(T : J \to J\) be an ergodic dynamical system where \(J\) is a metric space. For any nonempty open set \(B \subset J\) we know that \(\{x \in J : T^n (x) \in B\) infinitely often\} is of full measure. The authors then ask about what occurs when we introduce a family \(B_1 \supset B_2 \supset \ldots\) of balls which shrink in some way to a point and consider the set \(\{x \in J : T^n (x) \in B_n\) infinitely often\}. This type of problem occurs in metric number theory and such sets are those of well-approximable numbers. Motivated by this example the authors consider the case of an expanding rational map \(T\) acting on its Julia set and special choices of \(B_1 \supset B_2 \supset \ldots\). They are able to determine, in these cases, either the Hausdorff dimension of the set described above or at least two-sided bounds for it. To construct the measure under which the dynamical system is ergodic the authors use the Gibbs' measure of thermodynamic formalism. This is also used to make the necessary estimates for the calculation of the Hausdorff dimension which is done by the Dodson-Vickers' method of ubiquity.