A characterization of hyperbolic potentials of rational maps (Q1935326)

Let \(f\) be a rational map of degree \(d\geq 2\) acting on its Julia set \(J(f)\). Given \(\varphi : J(f) \to \mathbb{R}\) a Hölder continuous potential, its ``pressure'' is \[ P(f,\varphi) = \sup\left\{h_\mu(f) + \int \varphi d\mu : \mu~\text{invariant probability measure on}~J(f)\right \}, \] where for any invariant probability measure \(\mu\) on \(J(f)\), \(h_\mu\) is its measure-theoretic entropy. A measure is called an ``equilibrium state of \(f\) for the potential \(\varphi\)'' if it realizes the supremum above. In the paper under review, the authors prove the following result. Let \(f\) be a rational map of degree \(d\geq 2\) and let \(\varphi\) be a Hölder continuous potential. Then the following are equivalent: \smallskip \noindent (1) the potential \(\varphi\) is hyperbolic, i.e., it satisfies \[ \sup_{z\in J(f)}\sum_{k=0}^n (\varphi\circ f^{\circ k}) (z) < P(f, \varphi) \] for some integer \(n\geq 1\); \smallskip (2) the Lyapunov exponent \(\chi_\mu(f) := \int\log|f'|d\mu\) of each equilibrium state \(\mu\) of \(f\) for the potential \(\varphi\) is strictly positive. Furthermore, if these equivalent conditions hold, then (3) there is a unique equilibrium state \(\mu\) of \(f\) for the potential \(\varphi\), and, moreover, its measure theoretic entropy is strictly positive and \(\mu\) is exponentially mixing, i.e., there exist \(C>0\) and \(\rho\in (0,1)\) such that for any integer \(n\geq 1\) \[ \left | \int(\phi\circ f^{\circ n})\cdot \psi d\mu - \int\phi d\mu \int\psi d\mu\right| \leq C\|\phi\|_\infty \sup_{z,w\in J(f)\atop z\neq w} \frac{|\psi(z) -\psi(w)|}{|z-w|}, \] for every bounded measurable function \(\phi: J(f) \to \mathbb{R}\) and every Lipschitz continuous function \(\psi: J(f) \to \mathbb{R}\). As a corollary they obtain that for a rational map of degree at least 2 such that the Lyapunov exponent of each invariant probability measure on the Julia set is strictly positive, properties (1)--(3) of the main theorem hold for all Hölder continuous potentials \(\varphi: J(f)\to \mathbb{R}\). Moreover, such a result applies to rational maps satisfying the so-called ``topological Collet-Eckmann condition'' (see [\textit{F. Przytycki}, the second author and \textit{S. Smirnov}, Invent. Math. 151, No. 1, 29--63 (2003; Zbl 1038.37035)] for several equivalent formulations of this condition). \smallskip The existence and uniqueness of the equilibrium state were proved in [\textit{H. Comman} and the second author, Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 31, No. 2, 321--349 (2011; Zbl 1252.37033)]. The implication \((1)\Rightarrow (2)\) follows from the variational principle and Ruelle's inequality, whereas the implication \((1)\Rightarrow (3)\) is deduced from the combined results on the uniqueness and the stochastic properties of equilibrium states due to \textit{M. Denker} and \textit{M. Urbański} [Nonlinearity 4, No. 1, 103--134 (1991; Zbl 0718.58035)]; \textit{M. Denker, F. Przytycki} and \textit{M. Urbański} [Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 16, No. 2, 255--266 (1996; Zbl 0852.46024)]; \textit{N. Haydn} [Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 19, No. 3, 657--669 (1999; Zbl 0953.37006)]; \textit{F. Przytycki} [Bol. Soc. Bras. Mat., Nova Sér. 20, No. 2, 95--125 (1990; Zbl 0723.58030)]. The implication \((2)\Rightarrow (1)\) is the most difficult one and it is deduced by the following result. Let \(f\) be a rational map of degree \(d\geq 2\) and let \(\mu\) be an ergodic invariant probability measure on \(J(f)\) with strictly positive Lyapunov exponent \(\chi_\mu (f)\). Then \[ P(f, \varphi - t\log|f'|) > \int \varphi d\mu - t\chi_\mu(f) \] for any Hölder continuous potential \(\varphi: J(f) \to \mathbb{R}\) and any \(t\geq0\).