A note on global stability in the periodic logistic map (Q2211519)

The logistic equation in its canonical form is given by \[ x_{n+1} = r x_n (1-x_n ), \qquad \left(n= 0, 1, 2, \ldots \right), \] where \(x_0 \in [0, 1]\) and \(r \in (0, 4]\). The dynamics of the logistic equation is well-known and may be found in any book about discrete dynamical systems or difference equations. Taking a sequence of parameters \(\left\{r_n \, \vert \, n \in \mathbb{N}\right\}\) in the interval \((0, 4]\), the nonautonomous logistic equation is \[ x_{n+1} = r_n x_n (1 - x_n ). \] Here, the dynamics of the equation is given by the composition of maps \(f_0 , f_1 , f_2 ,\ldots\) defined by \[ f_n (x) = r_n x(1-x). \] If the sequence of parameters \(r_n\) is periodic, i.e., if there exists an integer \(p > 1\) (called the period) such that \(r_{n+p} = r_{n}\), for all \(n \in \mathbb{N}\), then \(f_{n+p} = f_n\), for all \(n \in \mathbb{N}\). This is equivalent to say that the above equation is nonautonomous \(p\)-periodic or simply \(p\)-periodic. In this case, the dynamics of the equation is determined by \[ \Phi^{i}_{p} = f_{p+i-1} \circ \cdots \circ f_{i+1} \circ f_{i}. \] A fixed point of \(\Phi^{i}_{p}\) generates a periodic cycle in the sequence defined by the equation. Further, this fixed point generates a periodic cycle of minimal period \(p\). Let us represent this \(p\)-periodic cycle by the following ordered set of points \[ C_p = \left\{\overline{x_0}, \overline{x_1}, \ldots , \overline{x_{p-1}} \right\}. \] Since \(\Phi^{i}_{p} (\overline{x_i} ) = \overline{x_i}\), the dynamics of our equation is completely determined by the composition operator \(\Phi^{0}_{p} = \Phi_{p}\). In this paper, the authors study the case when the sequence of maps \(f_n\) is \(p\)-periodic. Conditions under which the local stability of a fixed point of \(\Phi_{p}\) implies its global stability are presented. Furthermore, the authors show that the global stability condition may be extended for a larger set of parameters, as long as the parameters are such that \(\prod_{i=0}^{p-1} r_i > 1\) and that the absolute value of the derivative along the periodic orbit is less or equal than \(1\). Under these conditions and an assumption on the critical points of the composition operator \(\Phi_p\), the global stability of the nontrivial fixed point of \(\Phi_{p}\) is proved.