The Sarkovskii order for periodic continua (Q2371778)

\textit{A. N. Sharkovskii} [Ukr. Mat. Zh. 16, 61--71 (1964; Zbl 0122.17504)] proved that if \(p \prec q\) according to the following ordering of the positive integers, then for any map of the real line to itself with a periodic point of period \(p\), there exists a periodic point of period \(q\). \[ 3\prec 5\prec 7\prec\cdots\prec 3\cdot2\prec 5\cdot2\prec\cdots\prec 3\cdot2^2\prec 5\cdot2^2\prec\cdots\prec 2^3\prec 2^2\prec 2\prec 1. \] \textit{P. Minc} and \textit{W. R. R. Transue} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 315, 173--188 (1989; Zbl 0676.54041)] extended Sharkovskii's theorem above to a result for maps on hereditarily decomposable chainable continua. In the paper under review, one of the main results is: Theorem. \(f\) is a map of a hereditarily decomposable chainable continuum onto itself with disjoint maximal proper periodic continua. If \(p \prec q\) and \(f\) has a maximal proper periodic continuum of period \(p\), then \(f\) has a maximal proper periodic continuum of period \(q\). Here a periodic continuum of \(f:X \to X\) is a subcontinuum \(K\) of \(X\) such that \(f^{n}(K) = K\) for some positive integer \(n\), and a proper periodic continuum of \(f\) is maximal if \(X\) is the only periodic continuum that properly contains it.