Topological invariants in nonlinear boundary value problems (Q2483651)

The authors apply ideas and methods from the symbolic dynamics study of bimodal maps of the interval, in particular the study of its topological invariants, in order to investigate a class of boundary value problems for partial differential equations, whose solutions are characterized by the iteration of a certain nonlinear function. Such an approach is well-motivated by the fact that most of the knowledge concerning the chaotic behavior is essentially due to the study of simple dynamical systems, e.g., dynamics of discrete bimodal maps in the interval. The class of equations considered in the paper includes the wave equation \(\partial^2_{tt}u-\partial^2_{xx}u=0\) with linear, non-homogeneous boundary conditions at the left endpoint and nonlinear boundary conditions at the right endpoint depending on parameters. The maps \(G,F\) (depending additionally on some parameters), such that the solution \(u\) of the proposed system is essentially characterized by the iteration of \(G\circ F\) and \(F\circ G\), are defined, the periodic and chaotic behavior and other topological characteristics of \(G\circ F\) are thoroughly discussed.