On the algebraic difference equations \(u_{n+2}u_n=\psi(u_{n+1})\) in \({\mathbb {R}^+_*}\), related to a family of elliptic quartics in the plane (Q2495057)

The paper is concerned with the difference equation \[ u_{n+2}u_{n}=\frac{a+bu_{n+1}+cu_{n+1}^{2}}{c+du_{n+1}+u_{n+1}^{2}}. \] The authors define a general property of weak chaotic behavior. The purpose of the paper is to prove this property for the above equation. A general topological result is used to show that, under some conditions on the coefficients, the solutions of the equation are bounded and persistent in \((\mathbb{R}_{\ast}^{+})^{2},\) and diverge in \(( u_{1},u_{0}) \) is different from the fixed point of a specific function \(F.\) Moreover, this point is locally stable. The case where \(u_{n+2}u_{n}\) is a holomorphic function of \(u_{n+1}\) is analyzed. It generalizes and improves some results of \textit{E. A. Grove, E. J. Janowski, C. M. Kent} and \textit{G. Ladas} [Commun. Appl. Nonlinear Anal. 1, No. 3, 61--72 (1994; Zbl 0856.39011)]. If \(a=0,\) the quartic passes through the point \(( 0,0).\) If \(a>0,\) the restriction of the map \(F\) to each curve is conjugated to a rotation onto the circle. The authors also study whether the chaotic behavior defined above holds in the general case. Finally, they find the possible periods of the solutions of the equation.