Entry times distribution for mixing systems (Q300709)

For discrete dynamical systems, it is an interesting problem to understand whether the limiting distribution for higher-order return times to some sets is Poissonian. The authors study the case for which the set is a Bowen ball, where the map is continuous, defined on a compact metric space, has an invariant measure and positive measure theoretic entropy. The two key assumptions are the mixing of the invariant measure, including \(\phi\)-mixing and \(\alpha\)-mixing, and the regularity of the invariant measure. The mixing assumption is closely related to the \(n\)-th join induced by a finite measurable partition (this partition also relates to the cylinders), and the regularity assumption is based on the work of the first author and \textit{Y. Psiloyenis} [Nonlinearity 27, No. 6, 1323--1349 (2014; Zbl 1351.37019)]. The arguments are based on the Chen-Stein method (Stein operator), the properties of the Bowen ball, the approximation of the cylinders, and some elegant analysis.