A Precise Calculation of the Feigenbaum Constants (Q3974541)

Let \(f_{\mu,z}(x)=1-\mu| x|^ z\). If for a particular parameter value there exists a stable \(p\)-cycle, then as \(\mu\) is increased the period will be observed to double, so that a stable \(2p\)- cycle appears. Denote the critical \(\mu\) value at which the \(2^ j\) cycle first appears by \(\mu_ j\) and let \(d_ j\) be the value of the nearest cycle element to 0 in \(2^ j\) cycle. The author calculates to high precision the Feigenbaum constants \[ \delta_ z:=\lim_{j\to \infty}(\mu_ j-\mu_{j-1})/(\mu_{j+1}-\mu_ j)\hbox{ and } \lim_{j\to \infty}d_ j/d_{j+1} \] associated with period doubling bifurcations for maps \(f_{\mu,z}\) for integers \(2\leq z\leq 12\). Multiple-precision floating-point techniques are used to find a solution of Feigenbaum's functional equation, and hence the constants.