The existence of absolutely continuous invariant measures is not a topological invariant for unimodal maps (Q4236830)

It is shown that the existence of absolutely continuous invariant probability measures (acip's) is not a topological invariant in the class of unimodal maps on an interval with negative Schwarzian derivative and fixed critical order. When allowing the critical order to vary, this was known: the Fibonacci map with quadratic critical point has an acip, whereas a Fibonacci map with high critical order does not. See \textit{M. Lyubich} and \textit{J. Milnor} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 6, 425-457 (1993; Zbl 0778.58040)] and \textit{H. Bruin, G. Keller, T. Nowicki} and \textit{S. van Strien} [Ann. Math. (2) 143, 97-130 (1996; Zbl 0848.58016)]. In the construction followed by the author, he takes two unimodal maps with different derivative at the orientation reversing fixed point, but with identical kneading sequences. These kneading sequences are such that the maps alternate between almost saddle node returns and close approaches to the orientation reversing fixed point. Examples can be found in members from the families \(f_a = a \sin (\pi x)\) and \(g_b = b x (1-x)\). One map is then shown to admit an acip (by considering an induced Markov map), the other has a \(\sigma\)-finite absolutely continuous invariant measure, but no acip.