Topological invariants and renormalization of Lorenz maps (Q5956621)

Lorenz maps on \([-1,1]\) with negative Schwarzian derivative and with critical point \(c=0\) are considered, possible generalizations being discussed at the end of the paper. A result from \textit{J. Milnor} and \textit{W. Thurston} [Lect. Notes Math. 1342, 465-563 (1988; Zbl 0664.58015)] is extended to Lorenz maps. It is proved that any Lorenz map \(f\) with topological entropy \(h(f)= \log s>0\) is semiconjugate to a piecewise linear map \(T\) from the unit interval to itself with constant slope \(s>1\) and with one discontinuity at a point \(\lambda_f(0)\) (\(\lambda_f\) being the corresponding semiconjugacy). Thus, \(T\) is again a Lorenz map. The parameter \(\lambda_f(0)\) depends only on the kneading data of \(f\) and so it is a topological invariant, similarly as \(h(f)\). If \(f\) and \(g\) belong to different renormalization domains then \((h(f),\lambda_f(0))\neq (h(g),\lambda_g(0))\). The main result of the paper says that the pair \((h(f),\lambda_f(0))\) remains constant in the renormalization domains. This complements the paper \textit{P. Glendinning} [Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 107, No. 2, 401-413 (1990; Zbl 0705.58035)]. It is also described how the dynamics in a renormalization domain depends on the domain itself.