Unfolding numbers for interval maps (Q6965530)

For a continuous map \(f:[0,1] \rightarrow [0,1]\), the author introduces a new topological invariant for a periodic orbit of \(f\) called the unfolding number. He shows that the closure of the set of unfolding numbers of the periodic orbits of \(f\) is an interval of the form \([u_f,1/2]\) called the unfolding interval. An algorithm is given to compute \(u_f\). Furthermore, it is proven for some \(z \in [0,1]\) where \(f\) restricted to the omega-limit set \(\omega(z)\) of \(z\) is strictly ergodic that the unfolding number of any point in \(\omega(z)\) matches \(u_f\). As another result, the author gives a condition under which unfolding numbers match over-rotation numbers.