On the distribution of periodic orbits

Katrin Gelfert, Christian Wolf

Published 2009-01-14Version 1

Let $f:M\to M$ be a $C^{1+\epsilon}$-map on a smooth Riemannian manifold $M$ and let $\Lambda\subset M$ be a compact $f$-invariant locally maximal set. In this paper we obtain several results concerning the distribution of the periodic orbits of $f|\Lambda$. These results are non-invertible and, in particular, non-uniformly hyperbolic versions of well-known results by Bowen, Ruelle, and others in the case of hyperbolic diffeomorphisms. We show that the topological pressure $P_{\rm top}(\varphi)$ can be computed by the values of the potential $\varphi$ on the expanding periodic orbits and also that every hyperbolic ergodic invariant measure is well-approximated by expanding periodic orbits. Moreover, we prove that certain equilibrium states are Bowen measures. Finally, we derive a large deviation result for the periodic orbits whose time averages are apart from the space average of a given hyperbolic invariant measure.