# Hyperbolic set

of a smooth dynamical system $\{ S ^ {t} \}$

A compact subset $F$ of the phase manifold $M$, completely consisting of trajectories, each of which has the following property: It has a neighbourhood such that all trajectories in that neighbourhood (including those which are not in $F$) behave (with respect to the given trajectory) like the trajectories near a saddle. More exactly, a hyperbolic set in a smooth dynamical system $\{ S _ {t} \}$ is a compact invariant subset $F$ of the phase manifold $M$ such that at each point $x \in F$ in the tangent space $T _ {x} M$ to $M$ there exist subspaces $E _ {x} ^ {s}$ and $E _ {x} ^ {u}$ for which the following two conditions are met: 1) the action of the differentials $\widetilde{S} {} _ {x} ^ {t} : T _ {x} M \rightarrow T _ {S ^ {t} x } M$ of the mappings $S ^ {t} : M \rightarrow M$ at $x$ on the vectors $\xi \in E _ {x} ^ {s}$, $\eta \in E _ {x} ^ {u}$ satisfies the inequalities (cf. Differentiation of a mapping)

$$| \widetilde{S} {} _ {x} ^ {t} \xi | \leq a | \xi | e ^ {- ct } \ \ \textrm{ if } t \geq 0,$$

$$| \widetilde{S} {} _ {x} ^ {t} \xi | \geq b | \xi | e ^ {- ct } \ \textrm{ if } t \leq 0,$$

$$| \widetilde{S} {} _ {x} ^ {t} \eta | \leq a | \eta | e ^ {ct} \ \textrm{ if } t \leq 0,$$

$$| \widetilde{S} {} _ {x} ^ {t} \eta | \geq b | \eta | e ^ {ct} \ \textrm{ if } t \geq 0$$

with certain constants $a, b, c > 0$ which are independent of $x$. 2) If $\{ S ^ {t} \}$ is a cascade (i.e. if the time $t$ assumes integral values), then

$$T _ {x} M = \ E _ {x} ^ {s} \oplus E _ {x} ^ {u} ;$$

if $\{ S ^ {t} \}$ is a flow,

$$T _ {x} M = E _ {x} ^ {s} \oplus E _ {x} ^ {u} \oplus E _ {x} ^ {n} ,$$

where $E _ {x} ^ {n}$ is the one-dimensional subspace spanned by the vector of phase velocity (this involves the assumption that the latter does not vanish anywhere on $F$). Moreover, for the sake of convenience in certain formulations, one calls equilibrium positions of flows for which the eigen values of the matrix of the linearized system lie outside the imaginary axis also hyperbolic (cf. Hyperbolic point).

The subspace $E _ {x} ^ {s}$ is called stable, $E _ {x} ^ {u}$ is called unstable and $E _ {x} ^ {n}$ is called neutral. The points $y \in M$ for which $S ^ {t} y$ and $S ^ {t} x$ tend to each other as $t \rightarrow \infty$ form a smooth manifold $W _ {x} ^ {s}$ tangent to $E _ {x} ^ {s}$ at $x$; it is called the stable manifold of the point $x$. The union of the $W _ {x} ^ {s}$ for all $x$ lying on the same trajectory is called the stable manifold of this trajectory. The unstable manifolds of a point or a trajectory are defined in the same manner.

The classical example of a hyperbolic set of a flow is a periodic trajectory for which only one Floquet multiplier has modulus one. In certain systems the whole phase space is a hyperbolic set (cf. $Y$- system). Numerous examples of hyperbolic sets were discovered during the study of dynamical systems of classical origin — for example, in celestial mechanics [1]. Hyperbolic sets as a class were introduced in 1965 by S. Smale [2], and have since played an important role in the theory of smooth dynamical systems, both as objects of studies and as a part in many examples [3][5].

#### References

 [1] A.G. Kushnirenko, A.B. Katok, V.M. Alekseev, "Three papers on dynamical systems" Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. (2) , 116 (1981) pp. 1–169 Nineth math. summer school (1972) pp. 50–341 [2] S. Smale, "Differentiable dynamical systems" Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. , 73 (1967) pp. 747–817 [3] Z. Nitecki, "Differentiable dynamics. An introduction to the orbit structure of diffeomorphisms" , M.I.T. (1971) [4] M. Shub, "Stabilité globale des systèmes dynamiques" Astérisque , 56 (1978) (English abstract) [5] Sh.E. Newhouse, "Lectures on dynamical systems" J. Guckenheimer (ed.) J. Moser (ed.) Sh.E. Newhouse (ed.) , Dynamical systems , Birkhäuser (1980) pp. 1–114
How to Cite This Entry:
Hyperbolic set. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Hyperbolic_set&oldid=47291
This article was adapted from an original article by D.V. Anosov (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article