Higher Order Birkhoff Averages

TL;DR

This paper investigates the behavior of higher order Birkhoff averages in dynamical systems, showing that nonconvergent averages can be classified into two types with distinct properties, and demonstrating their prevalence in certain systems.

Contribution

It introduces a classification of nonconvergent Birkhoff averages into two types based on their limit sets and provides characterizations and examples, including full shifts and Bowen's example.

Findings

Nonconvergent Birkhoff averages do not necessarily converge in higher order averages.

The set of orbits with type B2 behavior has full topological entropy in full shifts.

Abstract

There are well-known examples of dynamical systems for which the Birkhoff averages with respect to a given observable along some or all of the orbits do not converge. It has been suggested that such orbits could be classified using higher order averages. In the case of a bounded observable, we show that a classical result of G.H. Hardy implies that if the Birkhoff averages do not converge, then neither do the higher order averages. If the Birkhoff averages do not converge then we may denote by $[\alpha_k,\beta_k]$ the limit set of the $k$-th order averages. The sequence of intervals thus generated is nested: $[\alpha_{k+1},\beta_{k+1}] \subset [\alpha_k,\beta_k]$. We can thus make a distinction among nonconvergent Birkhoff averages; either: B1. $\cap_{k=1}^\infty [\alpha_k,\beta_k]$ is a point $B_\infty$, or, B2. $\cap_{k=1}^\infty [\alpha_k,\beta_k]$ is a non-trivial interval $[\alpha_\infty,\beta_\infty]$. We give characterizations of the types B1 and B2 in terms of how slowly they oscillate and we give examples that exhibit both behaviours B1 and B2 in the context of full shifts on finite symbols and "Bowen's example". For finite full shifts, we show that the set of orbits with type B2 behaviour has full topological entropy.