Rotation numbers of perturbations of smooth dynamics

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of relative rotation numbers for small perturbations of smooth dynamical systems, linking eigenvalue structures and dominated splittings, and explores generic properties of linear cocycles over symbolic dynamics.

Contribution

It defines and analyzes relative rotation numbers for perturbations of linear cocycles and diffeomorphisms, advancing understanding of eigenvalues and dominated splittings in higher dimensions.

Findings

Relative rotation numbers are associated with invariant measures and 2D bundles.

Generic smooth linear cocycles have periodic points with simple Lyapunov spectra.

Steps towards dichotomies between complex eigenvalues and dominated splittings are established.

Abstract

We show how the small perturbations of a linear cocycle have a relative rotation number associated with an invariant measure of the base dynamics an with a $2$-dimensional bundle of the finest dominated splitting (provided that some orientation is preserved). Likewise small perturbations of diffeomorphisms have a relative rotation number associated with an invariant measure supported in a hyperbolic set and with a $2$-dimensional bundle as above. The properties of that relative rotation number allow some steps towards dichotomies between complex eigenvalues and dominated splittings in higher dimensions and higher regularity. We also prove that generic smooth linear cocycles above a full-shift (and actually above infinite factors of transitive subshift of finite type) admit a periodic point with simple Lyapunov spectrum.