Dynamics of the iteration operator on the space of continuous self-maps

Abstract

The semi-dynamical system of a continuous self-map is generated by iteration of the map, however, the iteration itself, being an operator on the space of continuous self-maps, may generate interesting dynamical behaviors. In this paper we prove that the iteration operator is continuous on the space of all continuous self-maps of a compact metric space and therefore induces a semi-dynamical system on the space. Furthermore, we characterize its fixed points and periodic points in the case that the compact metric space is a compact interval by discussing the Babbage equation. We prove that all orbits of the iteration operator are bounded but most fixed points are not stable. On the other hand, we prove that the iteration operator is not chaotic. © 2020 American Mathematical Society.