Ergodic theory studies measure-preserving transformations of measure spaces. These objects are intrinsically infinite, and the notion of an individual point or of an orbit makes no sense. Still there are a variety of situations when a measure preserving transformation (and its asymptotic behavior) can be well described as a limit of certain finite objects (periodic processes). The first part of this book develops this idea systematically. Genericity of approximation in various categories is explored, and numerous applications are presented, including spectral multiplicity and properties of the maximal spectral type. The second part of the book contains a treatment of various constructions of cohomological nature with an emphasis on obtaining interesting asymptotic behavior from approximate pictures at different time scales. The book presents a view of ergodic theory not found in other expository sources. It is suitable for graduate students familiar with measure theory and basic functional analysis.

This volume contains the proceedings of the semester-long special program on Hyperbolic Dynamics, Large Deviations and Fluctuations, which was held from January-June 2013, at the Centre Interfacultaire Bernoulli, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland. The broad theme of the program was the long-term behavior of dynamical systems and their statistical behavior. During the last 50 years, the statistical properties of dynamical systems of many different types have been the subject of extensive study in statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, ergodic and probability theories, and some areas of mathematical physics. The results of this study have had a profound effect on many different areas in mathematics, physics, engineering and biology. The papers in this volume cover topics in large deviations and thermodynamics formalism and limit theorems for dynamic systems. The material presented is primarily directed at researchers and graduate students in the very broad area of dynamical systems and ergodic theory, but will also be of interest to researchers in related areas such as statistical physics, spectral theory and some aspects of number theory and geometry.

"This book presents a collection of articles that cover areas of mathematics related to dynamical systems. The authors are well-known experts who use geometric and probabilistic methods to study interesting problems in the theory of dynamical systems and its applications. Some of the articles are surveys while others are original contributions. The topics covered include: Riemannian geometry, models in mathematical physics and mathematical biology, symbolic dynamics, random and stochastic dynamics. This book can be used by graduate students and researchers in dynamical systems and its applications."--BOOK JACKET.

This volume contains the proceedings of three conferences in Ergodic Theory and Symbolic Dynamics: the Oxtoby Centennial Conference, held from October 30–31, 2010, at Bryn Mawr College; the Williams Ergodic Theory Conference, held from July 27–29, 2012, at Williams College; and the AMS Special Session on Ergodic Theory and Symbolic Dynamics, held from January 17–18, 2014, in Baltimore, MD. This volume contains articles covering a variety of topics in measurable, symbolic and complex dynamics. It also includes a survey article on the life and work of John Oxtoby, providing a source of information about the many ways Oxtoby's work influenced mathematical thought in this and other fields.

This book explains some recent applications of the theory of polynomials and algebraic geometry to combinatorics and other areas of mathematics. One of the first results in this story is a short elegant solution of the Kakeya problem for finite fields, which was considered a deep and difficult problem in combinatorial geometry. The author also discusses in detail various problems in incidence geometry associated to Paul Erdős's famous distinct distances problem in the plane from the 1940s. The proof techniques are also connected to error-correcting codes, Fourier analysis, number theory, and differential geometry. Although the mathematics discussed in the book is deep and far-reaching, it should be accessible to first- and second-year graduate students and advanced undergraduates. The book contains approximately 100 exercises that further the reader's understanding of the main themes of the book.

A large international conference celebrated the 50-year career of Anatole Katok and the body of research across smooth dynamics and ergodic theory that he touched. In this book many leading experts provide an account of the latest developments at the research frontier and together set an agenda for future work, including an explicit problem list. This includes elliptic, parabolic, and hyperbolic smooth dynamics, ergodic theory, smooth ergodic theory, and actions of higher-rank groups. The chapters are written in a readable style and give a broad view of each topic; they blend the most current results with the developments leading up to them, and give a perspective on future work. This book is ideal for graduate students, instructors and researchers across all research areas in dynamical systems and related subjects.

Volumes 1A and 1B.These volumes give a comprehensive survey of dynamics written by specialists in the various subfields of dynamical systems. The presentation attains coherence through a major introductory survey by the editors that organizes the entire subject, and by ample cross-references between individual surveys.The volumes are a valuable resource for dynamicists seeking to acquaint themselves with other specialties in the field, and to mathematicians active in other branches of mathematics who wish to learn about contemporary ideas and results dynamics. Assuming only general mathematical knowledge the surveys lead the reader towards the current state of research in dynamics.Volume 1B will appear 2005.

Conformal dimension measures the extent to which the Hausdorff dimension of a metric space can be lowered by quasisymmetric deformations. Introduced by Pansu in 1989, this concept has proved extremely fruitful in a diverse range of areas, including geometric function theory, conformal dynamics, and geometric group theory. This survey leads the reader from the definitions and basic theory through to active research applications in geometric function theory, Gromov hyperbolic geometry, and the dynamics of rational maps, amongst other areas. It reviews the theory of dimension in metric spaces and of deformations of metric spaces. It summarizes the basic tools for estimating conformal dimension and illustrates their application to concrete problems of independent interest. Numerous examples and proofs are provided. Working from basic definitions through to current research areas, this book can be used as a guide for graduate students interested in this field, or as a helpful survey for experts. Background needed for a potential reader of the book consists of a working knowledge of real and complex analysis on the level of first- and second-year graduate courses.

This volume grew out of two ergodic theory workshops held at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These events gave young researchers an introduction to active research areas and promoted interaction between young and established mathematicians. Included are research and survey articles devoted to various topics in ergodic theory. The book is suitable for graduate students and researchers interested in these and related areas.

Mathematics of Complexity and Dynamical Systems is an authoritative reference to the basic tools and concepts of complexity, systems theory, and dynamical systems from the perspective of pure and applied mathematics. Complex systems are systems that comprise many interacting parts with the ability to generate a new quality of collective behavior through self-organization, e.g. the spontaneous formation of temporal, spatial or functional structures. These systems are often characterized by extreme sensitivity to initial conditions as well as emergent behavior that are not readily predictable or even completely deterministic. The more than 100 entries in this wide-ranging, single source work provide a comprehensive explication of the theory and applications of mathematical complexity, covering ergodic theory, fractals and multifractals, dynamical systems, perturbation theory, solitons, systems and control theory, and related topics. Mathematics of Complexity and Dynamical Systems is an essential reference for all those interested in mathematical complexity, from undergraduate and graduate students up through professional researchers.