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ERGODIC MEASURES WITH INFINITE ENTROPY

Eleonora Catsigeras, Serge Troubetzkoy

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Eleonora Catsigeras, Serge Troubetzkoy. ERGODIC MEASURES WITH INFINITE ENTROPY. 2022. hal-01984461v4

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# ERGODIC MEASURES WITH INFINITE ENTROPY

ELEONORA CATSIGERAS AND SERGE TROUBETZKOY

ABSTRACT. We construct ergodic, probability measures with infinite metric entropy for generic continuous maps and homeomorphisms on compact manifolds. We also construct sequences of such measures that converge to a zero-entropy measure.

## 1. INTRODUCTION

Let $M$ be a $C^1$ compact manifold of finite dimension $m \ge 1$, equipped with a Riemannian metric dist. The manifold $M$ may or may not have boundary. Let $C^0(M)$ be the space of continuous maps $f: M \to M$ with the metric:

$$ \|f - g\|_{C^0} := \max_{x \in M} \mathrm{dist}(f(x), g(x)), \quad \forall f, g \in C^0(M). $$

We denote by $\mathrm{Hom}(M)$ the space of homeomorphisms $f: M \to M$ with the metric:

$$ \|f - g\|_{\mathrm{Hom}} := \max \left\{ \|f - g\|_{C^0}, \|f^{-1} - g^{-1}\|_{C^0} \right\} \quad \forall f, g \in \mathrm{Hom}(M). $$

We note that the topology induced in $\mathrm{Hom}(M)$ by the above metric is the subspace topology induced by $C^0(M)$. Nevertheless, the metrics are different.

Since the metric spaces $C^0(M)$ and $\mathrm{Hom}(M)$ are complete, the Baire category theorem holds, namely the countable intersection of open dense sets is dense. A subset $S \subset C^0(M)$ (or $S \subset \mathrm{Hom}(M)$) is called a $G_\delta$-set if it is the countable intersection of open subsets of $C^0(M)$ (resp. $\mathrm{Hom}(M)$). We say that a property $P$ of the maps $f \in C^0(M)$ (or $f \in \mathrm{Hom}(M)$) is *generic*, or that generic maps satisfy $P$, if the set of maps that satisfy $P$ contains a *dense* $G_\delta$-set in $C^0(M)$ (resp. $\mathrm{Hom}(M)$).

The main result of this article is the following theorem.

<footnote>We thank the anonymous referee for his careful reading of our text, and suggesting many improvements. We gratefully acknowledge support of the project “Sistemas Dinámicos” by CSIC, Universidad de la República (Uruguay). The project leading to this publication has also received funding Excellence Initiative of Aix-Marseille University - A*MIDEX and Excellence Laboratory Archimedes LabEx (ANR-11-LABX-0033), French “Investissements d’Avenir” programmes.</footnote>
**Theorem 1.** The generic map $f \in C^0(M)$ has an ergodic Borel probability measure $\mu$ such that $h_\mu(f) = +\infty$ and there exists $p \ge 1$ such that $\mu$ is mixing for the map $f^p$.

**Remark.** In the case that $M$ is a compact interval, Theorem 1 was proved in [CT, Theorem 3.9 and p.33, paragraph 2]. The statements and proofs of [CT] also hold for continuous maps of the circle $S^1$. In fact, each $f \in C(S^1)$ can be represented by a continuous map $f$ in $[0, 1]$ such that $f(0) = f(1)$. In the proof of genericity of the properties studied in [CT], no restrictions on the images of the endpoints 0 and 1 are imposed. In particular the proof of the denseness condition was obtained by perturbing the map only in the interior of a finite number of compact subintervals contained in $[0, 1]$. Finally, if the one-dimensional compact manifold $M$ is not connected, the arguments of [CT] applied to a recurrent connected component of $M$, extend the results to $C(M)$. This is why in this paper we will prove Theorem 1 only for $m$-dimensional manifolds for $m \ge 2$.

Yano proved that generic continuous maps of compact manifolds with or without boundary have infinite topological entropy [Ya]. Therefore, from the variational principle, there exists invariant measures with metric entropies as large as required. Nevertheless, this property alone does not imply the existence of invariant measures with infinite metric entropy. In fact, it is well known that the metric entropy function $\mu \to h_\mu(f)$ is not upper semi-continuous for $C^0$-generic systems. Moreover, we prove that it is strongly non upper semi-continuous in the following sense:

**Theorem 2.** For a generic map $f \in C^0(M)$ there exists a sequence of ergodic measures $\mu_n$ such that for all $n \ge 1$ we have $h_{\mu_n}(f) = +\infty$ and

$$ \lim_{n \to +\infty} \mu_n = \mu \text{ with } h_\mu(f) = 0, $$

where $\lim^*$ denotes the limit in the space of probability measures endowed with the weak* topology.

Theorem 2 holds for any $m$-dimensional manifold, including $m = 1$. In this paper we will prove it for $m \ge 2$, but the proof for $m = 1$ is easily obtained by repeating our proof after some trivial substitutions that are explained at the beginning of Section 5.

Even if we had a priori some $f$-invariant measure $\mu$ with infinite metric entropy, we do not know if this property alone implies the existence of ergodic measures with infinite metric entropy as Theorems 1 and 2 state. Actually, if $\mu$ had infinitely many ergodic components,
the proof that the metric entropy of at least one of those ergodic components must be larger or equal than the entropy of $\mu$, uses the upper semi-continuity of the metric entropy function (see for instance [Ke, Theorem 4.3.7, p. 75]).

Yano also proved that generic homeomorphisms on manifolds of dimension 2 or larger, have infinite topological entropy [Ya]. Thus one wonders if Theorems 1 and 2 hold also for homeomorphisms. We give a positive answer to this question for $m \ge 2$. If $M$ is one-dimensional then a homeomorphisms of $M$ has zero topological entropy, so the following two theorems do not hold for one-dimensional manifolds.

**Theorem 3.** If $dim(M) \ge 2$, then the generic homeomorphism $f \in Hom(M)$ has an ergodic Borel probability measure $\mu$ satisfying $h_\mu(f) = +\infty$ and there exists $p \ge 1$ such that $\mu$ is mixing for the map $f^p$.

**Theorem 4.** If $dim(M) \ge 2$, then for a generic homeomorphism $f \in Hom(M)$ there exists a sequence of ergodic measures $\mu_n$ such that for all $n \ge 1$ we have $h_{\mu_n}(f) = +\infty$ and

$$ \lim_{n \to +\infty} \mu_n = \mu \text{ with } h_\mu(f) = 0. $$

To prove Theorems 1, 3 and 4 in dimension two or larger, we construct a family $\mathcal{H}$, called models, of continuous maps in the cube $[0, 1]^m$, including some homeomorphisms of the cube onto itself, which have a complicated behavior on a Cantor set (Definition 2.5). To prove Theorem 2 in dimension one, the family $\mathcal{H}$ of model maps in $M$ we use is the set of continuous maps that have an “atom doubling cascade”, according to [CT, Definition 35].

In any dimension $m \ge 1$, a periodic shrinking box is a compact set $K \subset M$ that is homeomorphic to the cube $[0, 1]^m$ and such that for some $p \ge 1$: $K, f(K), \dots, f^{p-1}(K)$ are pairwise disjoint and $f^p(K) \subset \text{int}(K)$ (Definition 4.1).

The main steps of the proofs of Theorems 1 and 3 are the following results.

**Lemma 3.1:** For $m \ge 1$, any model $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$ in the cube $[0, 1]^m$ has a $\Phi$-invariant mixing measure $\nu$ such that $h_\nu(\Phi) = +\infty$.

**Lemmas 4.2 and 4.5:** For $m \ge 1$, generic maps in $C^0(M)$, and generic homeomorphisms of $M$, have a periodic shrinking box.

**Lemmas 4.7 and 4.8:** If $m \ge 1$ generic maps $f \in C^0(M)$, and if $m \ge 2$ also generic homeomorphisms of $M$, have a periodic shrinking box $K$ such that the return map $f^p|_K$ is topologically conjugated to a model $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$.
We prove and use Lemma 3.1 only for $m \ge 2$ since the case $m = 1$ was proven in [CT, Theorem 38]. The other results in the above list will be fully proven here even in the case $m = 1$ independently of [CT]. A good sequence of periodic shrinking boxes is a sequence $\{K_n\}_{n \ge 1}$ of periodic shrinking boxes which accumulate (with the Hausdorff distance) on a periodic point $x_0$, and moreover their iterates $f^j(K_n)$ also accumulate on the periodic orbit of $x_0$, uniformly for $j \ge 0$ (see Definition 5.1). The main tools used in the proofs of Theorems 2 and 4 are the statements of Theorems 1 (for $m \ge 1$) and 3, Lemmas 4.2, 4.5, 4.7 and 4.8, together with

**Lemma 5.7:** For $m \ge 1$ a generic map $f \in C^0(M)$, and for $m \ge 2$ a generic homeomorphism $f$ has a good sequence $\{K_n\}$ of boxes, such that the return map $f^{p_n}|_{K_n}$ is topologically conjugated to a model $\Phi_n \in \mathcal{H}$.

## 2. CONSTRUCTION OF THE FAMILY OF MODELS.

We call a compact set $K \subset D^m := [0, 1]^m$ or more generally $K \subset M$ (where $M$ is an $m$-dimensional manifold with $m \ge 1$) a box if it is homeomorphic to $D^m$. Models are certain continuous maps of $D^m$ that we will define in this section.

We denote by Emb($D^m$) the space of embeddings $\Phi: D^m \to D^m$ (i.e., $\Phi$ is a homeomorphism onto its image included in $D^m$), with the topology induced as a subspace of $C^0(D^m)$.

**Definition 2.1.** For $m = 1$ a model is a map that has an “atom doubling cascade” according to [CT, Definition 35] and the family $\mathcal{H}$ is the set of all model maps.

From here to the end of this section we construct the family $\mathcal{H}$ of model map for $m \ge 2$.

**Definition 2.2. (Φ-relation from a box to another).**

Let $\Phi \in C^0(D^m)$. Let $B, C \subset \text{int}(D^m)$ be two boxes. We write

$$B \xrightarrow{\Phi} C \text{ if } \Phi(B) \cap \text{int}(C) \neq \emptyset.$$

Observe that this condition is open in $C^0(D^m)$.

Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a finite family of boxes. Denote

$$\mathcal{A}^{2*} := \{(B, C) \in \mathcal{A}^2 : B \xrightarrow{\Phi} C\},$$

$$\mathcal{A}^{3*} := \{(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}^3 : D \xrightarrow{\Phi} B, B \xrightarrow{\Phi} C\}.$$

For all $n \ge 0$ we will define atoms of generation $n$ for a map $\Phi \in C^0(D^m)$ by Definition 2.3.
**Definition 2.3.** Atoms of generations $0 \le n \le k$ (See Figure 2)
Fix $\Phi \in C^0(D^m)$ and collections of boxes $A_0, A_1, \dots, A_k$ contained in the interior of $D^m$. For $n \ge 1$ and for $(D, B, C) \in A_{n-1}^{3*}$ we define

$$ \Omega_n(B) := \{G \in \mathcal{A}_n : G \subset \mathrm{int}(B)\}, $$

$$ \Omega_n(D, B) := \{G \in \Omega_n(B) : D \xrightarrow{\Phi} G\}, $$

$$ \Gamma_n(D, B, C) := \{G \in \Omega_n(D, B) : G \xrightarrow{\Phi} C\}. $$

Suppose that the following conditions hold for all $1 \le n \le k$:

i) The family $\mathcal{A}_n$ consists of $2^{n^2}$ pairwise disjoint boxes.

ii) For all $B \in \mathcal{A}_n$ we have:

$$ \#\{C \in \mathcal{A}_n : B \xrightarrow{\Phi} C\} = 2^n, \quad \#\{D \in \mathcal{A}_n : D \xrightarrow{\Phi} B\} = 2^n. $$

a) $\#\Omega_n(B) = \#\Omega_n(B') \forall B, B' \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}$, and $\mathcal{A}_n = \bigcup_{B \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}} \Omega_n(B)$.

b) For all $(D, B) \ne (D', B') \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{2*}$,
$$ \#\Omega_n(D, B) = \#\Omega_n(D', B') \text{ and } \Omega_n(D, B) \cap \Omega_n(D', B') = \emptyset. $$
Besides, $\Omega_n(B) = \bigcup_{D:(D,B) \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{2*}} \Omega_n(D, B)$ for all $B \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}$.

c) For all $(D, B, C) \ne (D', B', C') \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{3*}$,
$$ \#\Gamma_n(D, B, C) = \#\Gamma_n(D', B', C') \text{ and } \Gamma_n(D, B, C) \cap \Gamma_n(D', B', C') = \emptyset, $$
and for all $(D, B) \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{2*},$$

$$ (1) \qquad \Omega_n(D, B) = \bigcup_{C: (B,C) \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{2*}} \Gamma_n(D, B, C), $$

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /><figcaption>FIGURE 1. The atom $A$ of generation 0 and two atoms $B, C$ of generation 1 for a map $\Phi$ of $D^2$.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>FIGURE 2. An atom A of generation 0, two atoms B, C of generation 1, and 16 atoms of generation 2. In particular the two atoms G, H of generation 2 satisfy $\Gamma_2(C, B, C) = \{G, H\}$.</figcaption></figure>

d) For each $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{3*}$ and for each $G \in \Gamma_n(D, B, C)$

$$ \Phi(G) \cap E = \emptyset \quad \forall E \in \mathcal{A}_n \setminus \Omega_n(B, C). $$

We call the members of $\mathcal{A}_n$ atoms of generation $n$ or $n$-atoms,

**Remark 2.4.** From the conditions (i), (ii) and (a) to (d) of Definition 2.3 we deduce the following properties of the families of atoms for $\Phi \in C^0(D^m)$:

* $\#\Omega_n(B) = 2^{2n-1}$ for all $B \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}$. In fact, the families $\Omega_n(B)$ are pairwise disjoint because any two different atoms of generation $n$ are disjoint. Therefore, from condition a), we obtain

$$ \#\mathcal{A}_n = (\#\mathcal{A}_{n-1})(\#\Omega_n(B)) = 2^{(n-1)^2}(\#\Omega_n(B)) = 2^{n^2}, $$ 
 hence $\#\Omega_n(B) = 2^{2n-1}$.

* $\#\Omega_n(D, B) = 2^n$, for all $(D, B) \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{2*}$. In fact, from condition b),

$$ \Omega_n(B) = \bigcup_{D: (D,B) \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{2*}} \Omega_n(D, B), \quad \forall B \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}, $$

where the families of atoms in the above union are pairwise disjoint. Thus, for any $B \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}$ we have

$$ \#\Omega_n(B) = (\#\{D \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}: D \xrightarrow{\Phi} B\}) \cdot (\#\Omega_n(D, B)) = $$
$$2^{n-1} \cdot (\#\Omega_n(D, B)) = 2^{2n-1},$$

hence $(\#\Omega_n(D, B)) = 2^n$.

• $\#\Gamma_n(D, B, C) = 2 \quad \forall (D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{3*}$. In fact, from conditions (ii) and (c), for each 2-tuple $(D, B) \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{2*}$ the collection $\Omega_n(D, B)$ is partitioned into $2^{n-1}$ pairwise disjoint sub-collections $\Gamma_n(D, B, C)$, where the atoms $C \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}$ are such that $B \xrightarrow{\Phi} C$. Since $\#\Omega_n(D, B) = 2^n$ (proved above), we deduce that $\#\Gamma_n(D, B, C) = 2$.

For example, in Figure 2 we have $\Gamma_2(C, B, C) = \{F, G\}$.

• As a straightforward consequence of conditions a), b) and c) we obtain

$$(2) \qquad \mathcal{A}_n = \bigcup_{(D,B,C) \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{3*}} \Gamma_n(D, B, C),$$

where the families of atoms in the union are pairwise disjoint.

• For each $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{3*}$, for each $G \in \Gamma_n(D, B, C)$ and for all $E \in \mathcal{A}_n$, either $G \xrightarrow{\Phi} E$, and this occurs if and only if $E \in \Omega_n(B, C)$, or $\Phi(G) \cap E = \emptyset$, and this occurs if and only if $E \notin \Omega_n(B, C)$.

In fact, from condition d), if $\Phi(G) \cap E \neq \emptyset$ then $E \in \Omega_n(B, C)$. So, recalling condition (ii) of Definition 2.3, we obtain

$$2^n = \#\{E \in \mathcal{A}_n : G \xrightarrow{\Phi} E\} \leq$$

$$\#\{E \in \mathcal{A}_n : \Phi(G) \cap E \neq \emptyset\} \leq \#\Omega_n(B, C) = 2^n.$$

Hence, all the above inequalities are equalities and the assertion is proved.

• For any pair $(G, E) \in \mathcal{A}_n^2$:

$$G \xrightarrow{\Phi} E \text{ if and only if } \exists (D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}^{3*} \text{ such that}$$

$$G \in \Gamma_n(D, B, C), E \in \Omega_n(B, C),$$

This is a restatement of the above assertion.

$$\bullet \#\mathcal{A}_n^{3*} = 2^{n^2+2n}$$

In fact, all the 3-tuples $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$ can be constructed by choosing freely $D \in \mathcal{A}_n$, later choosing $B \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $D \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} B$, and finally choosing $C \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $B \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} C$. Taking into account equalities i) and ii) of Definition 2.3, we deduce

$$\#\mathcal{A}_n^{3*} = \#\{(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^3 : D \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} B, B \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} C\} =$$

$$(\#\mathcal{A}_n) \cdot (\#\{B \in \mathcal{A}_n : D \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} B\}) \cdot (\#\{C \in \mathcal{A}_n : B \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} C\}) =$$

$$2^{n^2} 2^n 2^n = 2^{n^2+2n}.$$
**Notation.** In certain statements we refer to families of atoms for several different maps. When necessary we will use the following notation: $A \in \mathcal{A}_n(\Phi)$ or $(B, D) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}(\Phi)$, etc., where $\Phi$ is the map to which the family of atoms is referred.

**Definition 2.5. (Models)**

We call $\Phi \in C^0(D^m)$ a model if $\Phi(D^m) \subset \text{int}(D^m)$, and there exists a sequence $\{\mathcal{A}_n\}_{n \ge 0}$ of finite families of pairwise disjoint boxes contained in $\text{int}(D^m)$ that are atoms of generations $n \ge 0$ for $\Phi$ such that

$$ (3) \qquad \lim_{n \to +\infty} \max_{A \in \mathcal{A}_n} \text{diam}A = 0. $$

Denote by $\mathcal{H}$ the family of all the models in $C^0(D^m)$.

For each fixed $n \ge 1$ the four conditions a) to d) of Definition 2.3, are open conditions. So, for fixed $n \ge 0$, and for any given map $\Phi$ having families $\mathcal{A}_0, \mathcal{A}_1, \dots, \mathcal{A}_n$ of atoms of generations 0, 1, ..., $n$, the set of maps that have the same families of atoms of generation up to $n$ as $\Phi$ (for that fixed $n$ and not necessarily for all $n$) is an open set. Moreover, the condition $\Phi(D^m) \subset \text{int}(D^m)$ is open.

**Definition 2.6.** For any $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$, we denote by $\mathcal{H}_\Phi$ the family of maps in $C^0(D^m)$ that have the same atoms of all generations as $\Phi$. Note that $\mathcal{H}_\Phi \subset \mathcal{H}$.

**Remark 2.7.** We deduce that, for any given $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$, the family $\mathcal{H}_\Phi \subset \mathcal{H}$ is a nonempty $G_\delta$-set in $C^0(M)$. In other words, $\mathcal{H}$ contains a nonempty $G_\delta$-set if it is nonempty.

On the other hand, if there exists $\Phi \in \mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m)$ then $H_\Phi$ is not necessarily composed by embeddings of $D^m$. Nevertheless, it contains $H_\Phi \cap \text{Emb}(D^m)$, which is a nonempty $G_\delta$-set in $\text{Emb}(D^m)$. Thus $\mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m)$ contains a nonempty $G_\delta$-set in $\text{Emb}(D^m)$ if $\mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m) \neq \emptyset$.

Note that the nonempty $G_\delta$-set $\mathcal{H}_\Phi$ (if $\Phi \in \mathcal{H} \neq \emptyset$) is not necessarily dense in $C^0(D^m)$!

**Construction of models.**

The rest of this section is dedicated to the proof of the following lemma.

**Lemma 2.8.** The family $\mathcal{H}$ of models contains the nonempty $G_\delta$-set $\mathcal{H}_\Phi$ (defined in Definition 2.6) in $C^0(D^m)$ for any chosen $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$.

The family $\mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m)$ contains the nonempty set $\mathcal{H}_\Phi \cap \text{Emb}(D^m)$, which is a $G_\delta$-set in $\text{Emb}(D^m)$, for any chosen $\Phi \in \mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m)$.

*Proof.* Lemma 2.9 stated below implies that $\mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m) \neq \emptyset$, and so $\mathcal{H} \neq \emptyset$. Repeating the argument of Remark 2.7 proves Lemma 2.8. $\square$
**Lemma 2.9.** For all $f \in \text{Emb}(D^m)$ such that $f(D^m) \subset \text{int}(D^m)$, there exists $\psi \in \text{Hom}(D^m)$ and $\Phi \in \mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m)$ such that

$$ \psi|_{\partial D^m} = \text{id}|_{\partial D^m} \quad \text{and} \quad \psi \circ f = \Phi. $$

We now outline the strategy of the proof of Lemma 2.9. The homeomorphisms $\psi$ and $\Phi$ are constructed as limits of respective convergent sequences $\psi_n \in \text{Hom}(D^m)$ and $\Phi_n \in \text{Emb}(D^m)$, such that $\psi_n \circ f = \Phi_n$ for all $n \ge 0$. The embedding $\Phi_n$, by an inductive hypothesis, has atoms of generations $0, 1, \dots, n$, and $\Phi_{n+1}$ will be constructed so it coincides with $\Phi_n$ outside the interiors of all the atoms of generation $n$ for $\Phi_n$. Hence, the collections of atoms of generation $0, 1, \dots, n$ for $\Phi_n$ is also a collection of atoms of the same generations for $\Phi_{n+1}$ (see the proof of assertion a) of Lemma 2.12).

To change $\Phi_n$ in the interior of each atom $A$ of generation $n$ for $\Phi_n$, we will change the homeomorphism $\psi_n$ only inside some adequately defined boxes $f(R)$ such that $R \subset \text{int}(A)$ is a box (recall that $f$ is an embedding). We will so construct $\psi_{n+1}|_{f(R)}$ such that $\psi_{n+1}|_{\partial f(R)} = \psi_n|_{\partial f(R)}$, and finally extend $\psi_{n+1}(x) := \psi_n(x)$ for all $x$ in the complement of the union of all the boxes $f(R)$.

Such new homeomorphism $\psi_{n+1}$, if adequately constructed inside the boxes $f(R)$, will allow us to define the atoms of generation $n+1$ for $\Phi_{n+1} = \psi_{n+1} \circ f$. These atoms of generation $n+1$ for $\Phi_{n+1}$ will be many little boxes in the interior of each box $f^{-1}(f(R)) = R \subset A$, where $A$ is an atom of generation $n$ both for $\Phi_n$ and for $\Phi_{n+1}$.

Lemma 2.9 will be proved by induction in several technical lemmas. One inductive hypothesis in the proof is that for a fixed $n \ge 0$ we have constructed an embedding $\Phi_n$ along with associated atoms of generations $0, 1, \dots, n$. For each $(P, Q) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}$, we will choose a connected component $S(P, Q)$ of $\Phi_n(P) \cap Q$. For each $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$ we choose two disjoint boxes $G_0(D, B, C)$, $G_1(D, B, C)$ contained in $\text{int}(S(D, B) \cap \Phi_n^{-1}S(B, C))$. By an additional inductive hypothesis on $\Phi_n$ a choice of the connected components $S(D, B)$ and $S(B, C)$ is assumed to exist such that the interior of this intersection is nonempty.

**Definition 2.10.** We provisionally adopt an abusive notation for the families of such boxes $G(\cdot, \cdot, \cdot)$. Even if such boxes are not probably atoms of generation $n+1$ for $\Phi_n$, we use the same notation as if they were. This is due to the purpose, realized later in the proof of Lemma 2.9, of modifying $\Phi_n$ to construct a new embedding $\Phi_{n+1}$ for which the same atoms up to generation $n$ for $\Phi_n$ are also atoms up to generation $n$ for $\Phi_{n+1}$, and besides the boxes $G(\cdot, \cdot, \cdot)$ are the atoms of generation $n+1$ for $\Phi_{n+1}$. In brief, we first choose the boxes, candidates to be
the atoms of generation $n+1$ for a new embedding $\Phi_{n+1}$, and later we construct $\Phi_{n+1}$. Let

$$ \mathcal{A}_{n+1} := \{G_j(D, B, C) : j \in \{0, 1\}, (D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}(\Phi_n)\}; $$

$$ \Omega_{n+1}(B) := \{G_j(D, B, C) : j \in \{0, 1\}, (D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}(\Phi_n)\} $$

for each fixed $B \in \mathcal{A}_n(\Phi_n)$;

$$ \Omega_{n+1}(D, B) := \{G_j(D, B, C) : j \in \{0, 1\}, B \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} C\} $$

for each fixed $(D, B) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}(\Phi_n)$;

$$ (4) \qquad \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C) := \{G_j(D, B, C) : j \in \{0, 1\}\} $$

for each fixed $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}(\Phi_n)$. We will use this abusive notation in Lemmas 2.11 and 2.12 as well as in Remark 2.13.

**Lemma 2.11.** For all $(B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}(\Phi_n)$ and for all $E \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$, $E \subset \Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C))$ if and only if $E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$ for some $D \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $D \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} B$.

*Proof.* By the construction in Remark 2.10, for all $E \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ we have $E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C) = \{\Gamma_0(D, B, C), \Gamma_1(D, B, C)\}$ for some $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$. This means that $E = G_j(D, B, C) \subset \text{int}(S(D, B) \cap \Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C)))$ for some $j = 0, 1$. Therefore, $E \subset \Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C))$ if and only if there exists $D \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $D \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} B$ and $E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$. $\square$

**Lemma 2.12.** Suppose that

$$ \text{int}(S(D, B) \cap \Phi_n^{-1} S(B, C)) \neq \emptyset \quad \forall (D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}(\Phi_n). $$

Let $\Phi_{n+1} \in \text{Emb}(D^m)$ be such that $\Phi_{n+1}(x) = \Phi_n(x)$ for all $x \notin \cup_{\{(B,C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}(\Phi_n)\}} \text{int}(\Phi_n^{-1}S(B, C))$. Then,

a) For all $0 \le j \le n$ and for any two atoms $B, C \in \mathcal{A}_n^2(\Phi_n)$, we have $\Phi_n(B) = \Phi_{n+1}(B)$; hence $B \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} C$ if and only if $B \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} C$.

b) $\#\mathcal{A}_{n+1} = 2^{(n+1)^2}$ and $E \cap F = \emptyset$ for all $E, F \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ such that $E \neq F$.

c) The family $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ is partitioned into the pairwise disjoint subfamilies $\Omega_{n+1}(B)$ where $B \in \mathcal{A}_n$. Besides $\#\Omega_{n+1}(B) = 2^{2n+1}$ and $\Omega_{n+1}(B) = \{G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1} : G \subset \text{int}(B)\}$ for all $B \in \mathcal{A}_n$.

d) For all $B \in \mathcal{A}_n$ the family of boxes $\Omega_{n+1}(B)$ is partitioned into the pairwise disjoint subfamilies $\Omega_{n+1}(D, B)$ where $D \in \mathcal{A}_n$ is such that $D \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} B$. Besides, for all $(D, B) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}(\Phi_{n+1})$, we have $\#\Omega_{n+1}(D, B) = 2^{n+1}$ and $\Omega_{n+1}(D, B) = \{G \in \Omega_{n+1}(B) : D \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} G\}$.
e) For all $(D, B) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}(\Phi_{n+1})$, the family of boxes $\Omega_{n+1}(D, B)$ is partitioned into the pairwise disjoint subfamilies $\Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$, where $C \in \mathcal{A}_n$ is such that $B \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} C$.

Besides, for all $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}(\Phi_{n+1})$, we have $\#\Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C) = 2$ and $\Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C) = \{G \in \Omega_{n+1}(D, B): G \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} C\}$.

f) For all $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}(\Phi_{n+1})$, for all $G \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$, and for all $E \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$,

$$ \Phi_{n+1}(G) \cap E \neq \emptyset \text{ only if } E \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C). $$

*Proof.* a) Let us prove assertion a) under the more general hypothesis $\Phi_{n+1}(x) = \Phi_n(x)$ for all $x \notin \cup_{B \in \mathcal{A}_n} \text{int}(B)$. (Note the $x \notin \text{int}(S(D, B) \cap \Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C)))$ implies $x \notin B$.)

By hypothesis $\Phi_n, \Phi_{n+1} \in \text{End}(D^m)$ and $\Phi_n|_{\partial A} = \Phi_{n+1}|_{\partial A}$ for the boxes $A \in \mathcal{A}_j$ for all $0 \le j \le n$ (recall that, from condition a) of definition 2.3, each atom of generation $n$ for $\Phi_n$ is contained in the interior of an atom of generation $0 \le j \le n$). Then $\Phi_{n+1}(A) = \Phi_n(A)$ for all $B \in \cup_{0 \le j \le n} \mathcal{A}_j$. Part a) follows immediately.

b) By construction, $E = G_j(D, C, B)$, $F = G_{j'}(D', B', C')$. If $E \neq F$ then, either $(D, C, B) = (D', C', B')$ and $j \neq j'$, or $(D, C, B) \neq (D', C', B')$. In the first case, by construction

$$ G_0(D, C, B) \cap G_1(D, C, B) = \emptyset, $$

in other words $E \cap F = \emptyset$. In the second case, either $D \neq D'$ or $B \neq B'$ or $C \neq C'$. By construction $G_j(D, B, C) \subset \Phi_n(D) \cap B \cap \Phi_n^{-1}(C)$ and $G_{j'}(D', B', C') \subset \Phi_n(D') \cap B' \cap \Phi_n^{-1}(C')$. Since members of $\mathcal{A}_n$ are pairwise disjoint, and $\Phi_n \in \text{Emb}(D^m)$, we deduce that $G_j(D, B, C) \cap G_{j'}(D', B', C') = \emptyset$, hence $E \cap F = \emptyset$ as required.

By the construction in Remark 2.10:

$$ \mathcal{A}_{n+1} = \bigcup_{(D,C,B) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}} \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C), $$

where the families in the union are pairwise disjoint and each one has 2 different boxes of $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$. Therefore, taking into account the last assertion of Remark 2.4, we deduce that

$$ \#\mathcal{A}_{n+1} = 2 \cdot (\#\mathcal{A}_n^{3*}) = 2 \cdot 2^{n^2+2n} = 2^{(n+1)^2}. $$

c) Using the notation at the end of Remark 2.10 of $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ and $\Omega_{n+1}(B)$, we have

$$ \mathcal{A}_{n+1} = \bigcup_{B \in \mathcal{A}_n} \Omega_{n+1}(B). $$

Besides, for all $G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$, $G \subset \text{int}(B)$ if and only if $G \in \Omega_{n+1}(B)$, because by construction, $G \subset \text{int}(S(D, B)) \subset \text{int}(B)$ for some $B \in \mathcal{A}_n$.
Since members of $\mathcal{A}_n$ are pairwise disjoint, we deduce that $\Omega_{n+1}(B) \cap \Omega_{n+1}(B') = \emptyset$ if $B \neq B'$. We conclude that the above union of different subfamilies $\Omega_{n+1}(B)$ is a partition of $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$, as required.

Note that

$$ \Omega_{n+1}(B) = \bigcup_{D \in \mathcal{A}_n, D \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} B} \bigcup_{C \in \mathcal{A}_n, B \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} C} \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C), $$

where the families in the union are pairwise disjoint and each of them has two different boxes. Therefore, taking into account that $\mathcal{A}_n$ is a family of atoms for $\Phi_n$ (by hypothesis), equality ii) of Definition 2.3 implies:

$$ \#\Omega_{n+1}(B) = 2 \cdot (\#\{D \in \mathcal{A}_n, D \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} B\}) \cdot \#\{C \in \mathcal{A}_n, B \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} C\} = 2 \cdot 2^n \cdot 2^n = 2^{2n+1}. $$

d) By the construction at the end of Remark 2.10,

$$ \Omega_{n+1}(B) = \bigcup_{D \in \mathcal{A}_n, D \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} B} \Omega_{n+1}(D, B). $$

Besides, $\Omega_{n+1}(D, B) \cap \Omega_{n+1}(D', B) = \emptyset$ if $D \neq D'$ in $\mathcal{A}_n$, since different atoms of generation $n$ are pairwise disjoint, and $G \in \Omega_{n+1}(D, B)$ implies $G \subset \Phi_n(D)$ which is disjoint with $\Phi_n(D')$ since $\Phi_n$ is an embedding.

By the construction in Remark 2.10,

$$ \Gamma_{n+1}(D, C, B) = \{G_0(D, C, B), G_1(D, C, B)\}, $$

where the two boxes $G(D, C, B)$ inside the family $\Gamma_{n+1}(D, C, B)$ are disjoint, hence different. Thus the cardinality of $\Gamma_{n+1}(D, C, B)$ is 2.

Also, $\Omega_{n+1}(D, B) = \bigcup_{C \in \mathcal{A}_n, B \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} C} \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$. Besides,

$$ \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C) \cap \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C') = \emptyset $$

if $C \neq C'$ in $\mathcal{A}_n$, because two different atoms of generation $n$ are pairwise disjoint and $G \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$ implies $G \subset \Phi_n^{-1}(C)$.

From the above assertions and from equality (ii) of the definition of atoms of generation $n$, we deduce that

$$ \#\Omega_{n+1}(D, B) = 2 \cdot (\#\{C \in \mathcal{A}_n : B \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} C\}) = 2 \cdot 2^n = 2^{n+1}. $$

Finally, for all $G \in \Omega_{n+1}(B)$ there exists (unique) $D \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $G \subset S(D, B) \subset \Phi_n(D) = \Phi_{n+1}(D)$. Hence $D \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} G$ if and only if $G \in \Omega(D, B)$.

e) Above we proved that $\Omega_{n+1}(D, B)$ is partitioned into the pairwise disjoint subfamilies $\Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$, where $C$ is such that $(B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{*2}$.
We have also noticed that $\#\Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C) = 2$. Finally, by the construction of Remark 2.10, for all $G \in \Omega_{n+1}(D, B)$ there exists $C \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $G \in S(D, B) \cap \Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C))$. Therefore $\Phi_{n+1}(G) \subset \Phi_{n+1}(\Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C)))$. This latter set coincides with $\Phi_n(\Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C)))$ because, by hypothesis, $\Phi_n$ and $\Phi_{n+1}$ are embeddings and coincide outside the interiors of all the sets $\Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C))$. We deduce that

$$ \Phi_{n+1}(G) \subset \Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C)) \subset \Phi_n(\Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C))) \\ \subset S(B, C) \subset \Phi_n(B) \cap C \subset C. $$

Thus, the interior of $\Phi_{n+1}(G)$, which is nonempty because $G$ is a box and $\Phi_{n+1}$ is an embedding, is contained in the interior of $C \in \mathcal{A}_n$. Since members of $\mathcal{A}_n$ are pairwise disjoint, we conclude that, for all $G \in \Omega(D, B)$, $G \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$ if and only if $G \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} C$, as required.

f) If $G \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$ then $G \subset (S(D, B)) \subset \Phi_n(D) \cap B$. Therefore

$$ \Phi_{n+1}(G) \subset \Phi_{n+1}(B) = \Phi_n(B). $$

Besides, we have proved above that

$$ \Phi_{n+1}(G) \subset C. $$

Assume that $\Phi_{n+1}(G) \cap E \neq \emptyset$ for some $E \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$. Since $E \in \Omega_{n+1}(B', C')$ for some $(B', C') \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}$, we have

$$ E \subset S(B', C') \subset \Phi_n(B') \cap C'. $$

Since $\Phi_{n+1}(G) \cap E \neq \emptyset$, we deduce that $\Phi_n(B) \cap \Phi_n(B') \cap C \cap C' \neq \emptyset$. Since But distinct atoms of generation $n$ are disjoint and $\Phi_n$ is one to one, we conclude that $B = B', C = C'$ and $E \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$. $\square$

**Remark 2.13.** Lemma 2.12a) immediately implies that for $0 \le j \le n$: - the families $\mathcal{A}_j^{2*}$ and $\mathcal{A}_j^{3*}$ for $\Phi_n$ and for $\Phi_{n+1}$, coincide, and - the members of the same families $\mathcal{A}_j$ are also atoms of respective generations $0, 1, \dots, n$ for $\Phi_{n+1}$.

Parts b) to e) of Lemma 2.12 ensure that the family $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ of boxes constructed in Remark 2.10, satisfy conditions i), a), b), c) and d) of Definition 2.3 for $\Phi_{n+1}$. Thus, the members of $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ are good candidates to be atoms of generation $n+1$ for $\Phi_{n+1}$.

To actually obtain atoms of generation $n+1$ for $\Phi_{n+1}$ we will further modify the map in the interior of the sets $S(D, B) \cap \Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C))$ for all $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}(\Phi_n)$, in such a way that for the new embedding $\Phi_{n+1}$ the boxes of $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ also satisfy condition ii) of Definition 2.3.

**Lemma 2.14.** *Still keeping the notation of Remark 2.10, let $\tilde{L}_{n+1} \subset D^m$ be a finite set with cardinality $2^{(n+1)^2}2^{n+1}$, with a unique point*
$\tilde{e}_i(E) \in \tilde{L}_{n+1}$ for each $(i, E) \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \times \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$. Assume that
$$ \tilde{e}_i(E) \in \text{int}(E) \quad \forall (i, E) \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \times \mathcal{A}_{n+1}. $$

Then, there exists a permutation $\theta: \tilde{L}_{n+1} \to \tilde{L}_{n+1}$ such that

a) For all $(i, E) \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \times \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$ for some $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}(\Phi_n)$,

$$ \theta(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \tilde{e}_{i'}(E') $$

for a unique $i' \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\}$ and a unique $E' \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$.

b) For all $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}(\Phi_n)r$, for all $E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$ and for all $F \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$ there exists unique

$$ (i, i') \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\}^2 $$

such that $\theta(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \tilde{e}_{i'}(F)$.

c) For all $(B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}(\Phi_n)$

$$ \theta\left(\left\{\tilde{e}_i(E) : E \in \bigcup_{D \in \mathcal{A}_n, (D,B) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}} \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C), i \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \right\}\right) = \\ \left\{\tilde{e}_{i'}(F) : F \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C), i' \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \right\} = \tilde{L}_{n+1} \cap S(B, C). $$

*Proof.* From the construction of the family $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ (see Remark 2.10), we deduce that for all $E \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ there exists unique $j \in \{0, 1\}$ and unique $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$ such that

$$ E = G_j(D, B, C) \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C) $$

(recall Equality (4)) and thus we will write

$$ \tilde{e}_i(G_j(D, B, C)) = \tilde{e}_i(E) $$

for all $(i, E) \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \times \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$.

By hypothesis $\mathcal{A}_n$ is the family of atoms of generation $n$ for $\Phi_n$, thus we can apply the equalities ii) of Definition 2.3. So, for each $B \in \mathcal{A}_n$, we can index the different atoms $D \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $D \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} B$ as follows:

$$ (5) \quad \{D \in \mathcal{A}_n : D \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} B\} = \{D_1^-(B), D_2^-(B), \dots, D_{2^n}^-(B)\}, $$

where $D_{k_1}^-(B) \neq D_{k_2}^-(B)$ if $k_1 \neq k_2$ (they are disjoint atoms of generation $n$).

Analogously

$$ (6) \quad \{C \in \mathcal{A}_n : B \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} C\} = \{C_1^+(B), C_2^+(B), \dots, C_{2^n}^+(B)\}, $$
where $C_{l_1}^+(B) \neq C_{l_2}^+(B)$ if $l_1 \neq l_2$.

Now, we index the distinct points of $\tilde{L}_{n+1}$ as follows:

$$ \hat{e}_{i,j}(k, B, l) := \tilde{e}_i(G_j(D, B, C)) = \tilde{e}_i(G_j(D_k^-(B), B, C_l^+(B))), $$
for all $(i, j, B, k, l) \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \times \{0, 1\} \times \mathcal{A}_n \times \{1, 2, \dots, 2^n\}^2$.

Define the following correspondence $\theta: \tilde{L}_{n+1} \to \tilde{L}_{n+1}$:

$$ \theta(\hat{e}_{i,j}(k, B, l)) = \hat{e}_{i',j'}(k', B', l'), \text{ where} $$

$$ \bullet B' := C_l^+(B), $$

* $k'$ is such that $B = D_{k'}^-(C)$ (such $k'$ exists and is unique because $B \xrightarrow{\Phi_k} C$, using (5)),

$$ \bullet l' = i \pmod{2^n}, $$

$$ \bullet j' = 0 \text{ if } i \le 2^n \text{ and } j' = 1 \text{ if } i > 2^n, $$

$$ \bullet i' = k + j \cdot 2^n. $$

Let us prove that $\theta$ is surjective; hence it is a permutation of the finite set $\tilde{L}_{n+1}$.

Let $\hat{e}_{i',j'}(k', B', l') \in \tilde{L}_{n+1}$ be given, where

$$ (i', j', B', k', l') \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \times \{0, 1\} \times \mathcal{A}_n \times \{1, 2, \dots, 2^n\}^2. $$

Construct

* $i := l' + j' \cdot 2^n$. Then $l' = i \pmod{2^n}$, $j' = 0$ if $i \le 2^n$ and $j' = 1$ if $i > 2^n$.

* $B := D_{k'}^-(B')$. Then $B \xrightarrow{\Phi_k} B'$. So, there exists $l$ such that $B' = C_l^+(B)$.

* $k := i' \pmod{2^n}$, $j := 0$ if $i' \le 2^n$ and $j := 1$ if $i' > 2^n$. Therefore $i' = k + 2^n j$.

By the above equalities we have constructed some $\theta^{-1}$ such that $\theta \circ \theta^{-1}$ is the identity map. So, $\theta$ is surjective, hence also one-to-one in the finite set $\tilde{L}_{n+1}$, as required.

Now, let us prove that $\theta$ satisfies assertions a), b), c) of Lemma 2.14.

a) Fix $\tilde{e}_i(E) \in \tilde{L}_{n+1}$. By construction $\theta(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \tilde{e}_{i'}(E') \subset \text{int}(E')$ for some $(i, E) \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \times \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$. Since members of $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ are pairwise disjoint (recall Lemma 2.12-b)), the box $E'$ is unique. Besides, by hypothesis, $\tilde{e}_{i'}(E') \neq \tilde{e}_{j'}(E')$ if $i' \neq j'$. So, the index $i'$ is also unique. Therefore, to finish the proof of a), it is enough to check that $E' \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$ if $E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$.

By the definition of the family $\Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$ in Remark 2.10, if $E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$, there exists $j \in \{0, 1\}$ such that $E = G_j(D, B, C)$. Thus, using the notation at the beginning $\tilde{e}_i(E) = \tilde{e}_i(G_j(D, B, C)) = \hat{e}_{i,j}(k, B, l)$, where $D = D_k^-(B)$ and $C = C_l^+(B)$. Then, using the definition of the permutation $\theta$, and the computation of its inverse $\theta^{-1}$, we obtain $\tilde{e}_{i'}(E) = \theta(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \hat{e}_{i',j'}(k', B', l')$, where

$$ B' = C_l^+(B) = C, \quad D' = D_{k'}^-(B') = B. $$
We have proved that $\tilde{e}'_i(E') = \tilde{e}'_i(G_{j'}(B, C, C'))$. Finally, from the definition of the family $\Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$ in Remark 2.10 we conclude that $E' \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$ as asserted in part a).

b) Fix $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$ and $E \subset \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$. Then, using the definition of the family $\Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$ in Remark 2.10, we have unique $(j, k, l) \in \{0, 1\} \times \{1, 2, \dots, 2^n\}^2$ such that $E = G_j(D, B, C)$, $D = D_k^-(B)$, $C = C_l^+(B)$. Consider the finite set $Z$ of $2^{n+1}$ distinct points $\tilde{e}_i(E) = \hat{e}_{i,j}(k, B, l)$, with $j, k, B, l$ fixed as above and $i \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\}$. Let $i' := k+2^n j$, then the image of each point in $Z$ by the permutation $\theta$ is $\theta(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \tilde{e}_{i'}(G_{j'}(B, C, C'))$ (here we use assertion a). Since $k, j$ are fixed, we deduce that there exists a unique $i'$ such that all the points of $\theta(Z)$ are of the form $\tilde{e}_{i'}(F)$, $F = G_{j'}(B, C, C')$ with $j' \in \{0, 1\}$, $C' = C_{k'}^+(C)$, $k' \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\}$. We have proved that the permutation $\theta|_Z$ is equivalent to

$$i \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \rightarrow (j', k') \in \{0, 1\} \times \{1, 2, \dots, 2^n\}$$

such that $\theta(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \tilde{e}_{i'}(G_{j'}(B, C, C^+(C)))$ with $i'$ fixed.

Since $\#\{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} = \#(\{0, 1\} \times \{1, 2, \dots, 2^n\})$, from the injectiveness of $\theta$ we deduce that $\theta(Z) = \{0, 1\} \times \{1, 2, \dots, 2^n\}$. In other words, for every $F \in \Omega(B, C)$ there exists unique $i$ such that $\theta(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \tilde{e}_{i'}(F)$ (where $i'$ is uniquely defined given $E$). This ends the proof of assertion b).

c) For fixed $(B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}$, denote

$$P := \{ \tilde{e}_i(E) : E \in \bigcup_{D \in \mathcal{A}_n, D \stackrel{\Phi_n}{\rightarrow} B} \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C), i \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \},$$

$$Q := \{ \tilde{e}_{i'}(F) : F \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C), i' \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} \} \subset \tilde{L}_{n+1}.$$

Applying assertion a) we deduce that $\theta(P) \subset Q$. So, to prove that $\theta(P) = Q$ it is enough to prove that $\#P = \#Q$. In fact, applying Lemma 2.12 for the family of boxes $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ for the family of atoms $\mathcal{A}_n$, we obtain

$$\#P = 2^{n+1} \cdot (\#\Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)) \cdot (\#\{D \in \mathcal{A}_n : D \stackrel{\Phi_n}{\rightarrow} B\}) = 2^{n+1} \cdot 2 \cdot 2^n \\ \#Q = 2^{n+1} \cdot (\#\Omega_{n+1})(B, C) = 2^{n+1} \cdot 2^{n+1},$$

which proves that $\#P = \#Q$ and thus that $\theta(P) = Q$.

Finally, let us prove that $Q = \tilde{L}_{n+1} \cap S(B, C)$. On the one hand, if $F \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$, then $F = G_j(B, C, C')$ for some $(j, C')$. Applying the construction of the boxes of $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ in Remark 2.10, we obtain $F \subset S(B, C)$, hence $\tilde{e}_{i'}(F) \in \tilde{L}_{n+1} \cap \text{int}(F) \subset \tilde{L}_{n+1} \cap S(B, C)$. This proves that $Q \subset \tilde{L}_{n+1} \cap S(B, C)$.
On the other hand, if $\tilde{e}_{i'}(F) \in \tilde{L}_{n+1} \cup S(B, C)$, then $F \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$. We obtain $F = G_j(D', B', C') \subset S(D', B')$ for some $(D', B', C') \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$. Since $S(D', B') \subset \Phi_n(D') \cap B'$ and $S(B, C) \subset \Phi_n(B) \cap C$, we obtain $S(D', B') \cap S(B, C) = \emptyset$ if $(D', B') \neq (B, C)$. But $\tilde{e}_{i'}(F) \in \text{int}(F) \cap S(B, C) \subset S(D', B') \cap S(B, C)$. We conclude that $(D', B') = (B, C)$, thus $F = G_j(B, C, C') \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$, hence $\tilde{e}_{i'}(F) \in Q$. We have proved that $\tilde{L}_{n+1} \cap S(B, C) \subset Q$. $\square$

**Lemma 2.15.** Assume the hypothesis of Lemmas 2.12 and 2.14. Let $\Phi_{n+1} \in \text{Emb}(D^m)$ be such that, besides the conditions in the hypothesis of Lemma 2.12, satisfies the following:

$$ \Phi_{n+1}(\tilde{e}) = \theta(\tilde{e}) \quad \forall \tilde{e} \in \tilde{L}_{n+1}, $$

where $\theta$ is the permutation of $\tilde{L}_{n+1}$ constructed in Lemma 2.14. Then, a) $\mathcal{A}_0, \mathcal{A}_1, \dots, \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ are collections of atoms up to generation $n+1$ for $\Phi_{n+1}$.

b) For each $(E, F) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}^2$ such that $E \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} F$, there exists exactly one point $\tilde{e}_i(E) \in \tilde{L}_{n+1} \cap \text{int}(E)$, and exactly one point $\tilde{e}_{i'}(F) \in \tilde{L}_{n+1} \cap \text{int}(F)$, such that

$$ \Phi_{n+1}(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \tilde{e}_{i'}(F). $$

*Proof.* a) By Remark 2.13, it is enough to establish the truth of condition ii) of Definition 2.3 with $n+1$ instead of $n$.

Take $E \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$. There exists $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$ such that $E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$. Take $F \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$. Applying Lemma 2.14-b), there exists unique $(i, i')$ such that $\theta(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \tilde{e}_{i'}(F)$. Therefore

$$ \Phi_{n+1}(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \tilde{e}_{i'}(F). $$

Since $\tilde{e}_i(E) \in \text{int}(E)$ and $\tilde{e}_{i'}(F) \in \text{int}(F)$, we conclude that $\Phi_{n+1}(E) \cap \text{int}(F) \neq \emptyset$, namely, $E \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} F$. We have proved that

$$ E \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} F \quad \forall E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C), \forall F \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C). $$

Combining with the assertion g) of Lemma 2.12, we deduce that, for all $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$, for all $E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$, for all $F \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$

(7) \qquad $E \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} F$ if and only if $F \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$.

Given $E \in \mathcal{A}_n$, let us count how many $F \in \mathcal{A}_n$ satisfy $E \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} F$. Given $E$, there exists unique $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$ such that $E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$. Applying (7) and assertion d) of Lemma 2.12, we deduce

$$ \#\{F \in \mathcal{A}_n : E \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} F\} = \Omega_{n+1}(B, C) = 2^{n+1}. $$
Finally, given $F \in \mathcal{A}_n$, let us count how many $E \in \mathcal{A}_n$ satisfy $E \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} F$. Given $F$, there exists unique $(B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}$ such that $F \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$. Applying (7), assertion e) of Lemma 2.12, and assertion ii) of Definition 2.3 for the atoms of generation $n$ (for $\Phi_n$ and for $\Phi_{n+1}$), we obtain:

$$ \#\{E \in \mathcal{A}_n : E \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} F\} = \\ \#\{E \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1} : \exists D \in \mathcal{A}_n \text{ such that } D \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} B, E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)\} = \\ (\#\{D \in \mathcal{A}_n : D \xrightarrow{\Phi_{n+1}} B\}) \cdot (\#\Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)) = 2^n \cdot 2 = 2^{n+1}. $$

We have proved that the boxes of $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ satisfy equalities ii) of Definition 2.3 for $\Phi_{n+1}$. The proof of assertion a) is complete

b) Take $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$ and $E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)$. Take $F \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$. From Remark 2.4 (putting $n+1$ instead of $n$), we know that $\Phi_{n+1}(E) \cap F \neq \emptyset$ if and only if $F \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C)$. Applying Lemma 2.14-b) there exists a unique $(i, i') \in \{1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\}^2$ such that $\Phi_{n+1}(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \theta(\tilde{e}_i(E)) = \tilde{e}_{i'}(F)$. The proof of part b) is complete. $\square$

**Lemma 2.16.** Let $\psi \in \text{Emb}(D^m)$, $r \ge 1$, $P_1, P_2, \dots, P_r \subset D^m$ be pairwise disjoint boxes, and $Q_j := \psi(P_j)$ for all $j \in \{1, 2, \dots, r\}$. For $k \ge 1$ and $j \in \{1, 2, \dots, r\}$, let $p_{1,j}, \dots, p_{k,j} \in \text{int}(P_j)$ be distinct points and $q_{1,j}, \dots, q_{k,j} \in \text{int}(Q_j)$ also be distinct points. Then, there exists a $\psi^* \in \text{Emb}(D^m)$ such that

$$ \psi^*(x) = \psi(x) \quad \forall x \notin \bigcup_{j=1}^{r} \text{int}(P_j) \text{ and} $$

$$ \psi^*(p_{i,j}) = q_{i,j} \quad \forall (i,j) \in \{1, \dots, k\} \times \{1, 2, \dots, r\}. $$

*Proof.* It is straightforward. $\square$

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

*Proof.* of Lemma 2.9 We divide the construction of $\psi$ and $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$ into several steps:

**Step 1. Construction of the atom of generation 0.** Since $f(D^m) \subset \text{int}(D^m)$, there exists a box $A_0 \subset \text{int}(D^m)$ such that $f(D^m) \subset \text{int}(A_0)$. The box $A_0$ is the *atom of generation 0* for the embedding $\Phi_0 := f$ which satisfies $\Phi_0 = \psi_0 \circ f$ where $\psi_0$ is the identity map. Applying the Brower Fixed Point Theorem, there exists a point $e_0 \in \text{int}(\Phi_0(A_0))$ such that $\Phi_0(e_0) = e_0$. Define $S(A_0, A_0)$ to be the connected component of $A_0 \cap \Phi_0(A_0)$ containing $e_0$.

(The notation above is too complicated, because simply $A_0 \cap \Phi_0(A_0) = \Phi(A_0)$, which is connected. But we introduced that complicated notation to make obvious that the inductive hypothesis that we will assume in the following step, is satisfied for $n = 0$.)
**Step 2. Construction of the atoms of generation $n+1$.** In-
ductively assume that we have constructed families $\mathcal{A}_0, \mathcal{A}_1, \dots, \mathcal{A}_n$ of
atoms up to generation $n$ for $\Phi_n = \psi_n \circ f$, where $\psi_n \in \operatorname{Hom}(D^m)$,
satisfying:

I) $\psi_n|_{\partial D^m}$ is the identity map,

II) $\max_{B \in \mathcal{A}_i} \max\{\mathrm{diam}(B), \mathrm{diam}(f(B))\} < \frac{1}{2i} \quad \forall i \in \{0, 1, \dots, n\}$;

III) $\Phi_i(x) = \Phi_{i-1}(x)$, $\forall x \in D^m \setminus \bigcup_{B \in \mathcal{A}_{i-1}} B$, $\forall i \in \{1, \dots, n\}$;

IV) for all $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}(\Phi_n)$ there exists a point $e(D, B, C)$ such that

$$
L_n := \{e(D, B, C) : (D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}\}
$$

is $\Phi_n$-invariant, and

$$
(8) \quad e(D, B, C) \in \mathrm{int}(S(D, B) \cap \Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C))),
$$

where $S(D, B)$ and $S(B, C)$ are (adequately chosen) connected
components of $B \cap \Phi_n(D)$ and of $C \cap \Phi_n(B)$ respectively. (Recall
the notation in Remark 2.10).

Note that the sets $S(B, C)$ and $S(B', C')$ are disjoint if $(B, C) \neq (B', C')$, because two different atoms of generation $n$ for $\Phi_n$ are disjoint (recall Definition 2.3) and $\Phi_n$ is one to one.

Let us construct the family $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ of boxes, candidates to be atoms of generation $n+1$ for a new embedding $\Phi_{n+1}$ (to be constructed as in Remark 2.10), and let us construct the homeomorphism $\psi_{n+1}$ such that $\Phi_{n+1} = \psi_{n+1} \circ f$.

First, for each $(B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}(\Phi_n)$, we choose a box $R(D, B)$ such that

$$
(9) \quad e(D, B, C) \in \mathrm{int}(R(B, C)), \quad R(B, C) \subset \mathrm{int}(\Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C)))
$$

$$
\forall D \in \mathcal{A}_n \text{ such that } D \xrightarrow{\Phi_n} B.
$$

Note that such boxes $R(\cdot, \cdot)$ are pairwise disjoint, because they are
contained in pairwise disjoint sets.

Recall that $e(D, B, C) \in L_n$ and the set $L_n$ is $\Phi_n$-invariant. Consider
assertions (8) and (9). Thus,

$$
e(D, B, C) \in \mathrm{int} \left( R(B, C) \cap \Phi_n \left( R(D, B) \right) \right) \neq \emptyset.
$$

Next, for each $(D, B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$ we choose two pairwise disjoint boxes,
$G_0(D, B, C)$ and $G_1(D, B, C)$, contained in the interior of $R(B, C) \cap$
$\Phi_n(R(D, B))$, satisfying

$$
(10) \quad \max\{\mathrm{diam}(G_i(D, B, C)), \mathrm{diam}(f(G_i(D, B, C)))\} < \frac{1}{2^{n+1}}
$$
for $i = 0, 1$. Now, we use the notation of Remark 2.10, to construct the family $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ of all the boxes $G_i(D, B, C)$. The boxes of the family $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ will be the $(n+1)$-atoms of two new embeddings $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$ and $\Phi_{n+1}$ that we will construct as follows.

First, in the interior of each box $E \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ we choose $2^{n+1}$ distinct points $\tilde{e}_i(E), i = 1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}$, and denote

$$ \tilde{L}_{n+1} := \{\tilde{e}_i(E) : E \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}, 1 \le i \le 2^{n+1}\}. $$

Second, we build a permutation $\tilde{\theta}$ of $\tilde{L}_{n+1}$ satisfying the properties of Lemma 2.14.

Third, applying Lemma 2.16, we construct $\tilde{\psi}_{n+1} \in \operatorname{Hom}(D^m)$ satisfying the following constraints.

(a) For all $(B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}(\Phi_n)$:

$$ \tilde{\psi}_{n+1}|_{f(R(B,C))} : f(R(B, C)) \to \psi_n \circ f(R(B, C)) = \Phi_n(R(B, C, )), $$

(b)

$$ \tilde{\psi}_{n+1}(x) = \psi_n(x), \\ \forall x \notin \bigcup_{(B,C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*} \text{ for } \Phi_n} f(R(B, C)), $$

(c)

$$ \tilde{\psi}_{n+1}(f(\tilde{e})) = \tilde{\theta}(\tilde{e}), \quad \forall \tilde{e} \in \tilde{L}_{n+1}. $$

To prove the existence of such a homeomorphism $\tilde{\psi}_{n+1}$ we must verify the hypotheses of Lemma 2.16. On the one hand, the boxes $R(B, C)$ where $(B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}$ are pairwise disjoint. So their images by the embedding $f$ are also pairwise disjoint boxes. On the other hand, for each $(B, C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}(\Phi_n)$, the finite set

$$ \{f(\tilde{e}) : \tilde{e} \in \tilde{L}_{n+1} \cap \operatorname{int}(R(B, C))\} = $$

$$ \{f(\tilde{e}) : \tilde{e} \in \tilde{L}_{n+1} \cap \operatorname{int}(\Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C)))\} $$

is contained in the interior of $f(R(B, C))$. Besides, it coincides with

$$ \{f(\tilde{e}_i(E)) : E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C) \text{ for some } D \in \mathcal{A}_n, i = 1, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} $$

(recall Lemma 2.11). So, the image by the permutation $\tilde{\theta}$ of such points $\tilde{e}.(.)$ is

$$ \{\tilde{\theta}(\tilde{e}_i(E)) : E \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C) \text{ for some } D \in \mathcal{A}_n, i = 1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} $$

Applying Lemma 2.14-c), the latter set is

$$ \{\tilde{e}_k(F) : F \in \Omega_{n+1}(B, C), k = 1, 2, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} = \tilde{L}_{n+1} \cap S(B, C), $$

which is contained in the interior of $\Phi_n(R(B, C)) = \tilde{\psi}_n(f(R(B, C)))$
We have proved that the points $f(\tilde{e}(\cdot))$ are contained in the interior of the boxes $f(R(\cdot, \cdot))$, and that their required images $\theta(\tilde{e}(\cdot))$ by the homeomorphism $\tilde{\psi}_{n+1}$ (to be constructed), are in the interior of the images by $\tilde{\psi}_n$ of those boxes. So, the hypothesis of Lemma 2.16 is satisfied.

We construct

$$ \tilde{\Phi}_{n+1} := \tilde{\psi}_{n+1} \circ f. $$

Since

$$ \bigcup_{(B,C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*} \text{ for } \Phi_n} \text{int}(R(B, C)) \subset \bigcup_{(B,C) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*} \text{ for } \Phi_n} \text{int}(\Phi_n^{-1}(S(B, C))), $$

the hypothesis of Lemma 2.12 is satisfied. Therefore the same atoms up to generation $n$ for $\Phi_n$ are still atoms up to generation $n$ for $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$. But moreover, applying Lemma 2.15-a), the boxes of the new family $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ are now $(n+1)$-atoms for $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$.

**Step 3. Construction of $\Phi_{n+1}$ and $\psi_{n+1}$.** To argue by induction, we will not use the embedding $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$ and the homeomorphism $\tilde{\psi}_{n+1}$, even if $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1} = \tilde{\psi}_{n+1} \circ f$ already has families $\mathcal{A}_0, \dots, \mathcal{A}_n, \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ of atoms up to generation $n+1$, as required. Rather, we need to modify them to obtain a new embedding $\Phi_{n+1}$ and a new homeomorphism $\psi_{n+1}$ such that the inductive hypothesis (IV) and Assertion (8) also holds for $n+1$ instead of $n$. We will modify $\tilde{\psi}_{n+1}$ only in the interiors of the boxes $f(G)$ for all the atoms $G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ for $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$, we will construct a new homeomorphism $\psi_{n+1}$ such that $\Phi_{n+1} := \psi_{n+1} \circ f$ has the same atoms up to generation $n+1$ of $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$ (see the proof of part a) of Lemma 2.12), and besides satisfies the inductive hypothesis (IV) with $n+1$ instead of $n$.

From the above construction of $\tilde{\psi}_{n+1}$ and $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$, and from Lemma 2.15-b), we know that for each $(G, E) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}^{2*}$ for $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$, there exists a unique point $\tilde{e}_i(G) \in \text{int}(G)$, and a unique point $\tilde{e}_k(E)$, such that

$$ \tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}(\tilde{e}_i(G)) = \tilde{\psi}_{n+1} \circ f(\tilde{e}_i(G)) = \tilde{\theta}(\tilde{e}_i(G)) = \tilde{e}_k(E) \in \text{int}(E). $$

Therefore

$$ \tilde{e}_k(E) \in \text{int}(E \cap \tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}(G)). $$

Denote by

$S(G, E)$

the connected component of $E \cap \tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}(G)$ that contains the point $\tilde{e}_k(E)$. Choose $2^{n+1}$ distinct points

$$ e_i(G, E) \in \text{int}(S(G, E)), \quad i = 1, \dots, 2^{n+1} $$
and a permutation $\theta$ of the finite set

$$ (11) \quad L_{n+1} := \{e_i(G, E) : (G, E) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}^{2*} \text{ for } \tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}, i = 1, \dots, 2^{n+1}\} $$

such that for each fixed $(G, E, F) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}^{3*}$ for $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$, there exists a unique point $e_i(G, E)$, and a unique point $e_k(E, F)$, satisfying

$$ (12) \qquad \theta(e_i(G, E)) = e_k(E, F). $$

The proof of the existence of such permutation is similar (but simpler) than the proof of Lemma 2.14.

Applying Lemma 2.16, construct a homeomorphism

$$ \psi_{n+1} \in \operatorname{Hom}(D^m) $$

such that

$$ \begin{gathered} \psi_{n+1}|_{f(G)} : f(G) \to \tilde{\psi}_{n+1}(f(G)) = \tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}(G) \quad \forall G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1} \text{ for } \tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}, \\ \psi_{n+1}(x) = \tilde{\psi}_{n+1}(x) \quad \forall x \notin \bigcup_{G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}} f(G), \end{gathered} $$

$$ (13) \qquad \psi_{n+1}(f(e_i(G, E))) = \theta(e_i(G, E)) $$

$$ \forall (E, G) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}^2 \text{ such that } G \xrightarrow{\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}} E, \quad \forall i = 1, \dots, 2^{n+1}, $$

and extend $\psi_{n+1}$ to the whole box $D^m$ by defining $\psi_{n+1}(x) = \tilde{\psi}_{n+1}(x)$, $\forall x \in D^m \setminus \bigcup_{G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}} f(G)$. In particular

$$ \psi_{n+1}|_{\partial D^m} = \tilde{\psi}_{n+1}|_{\partial D^m} = \mathrm{id}|_{\partial D^m}. $$

Define

$$ (14) \qquad \Phi_{n+1} := \psi_{n+1} \circ f. $$

As said above, the property that $\Phi_{n+1}$ coincides with $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$ outside all the atoms of $\mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ for $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$ implies that the boxes of the families $\mathcal{A}_0, \dots, \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$, which are the family of atoms up to generation $n$ for $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$, are also atoms up to generation $n+1$ for $\Phi_{n+1}$. But now, due to equalities (12), (13) and (14), they have the following additional property: there exists a one-to-one correspondence between the 3-tuples $(G, E, F) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}^{3*}$ (for $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$ and also for $\Phi_{n+1}$) and the points of the set $L_{n+1}$ of Equality (11), such that

$$ (15) \qquad e(G, E, F) := e_i(G, E) \in \mathrm{int}(S(G, E) \cap \Phi_{n+1}^{-1}(S(E, F))), $$

Recall that $S(G, E)$ and $S(E, F)$ are the connected components of $E \cap \Phi_n(G)$ and of $F \cap \Phi_n(E)$ respectively, that were chosen after $\tilde{\Phi}_{n+1}$ was constructed.

Besides, by construction, the finite set $L_{n+1}$ is $\Phi_{n+1}$-invariant. In fact, $\Phi_{n+1}(L_{n+1}) = \psi_{n+1}(f(L_{n+1})) = \theta(L_{n+1}) = L_{n+1}$. Therefore, the
inductive hypothesis I), II), III) and IV) holds for $n+1$ and the inductive construction is complete.

**Step 4. The limit homeomorphisms.** From the above construction we have:

$$ \psi_{n+1}(x) = \tilde{\psi}_{n+1}(x) = \psi_n(x) \text{ if } x \notin \bigcup_{B,C} \psi_n^{-1}(R(B, C)) \subset \bigcup_B f(B) $$

$$ \psi_{n+1} \circ \psi_n^{-1}(R(B, C)) = \tilde{\psi}_{n+1} \circ \psi_n^{-1}(R(B, C)) = \\ \psi_n \circ \psi_n^{-1}(R(B, C)) = R(B, C) \subset C. $$

Therefore,

$$ \mathrm{dist}(\psi_{n+1}^{-1}(x), \psi_n^{-1}(x)) \leq \max_{B \in \mathcal{A}_n} \mathrm{diam}(f(B)) < \frac{1}{2^n}, \quad \forall x \in D^m; $$

$$ \mathrm{dist}(\psi_{n+1}(x), \psi_n(x)) \leq \max_{C \in \mathcal{A}_n} \mathrm{diam}(C) < \frac{1}{2^n}, \quad \forall x \in D^m, $$

$$ (16) \qquad \|\psi_{n+1} - \psi_n\|_{\mathrm{Hom}} < \frac{1}{2^n}. $$

From Inequality (16) we deduce that the sequence $\psi_n$ is Cauchy in $\mathrm{Hom}(D^m)$. Therefore, it converges to a homeomorphism $\psi$. Moreover, by construction $\psi_n|_{\partial D^m} = \mathrm{id}|_{\partial D^m}$ for all $n \geq 1$. Then $\psi|_{\partial D^m} = \mathrm{id}|_{\partial D^m}$.

The convergence of $\psi_n$ to $\psi$ in $\mathrm{Hom}(D^m)$ implies that $\Phi_n = \psi_n \circ f \in \mathrm{Emb}(D^m)$ converges to $\Phi = \psi \circ f \in \mathrm{Emb}(D^m)$ as $n \to +\infty$. Since $f(D^m) \subset \mathrm{int}(D^m)$ and $\psi \in \mathrm{Hom}(D^m)$, we deduce that $\Phi(D^m) \subset \mathrm{int}(D^m)$. Moreover, by construction $\mathcal{A}_0, \mathcal{A}_1, \dots, \mathcal{A}_n$ are families of atoms up to generation $n$ for $\Phi_n$, and $\Phi_j(x) = \Phi_n(x)$ for all $x \in D^m \setminus \bigcup_{B \in \mathcal{A}_n} B$ and for all $j \geq n$. Since $\lim_j \Phi_j = \Phi$, the boxes of the family $\mathcal{A}_n$ are $n$-atoms for $\Phi$ for all $n \geq 0$. Finally, from Inequality (II, the diameters of the $n$-atoms converge uniformly to zero as $n \to +\infty$. Thus $\Phi$ is a model according to Definition 2.5. $\square$

### 3. INFINITE METRIC ENTROPY AND MIXING PROPERTY OF THE MODELS.

The purpose of this section is to prove the following Lemma.

**Lemma 3.1.** Let $\mathcal{H} \subset C^0(D^m)$ be a family of models with $m \geq 2$. For each $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$ there exists a $\Phi$-invariant mixing (hence ergodic) measure $\nu$ supported on a $\Phi$-invariant Cantor set $\Lambda \subset D^m$ such that $h_\nu(\Phi) = +\infty$.

Throughout this section we assume $m \geq 2$ and we suppose there is a given $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$, with a given sequence of families $\mathcal{A}_n$ ($n \geq 0$) of atoms of generations $n \geq 0$ respectively for $\Phi$. When we refer to the atoms of
generation $n$, we omit writing $\Phi$ and the families of atoms of previous generation, which are the previously given map and families.

**Remark 3.2.** Lemma 3.1 holds, in particular, for $\mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m)$.

To prove Lemma 3.1 we need to define the paths of atoms and to discuss their properties. We also need to define the invariant Cantor set $\Lambda$ that will support the measure $\nu$ and prove some of its topological dynamical properties.

**Definition 3.3. (Paths of atoms)**

Let $\Phi \in \mathcal{H} \subset C^0(D^m)$, $l \ge 2$ and let $(A_1, A_2, \dots, A_l)$ be a $l$-tuple of atoms for $\Phi$ of the same generation $n$, such that

$$A_i \xrightarrow{\Phi} A_{i+1}, \quad \forall i \in \{1, 2, \dots, l-1\}.$$

We call $(A_1, A_2, \dots, A_l)$ an $l$-path of $n$-atoms from $A_1$ to $A_l$. Let $\mathcal{A}_n^{l*}$ denote the family of all the $l$-paths of atoms of generation $l$.

**Lemma 3.4.** For all $n \ge 1$, for all $l \ge 2n$, and for all $A_1, A_2 \in \mathcal{A}_n$ there exists an $l$-path of $n$-atoms from $A_1$ to $A_2$.

*Proof.* For $n=1$, the result is trivial. Let us assume by induction that the result holds for some $n-1 \ge 1$ and let us prove it for $n$.

Let $E, F \in \mathcal{A}_n$. From equality (2) of Remark 2.4, there exists unique atoms $B_{-1}, B_0, B_1 \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}$ such that $E \in \Gamma_n(B_{-1}, B_0, B_1)$. Then $B_{-1} \xrightarrow{\Phi} B_0$, $E \subset B_0$ and, by Remark 2.4:

$$(17) \qquad E \xrightarrow{\Phi} E_1, \quad \forall E_1 \in \Omega_n(B_0, B_1).$$

Analogously, there exists unique atoms $B_*, B_{*+1} \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}$ such that $F \in \Omega_n(B_*, B_{*+1})$. Then $B_* \xrightarrow{\Phi} B_{*+1}$, $F \subset B_{*+1}$ and

$$(18) \qquad E_* \xrightarrow{\Phi} F, \quad \forall E_* \in \bigcup_{\substack{B_{*-1} \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}: \\ B_{*-1} \xrightarrow{\Phi} B_*}} \Gamma_n(B_{*-1}, B_*, B_{*+1})$$

Since $B_1, B_* \in \mathcal{A}_{n-1}$ the induction hypothesis ensures that for all $l \ge 2n-2$ there exists an $l$-path $(B_1, B_2, \dots, B_l)$ from $B_1$ to $B_l = B_*$. We write $B_{*-1} = B_{l-1}$, $B_* = B_l$, $B_{*+1} = B_{l+1}$. So (18) becomes

$$(19) \qquad E_l \xrightarrow{\Phi} F, \quad \forall E_l \in \Gamma_n(B_{l-1}, B_l, B_{l+1})$$

Taking into account that $B_{i-1} \xrightarrow{\Phi} B_i$ for $1 < i \le l$, and applying Remark 2.4, we deduce that, if $E_{i-1} \in \Gamma_n(B_{i-2}, B_{i-1}, B_i) \subset \mathcal{A}_n$, then

$$(20) \qquad E_{i-1} \xrightarrow{\Phi} E_i, \quad \forall E_i \in \Omega_n(B_{i-1}, B_i), \quad \forall 1 < i \le l.$$

Combining (17), (19) and (20) yields an $(l+2)$-path $(E, E_1, \dots, E_l, F)$ of atoms of generation $n$ from $E$ to $F$, as required. $\square$
**Lemma 3.5.** Let $n, l \ge 2$. For each $l$-path $(B_1, \dots, B_l)$ of $(n-1)$-atoms there exists an $l$-path $(E_1, E_2, \dots, E_l)$ of $n$-atoms such that $E_i \subset \text{int}(B_i)$ for all $i = 1, 2, \dots, l$.

*Proof.* In the proof of Lemma 3.4 for each $l$-path $(B_1, B_2, \dots, B_l)$ of $(n-1)$-atoms we have constructed the $l$-path $(E_1, E_2, \dots, E_l)$ of $n$-atoms as required. □

**Definition 3.6.** (The $\Lambda$-set) Let $\Phi \in \mathcal{H} \subset C^0(D^m)$ be a model map. Let $A_0, A_1, \dots, A_n, \dots$ be its sequence of families of atoms. The subset

$$ \Lambda := \bigcap_{n \ge 0} \bigcup_{A \in \mathcal{A}_n} A $$

of $\text{int}(D^m)$ is called the $\Lambda$-set of the map $\Phi$.

From Definition 2.3, we know that, for each fixed $n \ge 0$, the set $\Lambda_n := \bigcup_{A \in \mathcal{A}_n} A$, is nonempty, compact, and $\text{int}(\Lambda_n) \supset \Lambda_{n+1}$. Therefore, $\Lambda$ is also nonempty and compact. Moreover, $\Lambda_n$ is composed of a finite number of connected components $A \in \mathcal{A}_n$, which by Definition 2.5, satisfy $\lim_{n \to +\infty} \max_{A \in \mathcal{A}_n} \text{diam} A = 0$. Since $\Lambda := \bigcap_{n \ge 0} \Lambda_n$, we deduce that the $\Lambda$-set is a Cantor set contained in $\text{int}(D^m)$.

**Lemma 3.7.** Let $n, l \ge 1$ and $A_1, A_2 \in \mathcal{A}_n$. If there exists an $l+1$-path from $A_1$ to $A_2$, then $\Phi^l(A_1 \cap \Lambda) \cap (A_2 \cap \Lambda) \ne \emptyset$.

*Proof.* Assume that there exists an $(l+1)$-path from $A_1$ to $A_2$. So, from Lemma 3.5, for all $j \ge n$ there exists atoms $B_{j,1}, B_{j,2} \in \mathcal{A}_j$ and an $(l+1)$-path from $B_{j,1}$ to $B_{j,2}$ (with constant length $l+1$) such that

$$ B_{n,i} = A_i, \quad B_{j+1,i} \subset B_{j,i}, \quad \forall j \ge n, \quad i = 1, 2. $$

Construct the following two points $x_1$ and $x_2$:

$$ \{x_i\} = \bigcap_{j \ge n_0} B_{j,i}, \quad i = 1, 2. $$

By Definition 3.6, $x_i \in A_i \cap \Lambda$. So, to finish the proof of Lemma 3.7 it is enough to prove that $\Phi^l(x_1) = x_2$.

Recall that $l$ is fixed. Since $\Phi$ is uniformly continuous, for any $\varepsilon > 0$ there exists $\delta > 0$ such that if $(y_0, y_1, \dots, y_l) \in (D^m)^l$ satisfies $d(\Phi(y_i), y_{i+1}) < \delta$ for $0 \le i \le l-1$, then the points $y_0$ and $y_l$ satisfy $d(\Phi^l(y_0), y_l) < \varepsilon$. We choose $\delta$ small enough such that additional $d(\Phi^l(x), \Phi^l(y)) < \varepsilon$ if $d(x, y) < \delta$.

From (3), there exists $j \ge n$ such that $\text{diam}(B_{j,i}) < \delta$. Since there exists an $(l+1)$-path from $B_{j,1}$ to $B_{j,2}$, there exists a $(y_0, \dots, y_l)$ as in the previous paragraph with $y_0 \in B_{j,1}$ and $y_l \in B_{j,2}$. Thus

$$ d(\Phi^l(x_1), x_2) \le d(\Phi^l(x_1), \Phi^l(y_0)) + d(\Phi^l(y_0), y_l) + d(y_l, x_1) $$
$$< \mathrm{diam}(\Phi^l(B_{j,1})) + \varepsilon + \mathrm{diam}(B_{j,2}) < 3\varepsilon.$$

Since $\varepsilon > 0$ is arbitrary, we obtain $\Phi^l(x_1) = x_2$, as required. $\square$

**Lemma 3.8. (Topological dynamical properties of $\Lambda$)**

a) The $\Lambda$-set of a model map $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$ is $\Phi$-invariant, i.e., $\Phi(\Lambda) = \Lambda$.

b) The map $\Phi$ restricted to the $\Lambda$-set is topologically mixing.

c) In particular, $\Phi^l(A_1 \cap \Lambda) \cap (A_2 \cap \Lambda) \neq \emptyset$, for all $n \geq 1$, for any two atoms $A_1, A_2 \in \mathcal{A}_n$ and for all $l \geq 2n - 1$.

*Proof.* a) Let $x \in \Lambda$ and let $\{A_n(x)\}_{n \geq 0}$ the unique sequence of atoms such that $x \in A_n(x)$ and $A_n(x) \in \mathcal{A}_n$ for all $n \geq 0$. Then, $\Phi(x) \in \Phi(A_n(x))$ for all $n \geq 0$. From Definition 2.3, for all $n \geq 0$ there exists an atom $B_n \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $A_n(x) \xrightarrow{\Phi} B_n$. Therefore $\Phi(A_n(x)) \cap B_n \neq \emptyset$. Let $d$ denote the Hausdorff distance between subsets of $D^m$, we deduce

$$d(\Phi(x), B_n) \leq \mathrm{diam}(\Phi(A_n(x))) + \mathrm{diam}(B_n).$$

Moreover, Equality (3) and the continuity of $\Phi$ imply

$$\lim_{n \to +\infty} \max \{\mathrm{diam}(\Phi(A_n(x))), \mathrm{diam}(B_n)\} = 0.$$

Then, for all $\varepsilon > 0$ there exists $n_0 \geq 0$ such that $d(\Phi(x), B_n) < \varepsilon$ for some atom $B_n \in \mathcal{A}_n$ for all $n \geq n_0$. Since any atom of any generation intersects $\Lambda$, we deduce that $d(\Phi(x), \Lambda) < \varepsilon$ for each $\varepsilon > 0$. Since $\Lambda$ is compact, this implies $\Phi(x) \in \Lambda$. We have proved that $\Phi(\Lambda) \subset \Lambda$.

Now, let us prove the other inclusion. Let $y \in \Lambda$ and let $\{B_n(y)\}_{n \geq 0}$ the unique sequence of atoms such that $y \in B_n(y)$ and $B_n(y) \in \mathcal{A}_n$ for all $n \geq 0$. From Definition 2.3, for all $n \geq 0$ there exists an atom $A_n \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $A_n \xrightarrow{\Phi} B_n(y)$. Therefore $\Phi(A_n) \cap B_n(y) \neq \emptyset$. We deduce that, for all $n \geq 0$, there exists a point $x_n \in A_n \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $\Phi(x_n) \in B_n(y)$. Since any atom $A_n$ contains points of $\Lambda$, we obtain

$$d(x_n, \Lambda) \leq \mathrm{diam}(A_n) \text{ and } d(\Phi(x_n), y) \leq \mathrm{diam}(B_n(y)), \quad \forall n \geq 0.$$

Let $x$ be the limit of a convergent subsequence of $\{x_n\}_{n \geq 0}$. Applying Equality (3) and the continuity of $\Phi$, we deduce that $d(x, \Lambda) = 0$ and $d(\Phi(x), y) = 0$. This means that $y = \Phi(x)$ and $x \in \Lambda$. We have proved that $y \in \Phi(\Lambda)$ for all $y \in \Lambda$; namely $\Lambda = \Phi(\Lambda)$, as required.

c) We will prove a stronger assertion: for any two atoms, even of different generation, there exists $l_0 \geq 1$ such that

$$(21) \qquad \Phi^l(A_1 \cap \Lambda) \cap (A_2 \cap \Lambda) \neq \emptyset \quad \forall l \geq l_0.$$

It is not restrictive to assume that $A_1$ and $A_2$ are atoms of the same generation $n_0$ (if not, take $n_0$ equal to the largest of both generation and substitute $A_i$ by an atom of generation $n_0$ contained in $A_i$). Applying
Lemma 3.4, for all $l \ge 2n_0 - 1$ there exists an $(l+1)$-path from $A_1$ to $A_2$. So, from Lemma 3.7 $\Phi^l(A_1 \cap \Lambda) \cap (A_2 \cap \Lambda) \ne \emptyset$, as required.

b) The intersection of $\Lambda$ with the atoms of all the generations generates its topology, thus Equation (21) implies that $\Lambda$ is topologically mixing. $\square$

For fixed $(A_0, A_l) \in \mathcal{A}_n^2$ we set

$$ \mathcal{A}_n^{l+1*}(A_0, A_l) := \{(A_0, A_1, \dots, A_{l-1}, A_l) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{l+1*}\}. $$

**Lemma 3.9.** Let $l, n \ge 1$. Then

$$ a) \#\mathcal{A}_n^{l+1*} = 2^{nl} \cdot (\#\mathcal{A}_n). $$

$$ b) \#\mathcal{A}_n^{l+1*}(A_0, A_l) = \frac{2^{nl}}{\#\mathcal{A}_n} \quad \forall (A_0, A_l) \in \mathcal{A}_n^2, \text{ for all } l \ge 2n-1. $$

*Proof.* a) Each $(l+1)$-path $(A_0, A_1, \dots, A_l)$ of $n$-atoms is determined by a free choice of the atom $A_0 \in \mathcal{A}_n$, followed by the choice of the atoms $A_j \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $A_j \xrightarrow{\Phi} A_{j-1}$ for all $j = 1, \dots, l$. From equality ii) of Definition 2.3, we know that for any fixed $A \in \mathcal{A}_n$ the number of atoms $B \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $B \xrightarrow{\Phi} A$ is $2^n$. This implies a, as required.

b) We argue by induction on $n$. Fix $n=1$ and $l \ge 1$. Since any two atoms $A_j, A_{j+1} \in \mathcal{A}_1$ satisfies $A_j \xrightarrow{\Phi} A_{j+1}$, the number of $(l+1)$-paths

$$ (A_0, A_1, \dots, A_j, A_{j+1}, \dots A_{l-1}, A_l) $$

of 1-atoms with $(A_0, A_l)$ fixed, equals $\#(\mathcal{A}_1)^{l-1} = 2^{l-1} = 2^l/2 = 2^{nl}/(\#\mathcal{A}_n)$ with $n=1$.

Now, let us assume that assertion b) holds for some $n \ge 1$ and let us prove it for $n+1$. Let $l \ge 2(n+1) - 1 = 2n+1 \ge 3$ and let $(B_0, B_l) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}^2$. From equality (2) and conditions a) and b) of Definition 2.3, there exists unique $(A_{-1}, A_0, A_1) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{3*}$ and unique $(A_{l-1}, A_l) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{2*}$ such that

$$ B_0 \in \Gamma_{n+1}(A_{-1}, A_0, A_1), \quad B_l \in \Omega_{n+1}(A_{l-1}, A_l). $$

As $(A_1, A_{l-1}) \in \mathcal{A}_n^2$ and $l-2 \ge 2n-1$, the induction hypothesis ensures that the number of $(l-1)$-paths $(A_1, A_2, \dots, A_{l-1})$ from $A_1$ to $A_{l-1}$ is

$$ (22) \qquad \#\mathcal{A}_n^{l-1*}(A_1, A_{l-1}) = \frac{2^{n(l-2)}}{\#\mathcal{A}_n} = \frac{2^{n(l-2)}}{2^{n^2}} = 2^{nl-2n-n^2}. $$

Let $C(B_0, B_l)$ be the set

$$ \bigcup \left\{ (B_0, B_1, \dots, B_l) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}^{l+1} : B_j \in \Gamma_{n+1}(A_{j-1}, A_j, A_{j+1}) \ \forall j \right\}, \\ (A_1, \dots, A_{l-1}) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{l-1*}(A_1, A_{l-1}) $$
where the families in the above union are pairwise disjoint. It is standard to check that the families in the union $\mathcal{C}(B_0, B_l)$ are pairwise disjoint, because for $A \neq \tilde{A}$ in $\mathcal{A}_n$, the families $\Gamma_{n+1}(\cdot, A, \cdot)$ and $\Gamma_{n+1}(\cdot, \tilde{A}, \cdot)$ are disjoint.

A straightforward verification shows that

$$ (23) \qquad \mathcal{A}_{n+1}^{l+1*}(B_0, B_l) = \mathcal{C}(B_0, B_l). $$

Now, applying (22) and (23), we obtain

$$
\begin{align*}
\#\mathcal{A}_{n+1}^{l+1*}(B_0, B_l) &= \sum_{(A_1, \dots, A_{l-1}) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{l-1*}(A_1, A_{l-1})} \#\{(B_0, B_1, \dots, B_l) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}^{l+1} : B_j \in \Gamma_{n+1}(A_{j-1}, A_j, A_{j+1}) \ \forall j\} \\
&= \sum_{(A_1, \dots, A_{l-1}) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{l-1*}(A_1, A_{l-1})} \prod_{j=1}^{l-1} \#\Gamma_{n+1}(A_{j-1}, A_j, A_{j+1}) \\
&= (\#\mathcal{A}_n^{l-1*}(A_1, A_{l-1})) \cdot 2^{l-1} = 2^{nl-2n-n^2+l-1} = 2^{(n+1)l-(n+1)^2} = \frac{2^{(n+1)l}}{\#\mathcal{A}_{n+1}}
\end{align*}
$$
as required. □

Let $\vec{A}_n^l := (A_0, A_1, \dots, A_l)$ be an $(l+1)$-path of $n$-atoms, and $\mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l) := \{G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l} : G \cap \Lambda \subset \bigcap_{j=0}^l \Phi^{-j}(A_j)\}$.

**Lemma 3.10. (Intersection of $\Lambda$ with $l$-paths)** *Fix $l, n \ge 1$. Then*

a) For any $G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l}$, there exists a unique $(l+1)$-path $(A_0, A_1, \dots, A_l)$ of $n$-atoms such that $G \cap \Lambda \subset \bigcap_{j=0}^l \Phi^{-j}(A_j)$.

b) For any atoms $G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l}$, $A \in \mathcal{A}_n$ and $j \in \{0, 1, \dots, l\}$:
$$ (G \cap \Lambda) \cap \Phi^{-j}(A) \neq \emptyset \Leftrightarrow G \cap \Lambda \subset \Phi^{-j}(A). $$

c) For any $(l+1)$-path $\vec{A}_n^l = (A_0, A_1, \dots, A_l)$ of $n$-atoms,

$$ (24) \qquad \Lambda \cap \bigcap_{j=0}^{l} \Phi^{-j}(A_j) = \bigcup_{G \in \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)} G \cap \Lambda, $$

d) For any atom $G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l}$ and any path $\vec{A}_n^l \in \mathcal{A}_n^{l+1*}$:
$G \in \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$ if and only if there exists $(G_0, G_1, \dots, G_l) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l}^{l+1*}$ such that $G_0 = G$ and $G_j \subset A_j$ for all $j = 0, 1, \dots, l$.

e) For any $(l+1)$-path $(A_0, A_1, \dots, A_l)$ of $n$-atoms,

$$ \#\mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l) = \frac{1}{2^{nl}} \cdot \frac{\#\mathcal{A}_{n+l}}{\#\mathcal{A}_n}. $$
*Proof.* a) From equalities (1) and (2), for any atom $G$ of generation $n+l$ there exist two unique atoms $B, C$ of generation $n+l-1$ such that $B \xrightarrow{\Phi} C$, $G \subset B$ and $G \xrightarrow{\Phi} E$ for all $E \in \Omega_{n+l}(B, C)$. Moreover, from Remark 2.10, we have

$$ (25) \qquad \Phi(G) \cap F \neq \emptyset \text{ if and only if } F \in \Omega_{n+l}(B, C). $$

We claim that

$$ (26) \qquad \Phi(G \cap \Lambda) \subset \mathrm{int}(C). $$

Since $\Lambda$ is $\Phi$-invariant, for any $x \in G \cap \Lambda$, we have $\Phi(x) \in \Phi(G) \cap \Lambda$. Therefore $\Phi(x)$ is in the interior of some atom $E(x)$ of generation $n+l$ (see Definition 3.6). From (25), $E(x) \in \Omega_{n+l}(B, C)$. Thus $E(x) \subset \mathrm{int}(C)$ and $\Phi(x) \in \mathrm{int}(C)$ for all $x \in G \cap \Lambda$ proving (26).

So, there exists $C_1 \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l-1}$ such that $\Phi(G \cap \Lambda) \subset \mathrm{int}(C_1) \cap \Lambda$. Applying the same assertion to $C_1$ instead of $G$, we deduce that there exists $C_2 \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l-2}$ such that $\Phi(C_1 \cap \Lambda) \subset \mathrm{int}(C_2) \cap \Lambda$. So, by induction, we construct atoms

$C_1, C_2, \dots, C_l$ such that $C_j \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l-j}$ and

$$ \Phi^j(G \cap \Lambda) \subset \mathrm{int}(C_j) \cap \Lambda, \quad \forall j = 1, \dots, l. $$

Since any atom of generation larger than $n$ is contained in a unique atom of generation $n$, there exists $A_0, A_1, \dots, A_l \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $A_0 \supset G$ and $A_i \supset C_i, \quad \forall i = 1, \dots, l$. We obtain

$$ \Phi^j(G \cap \Lambda) \subset \mathrm{int}(A_j), \quad \forall j = 0, 1, \dots, l. $$

Besides, $(A_0, A_1, \dots, A_l)$ is an $(l+1)$-path since $\emptyset \neq \Phi^j(G \cap \Lambda) \subset \Phi(A_{j-1}) \cap \mathrm{int}(A_j)$; hence $A_{j-1} \xrightarrow{\Phi} A_j$ for all $j = 1, \dots, l$. Then, $G \cap \Lambda \subset \Phi^{-j}(A_j)$ for all $j = 0, 1, \dots, l$; proving the existence statement in a).

To prove uniqueness assume that $(A_0, A_1, \dots, A_l)$ and $(A'_0, A'_1, \dots, A'_l)$ are paths of $n$-atoms such that

$$ G \cap \Lambda \subset \Phi^{-j}(A_j) \cap \Phi^{-j}(A'_j) \quad \forall j \in \{0, 1, \dots, l\}. $$

Then $A_j \cap A'_j \neq \emptyset$ for all $j \in \{0, 1, \dots, l\}$. Since two different atoms of the same generation are pairwise disjoint, we deduce that $A_j = A'_j$ for all $j \in \{0, 1, \dots, l\}$ as required.

b) Trivially, if $G \cap \Lambda \subset \Phi^{-j}(A)$, then $(G \cap \Lambda) \cap \Phi^{-j}(A) \neq \emptyset$. Now, let us prove the converse assertion. Fix $G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l}$ and $A \in \mathcal{A}_n$ satisfying $(G \cap \Lambda) \cap \Phi^{-j}(A) \neq \emptyset$. Applying part a) there exists $\tilde{A} \in \mathcal{A}_n$ such that $G \cap \Lambda \subset \Phi^{-j}(\tilde{A})$. Therefore $G \cap \Lambda \cap \Phi^{-j}(A) \subset \Phi^{-j}(\tilde{A} \cap A) \neq \emptyset$. Since $A$ and $\tilde{A}$ are atoms of generation $n$, and two different atoms of the same generation are disjoint, we conclude that $\tilde{A} = A$, hence $G \cap \Lambda \subset \Phi^{-j}(A)$, as required.
c) For the $(l+1)$-path $\vec{A}_n^l = (A_0, A_1, \dots, A_l)$ of $n$-atoms, construct
(27) $\tilde{\mathcal{F}}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l) := \{G \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l} : G \cap \Lambda \cap \Phi^{-j}(A_j) \neq \emptyset \ \forall j \in \{0, 1, \dots, l\}\}$.

From the definitions of the families $\mathcal{F}_{n,l}$ and $\tilde{\mathcal{F}}_{n,l}$, and taking into account that $\Lambda$ is contained in the union of $(n+l)$-atoms, we obtain:

$$ \bigcup_{G \in \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)} G \cap \Lambda \subset \Lambda \cap \left( \bigcap_{j=0}^{l} \Phi^{-j}(A_j) \right) \subset \bigcup_{G \in \tilde{\mathcal{F}}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)} G \cap \Lambda. $$

Therefore, to prove Equality (24) it is enough to show that

$$ (28) \qquad \tilde{\mathcal{F}}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l) = \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l), $$

but this equality immediately follows from the construction of the families $\mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$ and $\tilde{\mathcal{F}}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$ by assertion b).

d) For each $(l+1)$-path $\vec{A}_n^l = (A_0, A_1, \dots, A_l)$ of $n$-atoms construct the family $\mathcal{G}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l) :=$

$$ \{G_0 \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l} : \exists (G_0, G_1, \dots, G_l) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l}^{l+1*} \text{ such that } G_j \subset A_j \ \forall j\} $$

We will first prove that $\mathcal{G}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l) \supset \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$. In fact, take $G \in \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$, and take any point $x \in G \cap \Lambda$. We have $\Phi^j(x) \in A_j \cap \Lambda$ for all $j \in \{0, 1, \dots, l\}$ (recall that $\Lambda$ is $\Phi$-invariant). Since any point in $\Lambda$ is contained in the interior of some atom of any generation, there exists an atom $G_j$ of generation $n+l$ such that $\Phi^j(x) \in \text{int}(G_j)$. Recall that each atom of generation $n+l$ is contained in a unique atom of generation $n$. As $\Phi^j(x) \in G_j \cap A_j \neq \emptyset$, and different atoms of the same generation are disjoint, we conclude that $G_j \subset A_j$. Besides $G_0 = G$ because $x \in G \cap G_0$. Finally $(G_0, G_1, \dots, G_l)$ is a $(l+1)$-path because $\Phi^{j+1}(x) = \Phi(\Phi^j(x)) \in \Phi(G_j) \cap \text{int}(G_{j+1})$ for all $j \in \{0, 1, \dots, l-1\}$; namely $G_j \xrightarrow{\Phi} G_{j+1}$. We have proved that $G \in \mathcal{G}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$, as required.

Now, let us prove that $\mathcal{G}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l) \subset \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$. Assume that $G_0 \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l}$ and $(G_0, G_1, \dots, G_l) \in \mathcal{A}_{n+l}^{l+1*}$ satisfies $G_j \subset A_j$ for all $j \in \{0, 1, \dots, l\}$. Therefore $(G_0, G_1, \dots, G_j)$ is a $(j+1)$-path of $(n+l)$-atoms for all $j \in \{1, 2, \dots, l\}$. Applying Lemma 3.7, we obtain $G_0 \cap \Lambda \cap \Phi^{-j}(G_j) \neq \emptyset$. Therefore, taking into account that $G_j \subset A_j$, we deduce that

$$ G_0 \cap \Lambda \cap \Phi^{-j}(A_j) \neq \emptyset \ \forall j \in \{0, 1, \dots, l\}. $$

Therefore $G_0 \in \tilde{\mathcal{F}}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l) = \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$ (recall (27) and (28)). This holds for any $G_0 \in \mathcal{G}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$, thus $\mathcal{G}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l) \subset \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$, as required.
e) From Assertion a) we obtain:

$$ (29) \qquad \mathcal{A}_{n+l} = \bigcup_{\vec{A}_n^l \in \mathcal{A}_n^{l+1}*} \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l), $$

where the families in the above union are pairwise disjoint, due to the uniqueness property of assertion a).

Recall the characterization of the family $\mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$ given by Assertion d). From Definition 2.3- condition a) and equality ii), the number of atoms of each generation larger than $n$ that are contained in each $A_j \in \mathcal{A}_n$, and also the number of atoms $G_j \in \mathcal{A}_{n+1}$ such that $G_j \xrightarrow{\Phi} G_{j+1}$, are constants that depend only on the generations but not on the chosen atom. Therefore, there exists a constant $k_{n,l}$ such that $\#\mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l) = \#\mathcal{G}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l) = k_{n,l}$ for all the $(l+1)$-paths of $n$-atoms. So, from Equality (29) we obtain:

$$ \#\mathcal{A}_{n+l} = (\#\mathcal{A}_n^{l+1})* (\#\mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\{A_j\})), $$

and applying Lemma 3.9, we conclude

$$ \#\mathcal{A}_{n+l} = 2^{nl} \cdot (\#\mathcal{A}_n) \cdot (\#\mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\{A_j\})), $$

as required.

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>

We turn to the proof of Lemma 3.1. We will first construct the measure $\nu$ and then prove that it has the required properties.

We start by defining an additive pre-measure on the $\Lambda$-set of $\Phi$ by

$$ \nu^*(A \cap \Lambda) := \frac{1}{\#\mathcal{A}_n}, \quad \forall A \in \mathcal{A}_n, \quad \forall n \ge 0. $$

Since $\nu^*$ is a pre-measure defined in a family of sets that generates the Borel $\sigma$-algebra of $\Lambda$, there exists a unique Borel probability measure $\nu$ supported on $\Lambda$ such that

$$ (30) \qquad \nu(A \cap \Lambda) := \frac{1}{\#\mathcal{A}_n}, \quad \forall A \in \mathcal{A}_n, \quad \forall n \ge 0. $$

In the following lemmas we will prove that $\nu$ is $\Phi$-invariant, mixing, and that the metric entropy $h_\nu(\Phi)$ is infinite.

**Lemma 3.11.** $\nu$ is invariant by $\Phi$.

*Proof.* Since the atoms of all generation intersected with $\Lambda$ generates the Borel $\sigma$-algebra of $\Lambda$, it is enough to prove that

$$ (31) \qquad \nu(C \cap \Lambda) = \nu(\Phi^{-1}(C \cap \Lambda)), \quad \forall C \in \mathcal{A}_n, \quad \forall n \ge 0. $$

From (2), taking into account that $\Lambda$ is invariant and that any point in $\Lambda$ belongs to an atom of generation $n+1$, we obtain:
$$ \Phi^{-1}(C \cap \Lambda) = \bigcup_{\substack{B \in \mathcal{A}_n \\ B \stackrel{\Phi}{\to} C}} \bigcup_{\substack{D \in \mathcal{A}_n \\ D \stackrel{\Phi}{\to} B}} \bigcup_{G \in \Gamma_{n+1}(D, B, C)} (G \cap \Lambda), $$

where both unions are of pairwise disjoint sets. Using equalities ii) of Definition 2.3, we obtain

$$ (32) \qquad \nu(\Phi^{-1}(C \cap \Lambda)) = \sum_{\substack{B \in \mathcal{A}_n \\ B \stackrel{\Phi}{\to} C}} \sum_{\substack{D \in \mathcal{A}_n \\ D \stackrel{\Phi}{\to} B}} \sum_{G \in \Gamma_{n+1}(B, C, D)} \nu(G \cap \Lambda) \\ = N_C \cdot N_B \cdot (\#\Gamma_{n+1}(B, C, D)) \cdot \frac{1}{\#\mathcal{A}_{n+1}}, $$

where $N_X := \#\{Y \in \mathcal{A}_n : Y \stackrel{\Phi}{\to} X\} = 2^n$ for all $X \in \mathcal{A}_n$. Since $\#\Gamma_{n+1}(B, C, D) = 2$ (see Remark 2.4) and $\#\mathcal{A}_{n+1} = 2^{(n+1)^2}$, we conclude

$$ \nu(\Phi^{-1}(C \cap \Lambda)) = 2^n \cdot 2^n \cdot 2 \cdot \frac{1}{2^{(n+1)^2}} = \frac{1}{2^{n^2}} = \frac{1}{\#\mathcal{A}_n} = \nu(C \cap \Lambda), $$

proving Equality (31) as required. □

**Lemma 3.12.** *ν is mixing.*

*Proof.* The family of atoms of all generations intersected with $\Lambda$ generates the Borel $\sigma$-algebra of $\Lambda$, thus it is enough to prove that for any pair $(C_0, D_0)$ of atoms (of equal or different generations) there exists $l_0 \ge 1$ such that

$$ (33) \quad \nu(\Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap (C_0 \cap \Lambda)) = \nu(C_0 \cap \Lambda) \cdot \nu(D_0 \cap \Lambda) \quad \forall l \ge l_0. $$

Let us first prove this in the case that $C_0$ and $D_0$ are atoms of the same generation $n$. Take $l \ge 2n - 1$. Applying Lemma 3.8-c), we have $\Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap (C_0 \cap \Lambda) \ne \emptyset \quad \forall l \ge 2n - 1$.

Fix $l \ge 2n - 1$. We will use the notation

$$ \vec{A}_n^l := (C_0, A_1, \dots, A_{l-1}, D_0) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{l+1*}(C_0, D_0) $$

to denote any one of the $2^{nl}/(\#\mathcal{A}_n)$ different $l+1$-paths of $n$-atoms from $C_0$ to $D_0$ (see Lemma 3.9-b)).

We assert that

$$ (34) \quad \Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap (C_0 \cap \Lambda) = T := \bigcup_{\vec{A}_n^l \in \mathcal{A}_n^{l+1*}(C_0, D_0)} \bigcup_{B \in \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)} (B \cap \Lambda), $$

where the family $\mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\vec{A}_n^l)$ of $(n+l)$-atoms is defined in Lemma 3.10-c).

First, let us prove that $\Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap (C_0 \cap \Lambda) \subset T$. Fix $x \in (D_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap (C_0 \cap \Lambda)$. Then $C_0, D_0$ are the unique atoms of generation $n$.
that contain $x$ and $\Phi^l(x) \in \Phi^l(\Lambda) = \Lambda$ respectively. Since $x \in \Lambda$, there exists a unique atom $B$ of generation $n+l$ that contains $x$. Applying Lemma 3.10-a) there exists a unique $(A_0, A_1, \dots, A_l) \in \mathcal{A}_n^{l+1*}$ such that $B \cap \Lambda \subset \Phi^{-j}(A_j)$ for all $j \in \{0, 1, \dots, l\}$. Since the $n$-atom that contains $x$ is $C_0$, and two different $n$-atoms are disjoint, we deduce that $A_0 = C_0$. Analogously, since the $n$-atom that contains $\Phi^l(x)$ is $D_0$ and the preimages of two different $n$-atoms are disjoint, we deduce that $A_l = D_0$. Therefore we have found $\tilde{A}_n^l = (C_0, A_1, \dots, A_{l-1}, D_0)$ and $B \in \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\tilde{A}_n^l)$ such that $x \in B \cap \Lambda$. In other words, $x \in T$, as required.

Next, let us prove that $\Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap (C_0 \cap \Lambda) \supset T$. Take $B \in \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\tilde{A}_n^l)$ for some $\tilde{A}_n^l = (C_0, A_1, \dots, A_{l-1}, D_0)$. From the definition of the family $\mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\tilde{A}_n^l)$ in Lemma 3.10-c), we have $B \cap \Lambda \subset (C_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap \Phi^{-l}(D_0)$. Besides $B \cap \Lambda \in \Phi^l(\Lambda)$ because $\Phi^l(\Lambda) = \Lambda$. We conclude that $B \cap \Lambda \subset (C_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap \Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda)$, proving that $T \subset \Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap (C_0 \cap \Lambda)$, as required. This ends the proof of equality (34).

By definition $n$-atoms are pairwise disjoint, thus the sets in the union constructing $T$ are pairwise disjoint. Therefore, from (34), and applying Lemma 3.9-b) and Lemma 3.10-e), we deduce

$$ 
\begin{aligned}
\nu((C_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap \Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda)) &= \sum_{\tilde{A}_n^l \in \mathcal{A}_n^{l+1*}(C_0, D_0)} \sum_{B \in \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\tilde{A}_n^l)} \nu(B \cap \Lambda) \\
&= (\#\mathcal{A}_n^{l+1*}(C_0, D_0)) \cdot (\#\mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\tilde{A}_n^l)) \cdot \frac{1}{\#\mathcal{A}_{n+l}} \\
&= \frac{2^{nl}}{\#\mathcal{A}_n} \cdot \frac{1}{2^{nl}} \cdot \frac{\#\mathcal{A}_{n+l}}{\#\mathcal{A}_n} \cdot \frac{1}{\#\mathcal{A}_{n+l}} = \frac{1}{\#\mathcal{A}_n} \cdot \frac{1}{\#\mathcal{A}_n} \\
&= \nu(C_0 \cap \Lambda) \cdot \nu(D_0 \cap \Lambda).
\end{aligned}
$$

This ends the proof of equality (33) in the case that $C_0$ and $D_0$ are atoms of the same generation $n$, taking $l_0 = 2n - 1$.

Now, let us prove equality (33) when $C_0$ and $D_0$ are atoms of different generations. Let $n$ equal the maximum of both generations. Take $l \ge 2n - 1$. Since $\Lambda$ is contained in the union of the atoms of any generation, we have

$$ C_0 \cap \Lambda = \bigcup_{C \in \mathcal{A}_n, C \subset C_0} C \cap \Lambda, $$

where the sets in the union are pairwise disjoint. Analogously

$$ \Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda) = \bigcup_{D \in \mathcal{A}_n, D \subset D_0} \Phi^{-l}(D \cap \Lambda), $$
where also the sets in this union are pairwise disjoint. So,

$$ (C_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap \Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda) = \bigcup_{C \in \mathcal{A}_n, C \subset C_0} \bigcup_{D \in \mathcal{A}_n, C \subset D_0} (C \cap \Lambda) \cap \Phi^{-l}(D \cap \Lambda). $$

Since the sets in the union are pairwise disjoint, we deduce

$$ \nu((C_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap \Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda)) = \sum_{C \in \mathcal{A}_n, C \subset C_0} \sum_{D \in \mathcal{A}_n, C \subset D_0} \nu((C \cap \Lambda) \cap \Phi^{-l}(D \cap \Lambda)). $$

As $C, D$ are atoms of the same generation $n$, and $l \ge 2n-1$, we can apply the first case proved above, to deduce that

$$ \nu((C_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap \Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda)) = $$

$$ (35) \quad \#\{C \in \mathcal{A}_n, C \subset C_0\} \cdot \#\{D \in \mathcal{A}_n, C \subset D_0\} \cdot \frac{1}{(\#\mathcal{A}_n)^2}. $$

The number of atoms of generation $n$ contained in an atom $C_0$ of generation $n_1$ larger or equal than $n$, does not depend of the chosen atom $C_0$. Therefore,

$$ \#\{C \in \mathcal{A}_n, C \subset C_0\} = \frac{\#\mathcal{A}_n}{\#\mathcal{A}_{n_1}} = (\#\mathcal{A}_n) \cdot \nu(C_0 \cap \Lambda). $$

Analogously

$$ \#\{D \in \mathcal{A}_n, D \subset D_0\} = (\#\mathcal{A}_n) \cdot \nu(D_0 \cap \Lambda). $$

Finally, substituting in equality (35) we conclude that
$$ \nu(\Phi^{-l}(D_0 \cap \Lambda) \cap (C_0 \cap \Lambda)) = \nu(C_0 \cap \Lambda) \cdot \nu(D_0 \cap \Lambda) \quad \forall l \ge 2n-1. \quad \square $$

**Lemma 3.13.** $h_\nu(\Phi) = +\infty$.

*Proof.* For $n \ge 1$ we consider the partition $\mathcal{A}_n$ of $\Lambda$ consisting of all the $n$-atoms intersected with $\Lambda$. By the definition of metric entropy

$$ (36) \quad h_\nu(\Phi) := \sup_{\mathcal{P}} h(\mathcal{P}, \nu) \ge h(\mathcal{A}_n, \nu), \text{ where} $$

$$ (37) \quad h(\mathcal{A}_n, \nu) := \lim_{l \to +\infty} \frac{1}{l} H\left(\bigvee_{j=0}^{l} (\Phi^{-j} \mathcal{A}_n), \nu\right), $$

$$ \mathcal{Q}_l := \bigvee_{j=0}^{l} \Phi^{-j} \mathcal{A}_n := \left\{ \bigcap_{j=0}^{l} \Phi^{-j} A_j \cap \Lambda \neq \emptyset : \ A_j \in \mathcal{A}_n \right\}, $$

$$ (38) \quad H(\mathcal{Q}_l, \nu) := - \sum_{X \in \mathcal{Q}_l} \nu(X) \log \nu(X). $$
For any nonempty $X := \Lambda \cap (\bigcap_{j=0}^l \Phi^{-j} A_j) \in \mathcal{Q}_l$, Lemma 3.10-c) yields

$$ \nu(X) = \nu\left(\bigcap_{j=0}^{l} \Phi^{-j} A_j \cap \Lambda\right) = \sum_{G \in \mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\bar{A}_j^l)} \nu(G \cap \Lambda). $$

Since $G$ is an atom of generation $n+l$, we have $\nu(G \cap \Lambda) = 1/(\#\mathcal{A}_{n+l})$, thus applying Lemma 3.10-e), yields

$$ \nu(X) = \frac{\#\mathcal{F}_{n,l}(\{A_j\})}{\#\mathcal{A}_{n+l}} = \frac{1}{2^{nl} \cdot \#\mathcal{A}_n}. $$

Combining this with (38) yields $H(\mathcal{Q}_l) = \log(\#\mathcal{A}_n) + nl \cdot \log 2$. Finally, substituting in Equality (37), we conclude

$$ h(\mathcal{A}_n, \nu) := \lim_{l \to +\infty} \frac{1}{l} H(\mathcal{Q}_l, \nu) = n \log 2. $$

Combining with (36) yields $h_\nu(\Phi) \ge n \log 2$, for all $n \ge 1$; hence $h_\nu(\Phi) = +\infty$. $\square$

*Proof of Lemma 3.1.* As proved in Lemmas 3.11, 3.12 and 3.13, the probability measure $\nu$ constructed by equality (30) is $\Phi$-invariant, mixing and has infinite metric entropy, as required. $\square$

## 4. PERIODIC SHRINKING BOXES

In this section we will prove Theorems 1 and 3 for $m \ge 2$. The proofs are based on the properties of the models proved in the previous sections, and on the existence of the periodic shrinking boxes which we construct here.

Throughout this section we consider $m \ge 1$, unless the condition $m \ge 2$ is explicitly stated.

**Definition 4.1. (Periodic shrinking box)** Let $f \in C^0(M)$ and $K \subset M$ be a box. We call $K$ periodic shrinking with period $p \ge 1$ for $f$, if $K$, $f(K)$, $f^2(K)$, ..., $f^{p-1}(K)$ are pairwise disjoint, and $f^p(K) \subset \text{int}(K)$. If so, we call $f^p|_K: K \to \text{int}(K)$ the *return map*.

Recall that the manifold $M$ is compact. This assumption is important to obtain the following Lemmas 4.2 and 4.3. We will construct periodic shrinking boxes whose return maps are homeomorphisms onto their images. Although this latter condition is unnecessary for the construction of the periodic shrinking boxes, it will be used later in the proofs of Lemmas 4.7 and 4.8 where the return maps must be topologically conjugated to model maps.
**Lemma 4.2.** For any $\delta > 0$, there exists an open and dense set of maps $f \in C^0(M)$ that have a periodic shrinking box $K_f$ with $\text{diam}(K_f) < \delta$. For a dense set of $f \in C^0(M)$ the return map to $K_f$ is one to one.

The proof of this lemma uses the following technical result.

**Lemma 4.3.** Let $f \in C^0(M)$ and $x_0 \in M$. For all $\varepsilon > 0$, there exists $g \in C^0(M)$ and a neighborhood $H$ of $x_0$ such that $\|g - f\|_{C^0} < \varepsilon$, $g|_H$ is a homeomorphism onto its image, and coincides with $f$ off a neighborhood of $x_0$.

*Proof.* Since the assertion is of local character we may assume that $M = \mathbb{R}^n$. Composing with a translation we may also assume that $x_0 = f(x_0) = 0$. Let $0 < \delta < \varepsilon$ be so small that the ball $\|x\| < \delta$ is mapped under $f$ to a set of diameter smaller than $\varepsilon$. Let $\lambda: \mathbb{R}^n \to [0, 1]$ be a continuous function such that $\lambda(x) = 0$ if $\|x\| \le \delta/2$ and $\lambda(x) = 1$ if $\|x\| \ge \delta$. We define $g$ by the formula $g(x) := \lambda(x)f(x) + (1 - \lambda(x))x$ if $\|x\| \le \delta$ and $g(x) = f(x)$ if $\|x\| \ge \delta$. $\square$

*Proof of Lemma 4.2.* According to Definition 4.1, the same periodic shrinking box $K_f$ for $f$ is also a periodic shrinking box with the same period for all $g \in C^0(M)$ near enough $f$, proving the openness assertion.

We turn to the denseness assertion. Let $f \in C^0(M)$ and $\varepsilon > 0$. We will construct $g \in C^0(M)$ and a periodic shrinking box $K_g$ for $g$ with $\text{diam}(K) < \delta$, such that $\|g - f\|_{C^0} < \varepsilon$. We suppose $\delta > 0$ to be smaller than the $\varepsilon$-modulus of continuity of $f$.

By the Krylov-Bogolyubov theorem invariant measures exist (recall that the manifold $M$ is compact), and thus by the Poincaré Lemma, there exists a recurrent point $x_0 \in M$ for $f$. First assume that $x_0 \notin \partial M$. So, there exists a box $B \subset M$ with $\text{diam}(B) < \delta$ such that $x_0 \in \text{int}(B)$. Since $x_0$ is a recurrent point, there exists a smallest $p \in \mathbb{N}$ such that $f^p(x_0) \in \text{int}(B)$. Taking $B$ slightly smaller if necessary, we can assume that $f^j(x_0) \notin B$ for all $j = 1, 2, \dots, p-1$. So, there exists a small compact box $U \subset \text{int}(B)$ as in Figure 3, such that $x_0 \in \text{int}(U)$, the sets $U, f(U), \dots, f^{p-1}(U)$ are pairwise disjoint, and $f^p(U) \subset \text{int}(B)$.

Since $U, f^p(U) \subset \text{int}(B)$, there exists a box $K$ such that $U, f^p(U) \subset \text{int}(K) \subset K \subset \text{int}(B)$, and there exists a homeomorphism $\psi: B \to B$ such that $\psi(x) = x$ for all $x \in \partial B$, and $\psi(K) = U$.

Finally, we construct $g \in C^0(M)$ as follows:

$$g(x) := f(x), \quad \forall x \notin B, \quad g(x) = f \circ \psi(x), \quad \forall x \in B.$$

By construction, $K$ is a periodic shrinking box of $g$, say $K = K_g$; by the choice of $\delta$ we have $\|g - f\| < \varepsilon$.
<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>FIGURE 3. Construction of $g$ near $f$ with a periodic shrinking box $K$ for $g$.</figcaption></figure>

Now, let us study the case for which $M$ is a compact manifold with boundary and all the recurrent points of $f$ belong to $\partial M$. Choose one such recurrent point $x_0 \in \partial M$. For any $\delta > 0$, there exists a compact box $B \subset M$, with $\text{diam}(B) \le \delta$ such that $x_0 \in \partial M \cap B$. Since $x_0$ is recurrent, there exists a smallest natural number $p \ge 1$ such that $f^p(x_0) \in B$. But $f^p(x_0)$ is also recurrent. So, $f^p(x_0) \in \partial M \cap B$. The previous proof does not work as is. To overcome the problem, we choose a new point $\tilde{x}_0 \ne x_0$, near enough $x_0$, such that $\tilde{x}_0 \in \text{int}(B) \setminus \partial M$ and $f^p(\tilde{x}_0) \in B$. By applying Lemma 4.3 and slightly perturbing $f$, if necessary, we can assume that the restriction of $f$ to a small neighborhood of $\tilde{x}_0$ is a local homeomorphism onto its image. Hence, $f^p(\tilde{x}_0) \in \text{int}(B) \setminus \partial M$. To conclude, we repeat the construction of $g$ and $K_g$ above replacing the recurrent point $x_0$ by $\tilde{x}_0$.

Now, let us show that we can construct densely for $g \in C^0(M)$ a periodic shrinking box $K_g$ such that the return map $g^p|_{K_g}$ is a homeomorphism onto its image. We repeat the beginning of the proof, up to the construction of the points $x_0, f(x_0), \dots, f^p(x_0)$ such that $x_0, f^p(x_0) \in \text{int}(B)$ and $f^j(x_0) \notin B$. Apply Lemma 4.3, slightly perturb $f$, if necessary, inside small open neighborhoods $W_0, W_1, \dots, W_{p-1}$ of the points $x_0, f(x_0), \dots, f^{p-1}(x_0)$ respectively, so that $f|_{\bar{W}_i}$ is a homeomorphism onto its image for all $i = 0, 1, \dots, p-1$. Finally, construct the box $U$ (Figure 3), but small enough so $f^j(U) \subset W_j$ for all $j = 0, 1, \dots, p-1$, and repeat the construction of $K = K_g$ and $g$ as above. $\square$
**Remark 4.4.** Note that to obtain the dense property in the proof of the first sentence of Lemma 4.2, we only need to perturb the map $f$ in the interior of the initial box $B$ with diameter smaller than $\delta$.

The following lemma is the homeomorphism version of Lemma 4.2.

**Lemma 4.5.** For any $\delta > 0$, there exists an open and dense set of maps $f \in \operatorname{Hom}(M)$ that have a periodic shrinking box $K$ with $\operatorname{diam}(K) < \delta$.

*Proof.* The proof of Lemma 4.2 also works in the case that $f \in \operatorname{Hom}(M)$: in fact, the $\varepsilon$-perturbed map $g$ constructed there is a homeomorphism, and to obtain $\|g - f\|_{\operatorname{Hom}(M)} < \varepsilon$ it is enough to reduce $\delta > 0$ to be smaller than the $\varepsilon$-continuity modulus of $f$ and $f^{-1}$. $\square$

**Remark 4.6.** In the proof of Lemmas 4.2 and 4.5, if the starting recurrent point $x_0$ were a periodic point of period $p$, then the periodic shrinking box $K$ so constructed would contain $x_0$ in its interior and have the same period $p$.

**Lemma 4.7.** Assume $m \ge 2$. Fix $\delta > 0$ and $\Phi \in \mathcal{H} \cap \operatorname{Emb}(\mathbb{D}^m)$ (recall Definition 2.5). Each generic map $f \in C^0(M)$ has a periodic shrinking box $K$ with $\operatorname{diam}(K) < \delta$ such that the return map $f^p|_K$ is topologically conjugated to a model map in $\mathcal{H}_\Phi$ (recall Definition 2.6).

*Proof.* Let $K \subset M$ be a periodic shrinking box for $f$. Fix a homeomorphism $\phi: K \to D^m$.

To prove the $G_\delta$ property, assume that $f \in C^0(M)$ has a periodic shrinking box $K$ with $\operatorname{diam}(K) < \delta$, such that $\phi \circ f^p|_K \circ \phi^{-1} \in \mathcal{H}_\Phi$ (recall Definition 2.6 and Lemma 2.8). From Definition 4.1, the same box $K$ is also periodic shrinking with period $p$ for all $g \in \mathcal{N}$, where $\mathcal{N} \subset C^0(M)$ is an open neighborhood of $f$. From Lemma 2.8, $\mathcal{H}_\Phi$ is a nonempty $G_\delta$-set in $C^0(D^m)$, i.e., it is the nonempty countable intersection of open families $\mathcal{H}_n \subset C^0(D^m)$. We define

$$ \mathcal{V}_n := \{g \in \mathcal{N} : \phi \circ g^p|_K \circ \phi^{-1} \in \mathcal{H}_n\}. $$

Since the restriction to $K$ of a continuous map $g$, and the composition of continuous maps, are continuous operations in $C^0(M)$, we deduce that $\mathcal{V}_n$ is an open family in $C^0(M)$. Besides

$$ (39) \qquad \phi \circ g^p|_K \circ \phi^{-1} \in \mathcal{H} = \bigcap_{n \ge 1} \mathcal{H}_n \quad \text{if} \quad g \in \bigcap_{n \ge 1} \mathcal{V}_n \subset C^0(M). $$

In other words, the set of maps $g \in C^0(M)$ that have periodic shrinking box $K$ with $\operatorname{diam}(K) < \delta$, such that the return map $g^p|_K$ coincides, up to a conjugation, with a model map in $\mathcal{H}_\Phi$, is a $G_\delta$-set in $C^0(M)$.

To show the denseness fix $f \in C^0(M)$ and $\varepsilon > 0$. Applying Lemma 4.2, it is not restrictive to assume that $f$ has a periodic shrinking box $K$.
<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>FIGURE 4. Perturbation $g$ of $f$ such that $g^p|_K = \Phi$.</figcaption></figure>

with $\mathrm{diam}(K) < \min\{\delta, \varepsilon\}$, such that $f^p|_K$ is a homeomorphism onto its image. We will construct $g \in C^0(M)$ to be $\varepsilon$-near $f$ and such that $\phi \circ g^p|_K \circ \phi^{-1} \in \mathcal{H}$.

Choose a box $W$ such that $f^{p-1}(K) \subset \mathrm{int}(W)$. If $p \ge 2$, take $W$ disjoint with $f^j(K)$ for all $j \in \{0, 1, \dots, p-2\}$ (Figure 4). Let us see that we can assume that $W$ has an arbitrarily small diameter. It is enough to prove that $f$ can be chosen such that $f^{p-1}(K)$ has an arbitrarily small diameter. In fact, in the construction of $f$ in the proof of Lemma 4.2, we can choose the box $U$ (see Figure 3), after choosing $K$, as small as needed. So, we choose $U$ small enough such that the $(p-1)$-th. image of $U$ by the map before the perturbation, has a small diameter. (Note that we do not change $p$). After that, we construct the perturbed map, which we are calling $f$ here, as in the proof of Lemma 4.2: the image $f^{p-1}(K)$ of the new map $f$ coincides with the $(p-1)$-th. image of $U$ by the map before the perturbation (Figure 3). So, it has an arbitrarily small diameter, as required.

To construct $g \in C^0(M)$ (see Figure 4) we consider the chosen $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$ in the hypothesis, and let $g(x) := f(x)$ if $x \notin W$ and

$$g(x) := \phi^{-1} \circ \Phi \circ \phi \circ (f^p|_K)^{-1} \circ f(x), \quad \forall x \in f^{p-1}(K).$$

This defines a continuous map $g : f^{p-1}(K) \cup (M \setminus W) \to M$ such that $|g(x) - f(x)| < \mathrm{diam}(K) < \varepsilon$ for all $x \in f^{p-1}(K) \subset W$ and $g(x) = f(x)$ for all $x \in M \setminus W$. Applying the Tietze Extension Theorem, there exists a continuous extension of $g$ to the whole compact box $W$, hence to $M$,
such that $\|g - f\|_{C^0} < \varepsilon$. Finally, by construction we obtain

$$g^p|_K = g|_{f^{p-1}(K)} \circ f^{p-1}|_K = \phi^{-1} \circ \Phi \circ \phi \circ (f^p|_K)^{-1} \circ f \circ f^{p-1}|_K = \phi^{-1} \circ \Phi \circ \phi. \quad \square$$

**Lemma 4.8.** Let $\delta > 0$. Choose and fix $\Phi \in \mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m)$. A generic homeomorphism $f \in \text{Hom}(M)$ has a periodic shrinking box $K$ with $\text{diam}(K) < \delta$, such that the return map $f^p|_K$ is topologically conjugated to a model embedding in $\mathcal{H}_\Phi$.

*Proof.* We repeat the proof of the $G_\delta$-set property of Lemma 4.7, using $\mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m)$ instead of $\mathcal{H}$, and $\text{Hom}(M)$ instead of $C^0(M)$.

To show the denseness fix $f \in \text{Hom}(M)$ and $\varepsilon > 0$. Applying Lemma 4.2, it is not restrictive to assume that $f$ has periodic shrinking boxes of arbitrarily small diameters. Let $\delta \in (0, \varepsilon)$ be smaller the the $\varepsilon$-modulus of continuity of $f$ and $f^{-1}$. Consider a periodic shrinking box $K$ with $\text{diam}(K) < \delta$ (Lemma 4.5). Fix a homeomorphism $\phi : K \to D^m$. We will construct $g \in \text{Hom}(M)$ to be $\varepsilon$-near $f$ in $\text{Hom}(M)$, with $\phi \circ g^p|_K \circ \phi^{-1} = \Phi \in \mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m)$.

From Definition 4.1 we know that the boxes $K, f(K), \dots, f^{p-1}(K)$ are pairwise disjoint and that $f^p(K) \subset \text{int}(K)$. Denote $W := f^{-1}(K)$. Since $f$ is a homeomorphism, we deduce that $W$ is a box as in Figure 4, such that $W \cap f^j(K) = \emptyset$ for all $j = 0, 1, \dots, p-2$ if $p \ge 2$, and $f^{p-1}(K) \subset \text{int}(W)$. Since $\text{diam}(K) < \delta$ we have $\text{diam}(W) < \varepsilon$.

Consider $\phi \circ f^p|_K \circ \phi^{-1} \in \text{Emb}(D^m)$. Applying Lemma 2.9, there exists a homeomorphism $\psi : D^m \to D^m$ such that

$$\psi|_{\partial D^m} = \text{id}|_{\partial D^m}, \quad \psi \circ \phi \circ f^p|_K \circ \phi^{-1} = \Phi \in \mathcal{H} \cap \text{Emb}(D^m).$$

So, we can construct $g \in \text{Hom}(M)$ such that $g(x) := f(x)$ for all $x \notin W$, and $g(x) := \phi^{-1} \circ \psi \circ \phi \circ f(x)$ for all $x \in W$. Since $\psi|_{\partial D^m}$ is the identity map, we obtain $g|_{\partial W} = f|_{\partial W}$. Thus, the above equalities define a continuous map $g : M \to M$. Moreover $g$ is invertible because $g|_W : W \to K$ is a composition of homeomorphisms, and $g|_{M\setminus W} = f|_{M\setminus W} : M \setminus W \to M \setminus K$ is also a homeomorphism. So, $g \in \text{Hom}(M)$. Moreover, by construction we have $|g(x) - f(x)| < \text{diam}(K) < \varepsilon$ for all $x \in W$, and $g(x) = f(x)$ for all $x \notin W$. Also the inverse maps satisfy $|g^{-1}(x) - f^{-1}(x)| < \text{diam}(f^{-1}(K)) = \text{diam}(W) < \varepsilon$ for all $x \in K$, and $g^{-1}(x) = f^{-1}(x)$ for all $x \notin K$. Therefore $\|g - f\|_{\text{Hom}} < \varepsilon$.

Finally, let us check that $g^p|_K$ is topologically conjugated to $\Phi$:

$$\begin{align*}
g^p|_K &= g|_{f^{p-1}(K)} \circ f^{p-1}|_K = g|_W \circ f^{p-1}|_K = \\
&\qquad \phi^{-1} \circ \psi \circ \phi \circ f \circ f^{p-1}|_K = \\
&\qquad \phi^{-1} \circ (\psi \circ \phi \circ f^p|_K \circ \phi^{-1}) \circ \phi = \phi^{-1} \circ \Phi \circ \phi. \quad \square
\end{align*}$$
**Remark 4.9.** In the proof of the dense property in Lemmas 4.7 and 4.8, once a periodic shrinking box $K$ is constructed with period $p \ge 1$, we only need to perturb the map $f$ inside $W \cup \bigcup_{j=0}^{p-1} f^j(K)$, where $W = f^{-1}(K)$ if $f$ is a homeomorphism, and $\text{int}(W) \supset f^{p-1}(K)$ otherwise. In both cases, by reducing the set $U$ of Figure 3 from the very beginning, we can construct $W$ such that $\text{diam}(W) < \varepsilon$ for a previously specified small $\varepsilon > 0$.

*Proof of Theorems 1 and 3.* From Lemmas 4.7 and 4.8, a generic map $f \in C^0(M)$ and also a generic $f \in \text{Hom}(M)$, has a periodic shrinking box $K$ such that the return map $f^p|_K : K \to \text{int}(K)$ is conjugated to a model map $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$. We consider the homeomorphism $\phi^{-1} : K \to D^m$ such that $\phi^{-1} \circ f^p \circ \phi = \Phi \in \mathcal{H}$. Lemma 3.1 states that every map $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$ has a $\Phi$-invariant mixing measure $\nu$ with infinite metric entropy for $\Phi$. Consider the push-forward measure $\phi_*\nu$, defined by $(\phi_*\nu)(B) := \nu(\phi^{-1}(B \cap K))$ for all the Borel sets $B \subset M$. By construction, $\phi_*\nu$ is supported on $K \subset M$. Since $\phi$ is a conjugation between $\Phi$ and $f^p|_K$, the push-forward measure $\phi_*\nu$ is $f^p$-invariant and mixing for $f^p$ and moreover $h_{\phi_*\nu}(f^p) = +\infty$.

From $\phi_*\nu$, we will construct an $f$-invariant and $f$-ergodic measure $\mu$ supported on $\bigcup_{j=0}^{p-1} f^j(K)$, with infinite metric entropy for $f$. Precisely, for each Borel set $B \subset M$, define

$$ (40) \qquad \mu(B) := \frac{1}{p} \sum_{j=0}^{p-1} (f^j)_*(\phi_*\nu)(B \cap f^j(K)). $$

Applying Equality (40), and the fact that $\phi_*\nu$ is $f^p$-invariant and $f^p$-mixing, it is standard to check that $\mu$ is $f$-invariant and $f$-ergodic. From the convexity of the metric entropy function, we deduce that

$$ h_{\mu}(f^{p}) = \frac{1}{p} \sum_{j=0}^{p-1} h_{(f^{j})_{*}(\phi_{*}\nu)}(f^{p}) = +\infty. $$

Finally, recalling that $h_\mu(f^p) \le p h_\mu(f)$ for any $f$-invariant measure $\mu$ and any natural number $p \ge 1$, we conclude that $h_\mu(f) = +\infty$. $\square$

## 5. GOOD SEQUENCES OF PERIODIC SHRINKING BOXES

In this section we prove Theorems 2 and 4. Throughout this section we assume that $\text{dim}(M) \ge 2$. In the case that $M$ is a 1-dimensional manifold, Theorem 2 can be proven repeating the proof of the 2-dimensional case, after replacing Definition 2.5 by Definition 2.1.
**Definition 5.1.** Let $f \in C^0(M)$ and let $K_1, K_2, \dots, K_n, \dots$ be a sequence of periodic shrinking boxes for $f$. We call $\{K_n\}_{n \ge 1}$ good if it has the following properties (see Figure 5):

• $\{K_n\}_{n \ge 1}$ is composed of pairwise disjoint boxes.

• There exists a natural number $p \ge 1$, independent of $n$, such that $K_n$ is a periodic shrinking box for $f$ whose period $p_n$ is a multiple of $p$.

• There exists a sequence $\{H_n\}_{n \ge 0}$ of periodic shrinking boxes, all with period $p$, such that $K_n \cup H_n \subset \tilde{H}_{n-1}$, $K_n \cap H_n = \emptyset$ for all $n \ge 1$, and $\text{diam}(H_n) \to 0$ as $n \to +\infty$.

**Remark.** Definition 5.1 implies that $\bigcap_{n \ge 1} H_n = \{x_0\}$, where $x_0$ is periodic with period $p$. Furthermore, for any $j \ge 0$ we have

$$d(f^j(K_n), f^j(x_0)) \le \text{diam}(f^j(H_{n-1})) \le \max_{0 \le k \le p-1} \text{diam}(f^k(H_{n-1})) \xrightarrow{n \to \infty} 0,$$ and thus

$$(41) \qquad \lim_{n \to +\infty} \sup_{j \ge 0} d(f^j(K_n), f^j(x_0)) = 0.$$

We will construct a good sequence of periodic shrinking boxes for maps that are arbitrarily near a given $f$. We start by constructing the zeroth level boxes as follows:

**Lemma 5.2.** Let $f \in C^0(M)$ (resp. $f \in \text{Hom}(M)$) and $\varepsilon, \delta > 0$. Then, there exists $g_1 \in C^0(M)$ (resp. $g_1 \in \text{Hom}(M)$), periodic shrinking boxes $H_0$ and $K_1$ for $g_1$ with periods $p$ and $p_1$ respectively, where $p_1$ is multiple of $p$, and a periodic point $x_0 \in \text{int}(H_0)$ for $g_1$ such that $K_1 \subset H_0 \setminus \{x_0\}$,

$g_1^{p_1}|_{K_1}$ is topologically conjugated to $\Phi_1 \in \mathcal{H}$ and

$$\text{diam}(H_0) < \delta, \quad \|g_1 - f\| < \frac{\varepsilon}{2}.$$

*Proof.* A generic map $\tilde{f} \in C^0(M)$ (resp. $\tilde{f} \in \text{Hom}(M)$) has a periodic shrinking box $H_0$ with period $p \ge 1$, such that $\text{diam}(H_0) < \delta$ and $\tilde{f}|_{H_0}$ is conjugate to a model map $\Phi \in \mathcal{H}$ (Lemmas 4.7, resp. 4.8). Fix such an $\tilde{f}$ in the $(\varepsilon/6)$-neighborhood of $f$. The same box $H_0$ will be a shrinking periodic box for the map $g_1$ to be constructed.

Since $\tilde{f}^p : H_0 \to \text{int}(H_0) \subset H_0$ is continuous, by the Brouwer Fixed Point Theorem there exists a periodic point $x_0 \in \text{int}(H_0)$ of period $p$. Lemma 3.1 and the argument at the end of the proofs of Theorems 1 and 3, show that the map $\tilde{f}$ has an ergodic measure $\mu$ supported on $\bigcup_{j=0}^{p-1} \tilde{f}^j(H_0)$ such that $h_\mu(\tilde{f}) = +\infty$. Therefore, by Poincaré Recurrence Lemma, there exists some recurrent point $y_1 \in \text{int}(H_0)$ for $\tilde{f}$. We can choose such recurrent point $y_1 \ne x_0$ (see Figure 5) because $\mu$ is
<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>FIGURE 5. Construction of a good sequence of periodic shrinking boxes.</figcaption></figure>

not supported on the orbit of the periodic point $x_0$ (recall that $\mu$ has infinite entropy and by construction its support is a perfect set).

Choose $\delta_1 > 0$ small enough and construct a box $B_1$ such that $y_1 \in \text{int}(B_1)$, $\text{diam}(B_1) < \delta_1$, the $\tilde{f}$-orbit of $x_0$ (which is finite) does not intersect the finite piece of the $\tilde{f}$-orbit of $B_1$ (until the first iterate of $y_1$ is in $H_0$) and $B_1 \subset \text{int}(H_0)$. We repeat the proofs of the dense property of Lemmas 4.2 and 4.5, using the recurrent point $y_1$ instead of $x_0$, and the box $B_1$ instead of $B$ (see Figure 3). We deduce that there exists an $(\varepsilon/6)$-perturbation $\hat{f}$ of $\tilde{f}$, and a periodic shrinking box $K_1 \subset B_1$ for $\hat{f}$, with some period $p_1 \ge p$ (see Figure 5). Moreover, $\hat{f}$ coincides with $\tilde{f}$ in $M \setminus \text{int}(B_1)$ (recall Remark 4.4). Therefore, the same periodic point $x_0$ of $\tilde{f}$ survives for $\hat{f}$. Besides, by the openness of the existence of the periodic shrinking box $H_0$, the same initial box $H_0$ is still periodic shrinking with period $p$ for $\hat{f}$, provided that $\hat{f}$ is near enough $\tilde{f}$. So, the compact sets of the family $\{\hat{f}^j(H_0)\}_{j=0,1,\dots,p-1}$ are pairwise disjoint, and $\hat{f}^p(H_0) \subset \text{int}(H_0)$. This implies that the period $p_1$ of the new periodic shrinking box $K_1$ for $\hat{f}$ is a multiple of $p$.

Now, we apply the proofs of the dense property of Lemmas 4.7 and 4.8, using the shrinking box $K_1$ instead of $K$ (see Figure 4). We deduce that there exists an $(\varepsilon/6)$-perturbation $g_1$ of $\hat{f}$, such that $K_1$ is still a periodic shrinking box for $g_1$ with the same period $p_1$, but moreover, the return map $g_1^{p_1}|_{K_1}$ is now topologically conjugated to $\Phi_1 \in \mathcal{H}$.
Consider a box $W_1$ satisfying $\hat{f}^{p_1-1}(K_1) \subset W_1 \subset K_1$, small enough so its $\hat{f}$-orbit is disjoint from the $\hat{f}$-orbit of the periodic point $x_0$. Taking into account Remark 4.9, we can construct $g_1$ to coincide with $\hat{f}$ in the complement of $W_1 \cup (\cup_{j=0}^{p_1-1} \hat{f}^j(K_1))$. Then, if $g_1$ is sufficiently near $\hat{f}$, the point $x_0$ is still periodic of period $p$ for $g_1$, and besides $H_0$ is still a periodic shrinking box of period $p$ for $g_1$ (recall that such property is open). Finally,

$$ \|g_1 - f\| < \|g_1 - \hat{f}\| + \|\hat{f} - \tilde{f}\| + \|\tilde{f} - f\| < \frac{\varepsilon}{6} + \frac{\varepsilon}{6} + \frac{\varepsilon}{6} = \frac{\varepsilon}{2}. \quad \square $$

Assume that we have constructed the $j$-th level of periodic shrinking boxes for all $0 \le j \le n-1$ of a good sequence. We will construct the periodic shrinking boxes of the $n$-th level by perturbing the given map once more. Let us first define the following family of maps.

**Definition 5.3.** Fix $\delta > 0$, and let $p, n$ be natural numbers such that $p, n \ge 1$. We denote by $\mathcal{G}_{p,n,\delta} \subset C^0(M)$ the family of all the maps $g \in C^0(M)$ such that there exists $n$ boxes $K_1, \dots, K_n$ satisfying the following properties:

* $\{K_j\}_{1 \le j \le n}$ is composed of pairwise disjoint boxes.

* For all $1 \le j \le n$ the box $K_j$ is a periodic shrinking for $g$ with period $p_j$ that is a multiple of $p$, and

$$ g^{p_j}|_{K_j} \text{ is topologically conjugated to } \Phi_j \in \mathcal{H}. $$

* There exists a sequence $\{H_j\}_{0 \le j \le n-1}$ of periodic shrinking boxes for $g$, all of period $p$, and a periodic point $x_{n-1} \in \text{int}(H_{n-1})$ of period $p$, such that $K_j \cup H_j \subset H_{j-1}$, $K_j \cap H_j = \emptyset$ for all $1 \le j \le n-1$, $K_n \subset H_{n-1} \setminus x_{n-1}$ and $\text{diam}(H_j) < \delta/2^j$ for all $0 \le j \le n-1$ (see Figure 5).

**Lemma 5.4.** Fix $\varepsilon > 0$, $\delta > 0$ and the natural numbers $n, p \ge 1$. Assume that $g_n \in \mathcal{G}_{p,n,\delta}$ or $g_n \in \mathcal{G}_{p,n,\delta} \cap \text{Hom}(M)$.

Then, there exists an $\varepsilon/2^{n+1}$-perturbation $g_{n+1}$ of $g_n$, such that $g_{n+1} \in \mathcal{G}_{p,n+1,\delta}$ or $g_{n+1} \in \mathcal{G}_{p,n+1,\delta} \cap \text{Hom}(M)$, respectively.

Moreover, for all $j = 1, \dots, n$ the same boxes $K_1, K_2, \dots, K_n$ and $H_0, H_1, \dots, H_{n-1}$ are shrinking periodic for the new map $g_{n+1}$ and for the given map $g_n$, with the same periods, and

$$ g_n^i|_{K_j} = g_{n+1}^i|_{K_j} \quad \forall i = 1, \dots, p_j. $$

*Proof.* All the perturbations of $g_n$ that we will construct are sufficiently close to $g_n$ so that the same boxes $H_0, H_1, \dots, H_{n-1}$ and $K_1, K_2, \dots, K_n$ that are periodic shrinking for $g_n$ are still periodic shrinking with the same periods for the perturbed maps. This is possible because the
periodic shrinking property of a box and its period, are open conditions. Besides, we will only consider perturbations of $g_n$ that coincide with $g_n$ except in the interior of a finite number of boxes $B, W$, etc, whose $g_n$-iterates, up to the $(\max_{1\le j\le n} p_j)$-th iterate, are disjoint with all the boxes of the family $\{g_n^i(K_j) : 1 \le j \le n, 0 \le i \le p_j - 1\}$. Therefore, if such a perturbation $\tilde{g}$ of $g_n$ is near enough $g_n$, then the iterates by $\tilde{g}$ of the boxes $B, W$, etc (where $\tilde{g}$ differs from $g_n$) are still disjoint with the $g_n$-iterates of $K_j$. This implies that for all $1 \le j \le n$,

$$g_n^i|_{K_j} = \tilde{g}^i|_{K_j} \quad \forall i = 1, \dots, p_j \quad \text{and then}$$

$$\tilde{g}^{p_j}|_{K_j} = g_n^{p_j}|_{K_j} \text{ is topologically conjugated to } \Phi_j \in \mathcal{H}.$$

Now let us perturb $g_n$ as above, in several steps, to construct the boxes $H_n$ and $K_{n+1}$.

By hypothesis, $g_n$ has a periodic shrinking box $H_{n-1}$ of period $p$, a periodic point $x_{n-1} \in \text{int}(H_{n-1})$ of period $p$, and a periodic shrinking box $K_n \subset H_{n-1} \setminus \{x_{n-1}\}$ of period $p_n$, multiple of $p$. It also has periodic shrinking boxes $K_1, \dots, K_{n-1}, K_n$ whose $g_n$-orbits are disjoint with the periodic orbit of $x_{n+1}$. So, we can construct a box $\tilde{B}_n \subset H_{n-1}$ containing the periodic point $x_{n-1}$ in its interior, whose $g_n$-orbit up to the $(\max_{1\le j\le n} p_j)$-th iterate is disjoint from all the sets of the family $\{f^i(K_j) : 1 \le j \le n, 0 \le i \le p_j - 1\}$. Besides, we construct the box $\tilde{B}_n$ such that $\text{diam}(\tilde{B}_n) < \tilde{\delta}/2^n$. Repeating the proof of the density properties in Lemmas 4.2 and 4.5 (putting $x_{n-1}$ instead of $x_0$), we construct an $\varepsilon/(3 \cdot 2^{n+1})$-perturbation $\tilde{g}_n$ of $g_n$, near enough $g_n$ and a periodic shrinking box $H_n \subset \text{int}(\tilde{B}_n)$ for $\tilde{g}_n$. Moreover, since $x_{n-1}$ is a periodic point with period $p$ for $g_n$, the period of $H_n$ for $\tilde{g}_n$ can be made equal to $p$ (see Remark 4.6). By construction $H_n \subset \tilde{B}_n \subset H_{n-1}$ is disjoint from $K_n$. To construct $\tilde{g}_n$ we only needed to modify $g_n$ inside $\tilde{B}_n$ (recall Remark 4.4). Therefore, if $\tilde{g}_n$ is near enough $g_n$, as observed at the beginning, the same periodic shrinking boxes $H_0, H_1, \dots, H_{n-1}$ and $K_1, K_2, \dots, K_n$ of $g_n$, are preserved for $\tilde{g}_n$ with the same periods, and $\tilde{g}_n$ coincides with $g_n$ on the $g_n$-orbit of the boxes $K_1, \dots, K_n$.

Now, as in the proof of Lemmas 4.7 and 4.8, we construct a new $\varepsilon/(3 \cdot 2^{n+1})$-perturbation $\hat{g}_n$ of $\tilde{g}_n$, such that $\hat{g}_n^p|_{H_n}$ is conjugated to a map in $\mathcal{H}$. To construct $\hat{g}_n$ we only need to modify $\tilde{g}_n$ in $\tilde{W}_n \cup \bigcup_{j=0}^{p-1} \tilde{g}_n^j(H_n)$, where $\tilde{W}_n$ is a small neighborhood of $\tilde{g}_n^{p-1}(H_n)$ (see Remark 4.9). Since the $\tilde{g}_n$-orbit of $H_n$ is disjoint from the $\tilde{g}_n$ orbits of $K_j$ for all $1 \le j \le n$ (because $H_n$ and $K_j$ are disjoint periodic shrinking boxes for $\tilde{g}_j$, we can choose $W_n$ near enough $\tilde{g}_n^{p-1}(H_n)$ and $\hat{g}_n$ near enough $\tilde{g}_n$ so $\hat{g}_n$ coincides with $\tilde{g}_n$ on the orbit of the boxes $K_j$, as observed at the beginning.
We conclude that the same shrinking boxes $K_1, \dots, K_n; H_0, \dots, H_{n-1}$ for $\tilde{g}_n$ and $g_n$, are still periodic shrinking for $\hat{g}_n$, with the same periods and that $\hat{g}_n^{p_j}|_{K_j} = \tilde{g}_n^{p_j}|_{K_j}$ which is conjugated to $\Phi_j \in \mathcal{H}$ for all $j = 1, \dots, n$.

When modifying $g_n$ to obtain $\tilde{g}_n$ and $\hat{g}_n$, the periodic point $x_{n-1} \in \text{int}(H_{n-1})$ of period $p$ for $g_n$, may not be preserved as periodic for $\hat{g}_n$. But since $H_n \subset H_{n-1} \setminus K_n$ is a periodic shrinking box with period $p$ for $\hat{g}_n$, by the Brouwer Fixed Point Theorem, there exists a periodic point $x_n \in \text{int}(H_n) \setminus K_n$ for $\hat{g}_n$, with the same period $p$.

Since the return map $\hat{g}_n^p|_{H_n}$ is conjugated to a model map, there exists an ergodic measure $\mu$ with infinite entropy for $\hat{g}_n$ (see Lemma 3.1), supported on the $\hat{g}_n$-orbit of $H_n$. Therefore, there exists a recurrent point $y_n \in \text{int}(H_n)$. We can choose such recurrent point $y_n \neq x_n$, because $\mu$ is not supported on the periodic orbit of $x_n$ (in fact, $\mu$ has infinite entropy).

We now argue as in the proof of Lemma 5.2, (using $\hat{g}_n, H_n$ and $x_n$ in the role of $\tilde{f}, H_0$ and $x_0$) to construct an $\varepsilon/(3 \cdot 2^n)$-perturbation $g_{n+1}$ of $\hat{g}_n$, and a box $K_{n+1} \subset H_n \setminus \{x_n\}$ that is periodic shrinking for $g_{n+1}$ of period $p_{n+1}$ which is a multiple of $p$, and such that $g_{n+1}^{p_{n+1}}|_{K_{n+1}}$ is topologically conjugated to a model map.

As observed at the beginning, if choosing $g_{n+1}$ near enough $\hat{g}_n$, the boxes $H_0, \dots, H_n$ and $K_1, \dots, K_n$ are still periodic shrinking for $g_{n+1}$ with the same periods, and

$$g_{n+1}^{p_j}|_{K_j} = \hat{g}_n^{p_j}|_{K_j} = g_n^{p_j}|_{K_j}$$

is topologically conjugated to a model map, for all $1 \le j \le n$.

By construction we have $g_{n+1} \in \mathcal{G}_{p,n,\delta}$ and

$$\|g_{n+1} - g_n\| \le \|g_{n+1} - \hat{g}_n\| + \|\hat{g}_n - \tilde{g}_n\| + \|\tilde{g}_n - g_n\| < 3 \cdot \frac{\varepsilon}{3 \cdot 2^{n+1}} = \frac{\varepsilon}{2^{n+1}},$$

as required. $\square$

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /></figure>

**Definition 5.5.** Fix $\delta > 0$. We denote by $\mathcal{G}_\delta \subset C^0(M)$ the family of all the maps $g \in \bigcup_{p \ge 1} \bigcap_{n \ge 1} \mathcal{G}_{p,n,\delta}$ such that for all $n \ge 1$, the boxes $H_0, \dots, H_{n-1}$ and $K_1, \dots, K_n$ of Definition 5.3 for $g$ as belonging to $\mathcal{G}_{p,n,\delta}$ coincide with the boxes for $g$ as belonging to $\mathcal{G}_{p,n+1,\delta}$.

**Lemma 5.6.** Fix $\delta > 0$. The family $\mathcal{G}_\delta$ is dense in $C^0(M)$ and its intersection with $\text{Hom}(M)$ is dense in $\text{Hom}(M)$.

*Proof.* Let $f \in C^0(M)$ or $f \in \text{Hom}(M)$, and $\varepsilon > 0$. We will construct $g \in \mathcal{G}_\delta$ such that $\text{dist}(g, f) \le \varepsilon$.

Applying Lemma 5.2, there exists $p \ge 1$ and $g_1 \in \mathcal{G}_{p,1,\delta}$ such that $\text{dist}(g_1, f) \le \varepsilon/2$. Denote by $H_0, K_1 \subset H_0$ the periodic shrinking boxes
for $g_1$ as a map of $G_{p,1,\delta}$ (recall Definition 5.3 for $n=1$). By continuity, there exists $0 < \varepsilon_1 < \varepsilon$ such that for all $g$ in the $\varepsilon_1$-neighborhood of $g_1$, $H_0$ is still a periodic shrinking box of period $p$ for $g$.

By induction on $n \ge 1$, (Lemma 5.4 provides the inductive step), there exists a sequence of maps $g_1, g_2, \dots, g_n, \dots$ and a strictly decreasing sequence of positive real numbers $\varepsilon > \varepsilon_1 > \varepsilon_2 > \dots > \varepsilon_n > \dots$ such that, for all $n \ge 1$, $g_n \in G_{p,n,\delta}$, $\text{dist}(g_{n+1}, g_n) \le \varepsilon_n/2^n$, the boxes $H_0, H_1, \dots, H_{n-1}$ and $K_1, K_2, \dots, K_n$ are still periodic shrinking for $g_{n+1}$ with the same periods $p, p_1, p_2, \dots, p_n$ as for $g_n$, and $g_{n+1} = g_n$ when restricted to the $g_n$-orbits of the boxes $K_j$ for $j = 1, \dots, n$. Besides, for all $g$ in the $\varepsilon_n$-neighborhood of $g_n$, $H_{n-1}$ is still a periodic shrinking box of period $p$ for $g$.

Since $\|g_{n+1} - g_n\| \le \varepsilon/2^{n+1}$ for all $n \ge 1$ the sequence $\{g_n\}_{n \ge 1}$ is Cauchy in $C^0(M)$ or $\text{Hom}(M)$, let $g$ be the limit map. Since $g_n$ is an $\varepsilon$-perturbation of $f$ for all $n \ge 1$, the limit map $g$ satisfies $\text{dist}(g, f) \le \varepsilon$.

Besides, by construction $g_k(x) = g_n(x)$ for all $x \in \bigcup_{j=0}^{p_n} g_n^j(K_n)$, for all $k \ge n \ge 1$. So $g_k^{p_n}|_{K_n} = g_n^{p_n}|_{K_n}$ is topologically conjugated to $\Phi_n \in \mathcal{H}$ for all $n \ge 1$ and for all $k \ge n$ (recall that $g_n \in G_{p,n,\delta}$ and Definition 5.3). Thus $K_n$ is still a periodic shrinking box for $g$ of period $p_n$, and $g^{p_n}|_{K_n} = g_n^{p_n}|_{K_n}$ is topologically conjugated to a model map for all $n \ge 1$. Finally, for all $k > n \ge 1$ we have, by construction, $\text{dist}(g_k, g_n) < \varepsilon_n(1/2^{n+1} + 1/2^{n+2} + \dots + 1/2^k) \le \varepsilon_n$. So, taking limit as $k \to +\infty$, we obtain $\text{dist}(g, g_n) \le \varepsilon_n$. This implies that $H_{n-1}$ is still a periodic shrinking box of period $p$ for $g$ as it was for $g_n$. We have proved that $g \in G_\delta$, as required. $\square$

**Lemma 5.7.** For $m \ge 1$ a generic map $f \in C^0(M)$, and for $m \ge 2$ a generic homeomorphism $f$ has a good sequence $\{K_n\}$ of boxes, such that the return map $f^{p_n}|_{K_n}$ is topologically conjugated to a model $\Phi_n \in \mathcal{H}$.

*Proof.* To see the $G_\delta$ property assume that $f$ has a good sequence $\{K_n\}_n$ of periodic shrinking boxes. For each fixed $n$, the boxes $K_n$ and $H_n$ are also periodic shrinking with periods $p_n$ and $p$ respectively, for all $g$ in an open set in $C^0(M)$ or in $\text{Hom}(M)$ (see Definition 4.1). Taking the intersection of such open sets for all $n \ge 1$, we deduce that the same sequence $\{K_n\}$ is also a good sequence of periodic shrinking boxes for all $g$ in a $G_\delta$-set. Now, assume that besides $f^{p_n}|_{K_n}$ is topologically conjugated to a model map for all $n \ge 1$. From Lemmas 4.7 and 4.8, for each fixed $n \ge 1$, the family of continuous maps $g$ such that the return map $g^{p_n}|_{K_n}$ is topologically conjugated to a model, is a $G_\delta$-set in $C^0(M)$ or in $\text{Hom}(M)$. The (countable) intersection of these $G_\delta$-sets, produces a $G_\delta$-set, as required.
To prove denseness, recall Definitions 5.3 and 5.5. Observe that the family of continuous maps or homeomorphisms that have a good sequence {$K_n$}$_{n \ge 1}$ of periodic shrinking boxes such that the return map to each $K_n$ is topologically conjugated to a model map, contains the family $G_\delta$ (or the intersection of this family with $\text{Hom}(M)$), for any value of $\delta > 0$. Applying Lemma 5.6, this latter family is dense. $\square$

**Remark 5.8.** As a consequence of Lemmas 5.7 and 3.1 (after applying the same arguments at the end of the proof of Theorems 1 and 3), generic continuous maps and homeomorphisms $f$ have a sequence of ergodic measures $\mu_n$, each one supported on the $f$-orbit of a box $K_n$ of a good sequence {$K_n$}$_{n \ge 1}$ of periodic shrinking boxes for $f$, satisfying $h_{\mu_n}(f) = +\infty$ for all $n \ge 1$.

Let $\mathcal{M}$ denote the metrizable space of Borel probability measures on a compact metric space $M$, endowed with the weak* topology. Fix a metric dist* in $\mathcal{M}$.

**Lemma 5.9.** For all $\varepsilon > 0$ there exists $\delta > 0$ that satisfies the following property: if $\mu, \nu \in \mathcal{M}$ and $\{B_1, B_2, \dots, B_r\}$ is a finite family of pairwise disjoint compact balls $B_i \subset M$, and if $\text{supp}(\mu) \cup \text{supp}(\nu) \subset \bigcup_{i=1}^r B_i$, and $\mu(B_i) = \nu(B_i)$, $\text{diam}(B_i) < \delta$ for all $i = 1, 2, \dots, r$, then $\text{dist}^*(\mu, \nu) < \varepsilon$.

*Proof.* If $M = [0, 1]$ the proof is in [CT, Lemma 4]. If $M$ is any other compact manifold of finite dimension $m \ge 1$, with or without boundary, just copy the proof of [CT, Lemma 4] by substituting the pairwise disjoint compact intervals $I_1, I_2, \dots, I_r \subset [0, 1]$ in that proof, by the family of pairwise disjoint compact boxes $B_1, B_2, \dots, B_r \subset M$. $\square$

*Proofs of Theorems 2 and 4.* Fix $\varepsilon > 0$, let $\delta > 0$ satisfy Lemma 5.9. Applying Lemma 5.7, generic continuous maps or homeomorphisms $f$ have a good sequence of periodic shrinking boxes {$K_n$}$_{n \ge 1}$, and a sequence {$\mu_n$} of ergodic $f$-invariant measures such that $h_{\mu_n}(f) = +\infty$ (see Remark 5.8) and such that $\text{supp}(\mu_n) \subset \bigcup_{j=0}^{p_n-1} f^j(K_n)$, where $p_n = l_n \cdot p$, multiple of $p$, is the period of the shrinking box $K_n$. Taking into account that {$f^j(K_n)$}$_{0 \le j \le p_n-1}$ is a family of pairwise disjoint compact sets, and $f^{p_n}(K_n) \subset \text{int}(K_n)$, we obtain for each $j \in \{0, 1, \dots, p_n\}$

$$ \mu_n(f^j(K_n)) = \mu_n(f^{-j}(f^j(K_n))) = \mu_n(f^{-j}(f^j(K_n)) \cap \text{supp}(\mu_n)) = \mu_n(K_n). $$

Since $1 = \sum_{j=0}^{p_n-1} \mu_n(f^j(K_n)) = p_n \cdot \mu_n(K_n)$; we obtain

$$ \mu_n(f^j(K_n)) = \mu_n(K_n) = \frac{1}{p_n} = \frac{1}{l_n p}, \quad \forall j = 0, 1, \dots, p_n. $$
From Definition 5.1, there exists a periodic point $x_0$ of period $p$ such that $\lim_{n \to +\infty} \sup_{j \ge 0} \mathrm{Hdist}(f^j(K_n), f^j(x_0)) = 0$, where $\mathrm{Hdist}$ denotes the Hausdorff distance. Therefore, there exists $n_0 \ge 1$ such that $d(f^j(K_n), f^j(x_0)) < \delta'$ for all $j \ge 0$ and for all $n \ge n_0$, where $\delta' < \delta/2$ is chosen such that the family of compact balls $B_0, B_1, \dots, B_{p-1}$, centered at the points $f^j(x_0)$ and with radius $\delta'$, are pairwise disjoint. We obtain $f^j(K_n) \subset B_j (\mathrm{mod } p)$ for all $j \ge 0$ and for all $n \ge 0$. Therefore,

$$ \mu_n(B_j) = \frac{1}{p}, \quad \forall j = 0, 1, \dots, p-1, \quad \forall n \ge n_0. $$

Finally, applying Lemma 5.9, we conclude $\mathrm{dist}^*(\mu_n, \mu_0) < \varepsilon$ for all $n \ge n_0$, where $\mu_0 := (1/p) \sum_{j=0}^{p-1} \delta_{f^j(p)}$ is the $f$-invariant probability measure supported on the periodic orbit of $x_0$, which has zero entropy. $\square$

## 6. OPEN QUESTIONS

Lipschitz maps have finite topological entropy and thus can not have infinite entropy invariant measures. The following question arises: do Theorems 1 and 3 hold also for maps with more regularity than continuity but lower regularity than Lipschitz? For instance, do they hold for Hölder-continuous maps?

A priori there is a chance to answer this question positively in situations where the topological entropy is generically infinite, for example for one-dimensional Hölder continuous endomorphisms and also for bi-Hölder homeomorphisms on manifolds of dimension 2 or larger. In both case generic infinite entropy is known [FHT], [FHT1]. This is a good question for further research.

Theorems 1 and 3 are proved for compact manifolds, we wonder if some of the results also hold in other compact metric spaces that are not manifolds? Do they hold if the space is a Cantor set $K$?

If the aim were just to construct $f \in \mathrm{Hom}(K)$ with ergodic measures with infinite metric entropy, the answer is positive. Theorem 3 holds for the 2-dimensional square $D^2 := [0, 1]^2$. One of the steps of the proof consists in constructing a Cantor set $\Lambda \subset D^2$, and a homeomorphism $\Phi$ on $M$ that leaves $\Lambda$ invariant, and possesses an $\Phi$-invariant ergodic measure supported on $\Lambda$ with infinite metric entropy (see Lemma 3.1 and Remark 3.2). Since any pair of Cantor sets $K$ and $\Lambda$ are homeomorphic, we deduce that any Cantor set $K$ supports a homeomorphism $f$ and an $f$-ergodic measure with infinite metric entropy.

If the purpose were to prove that such homeomorphisms are generic in $\mathrm{Hom}(K)$, the answer is negative. On the one hand, there also exists homeomorphisms on $K$ with finite, and even zero, topological entropy, for example $f \in \mathrm{Hom}(K)$ conjugated to the homeomorphism on the
attractor of a Smale horseshoe, or to the attractor of the $C^1$-Denjoy example on the circle. On the other hand, it is known that each homeomorphism on a Cantor set $K$ is topologically locally unique; i.e., it is conjugated to any of its small perturbations [AGW]. Therefore, the topological entropy is locally constant in $Hom(K)$. We conclude that the homeomorphisms on the Cantor set $K$ with infinite metric entropy, that do exist, are not dense in $Hom(K)$; hence they are not generic.

## REFERENCES

[AGW] E. Akin, E. Glasner and B. Weiss, *Generically there is but one self homeomorphism of the Cantor set* Trans. A.M.S. 360 (2008), no. 7, 3613–3630.

[CT] E. Catsigeras and S. Troubetzkoy, *Pseudo-physical measures for typical continuous maps of the interval*. Preprint ArXiv 1705.10133 [Math.DS], 2017.

[FHT] E. de Faria, P. Hazard and C. Tresser, *Infinite Entropy is Generic in Hölder and Sobolev Spaces*. C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I, 355, (2017), 1185–1189.

[FHT1] E. de Faria, P. Hazard and C. Tresser, *Genericsity of infinite entropy for maps with low regularity*. Ann. Sc. Norm. Super. Pisa Cl. Sci. (5) 22 (2021), 601–664.

[Ha] P. Hazard, *Maps in dimension one with infinite entropy* Arkiv Mat. 58 (2020), 95–119.

[Ke] G. Keller, *Equilibrium States in Ergodic Theory* Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1998

[Ya] K. Yano, *A remark on the topological entropy of homeomorphisms* Invent. Math. 59 (1980), 215–220.

INSTITUTO DE MATEMÁTICA Y ESTADÍSTICA “PROF. ING. RAFAEL LAGUARDIA” (IMERL), UNIVERSIDAD DE LA REPÚBLICA, AV. JULIO HERRERA Y REISSIG 565, C.P. 11300, MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY

Email address: eleonora@fing.edu.uy

URL: http://fing.edu.uy/~eleonora

AIX MARSEILLE UNIV, CNRS, CENTRALE MARSEILLE, I2M, MARSEILLE, FRANCE

POSTAL ADDRESS: I2M, LUMINY, CASE 907, F-13288 MARSEILLE CEDEX 9, FRANCE

Email address: serge.troubetzkoy@univ-amu.fr

URL: http://www.i2m.univ-amu.fr/perso/serge.troubetzkoy/