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# A Markov partition for the Feigenbaum dynamics

## 1 Introduction and main results

“Puzzle” is a Markov partition for the dynamics of a polynomial map $`zz^r+c`$. It was introduced by J.-C. Yoccoz for non-renormalizable quadratic polynomials to study the problem of local connectivity of Julia sets and the Mandelbrot set .

We present here a different construction to build a countable Markov partition for the famous Feigenbaum map . Remind that this is an infinitely renormalizable map. The key point is that our partition is invariant under the rescaling. To obtain this property, we first construct an “external ray”, or access (i.e. a simple arc disjoint with the Julia set of the map) to the critical point, which is invariant under the rescaling. Moreover, such “ray” appears to be unique, it is a fractal and a quasicircle, see Theorem A. Taking preimages of this “ray” we obtain the Markov partition; it is described in Theorem B (see also Theorem C (a)). Roughly speaking, it says that there exists (and, in fact, unique) a “shape”, so that its images under the action of univalent maps with uniformly bounded distortions (which are inverse branches and rescalings) tile the plane, and so that the boundary of any “tile” touches a (rescaled) Julia set at a unique point, which is a (rescaled) preimage of the critical point. Then we show (Theorem C) that there is a system of “external rays”, which is invariant under the rescaling. For other applications, see Theorem C and Corollary.

The Feigenbaum map $`g`$ is a unimodal interval map with a given criticality $`r>1`$ at the critical point and such that $`g`$ is a fixed point of the period-doubling renormalization operator . In other words, it is a solution of the Cvitanovic-Feigenbaum equation

$$g(x)=\alpha g(g(x/\alpha )),$$
(1)
where $`\alpha <1`$ is the Feigenbaum universal constant (rescaling in the dynamical plane). The Feigenbaum map exists for every $`r>1`$ . The uniqueness is proved for every $`r`$ even integer . Moreover, in this case the map is universal . It means that the sequence of renormalizations of any smooth unimodal map (with the Feigenbaum combinatorics and fixed criticality $`r`$) converges to a map which depends on $`r`$ only. This is the Feigenbaum map.

Let $`g`$ be the Feigenbaum map with the criticality $`r`$ of the critical point, where $`r>1`$ is a fixed even integer. As usual, $`g`$ is normalized so that it is an even unimodal map of $`[1,1]`$ into itself, with the critical point at $`0`$ and the critical value $`g(0)=1`$. It is proved  that $`g`$ extends to an analytic polynomial-like map

$$g:\mathrm{\Omega }_0\mathrm{\Omega }$$

with the single critical point at $`0`$, where $`\mathrm{\Omega }=𝐂𝐑(\alpha ,\alpha ^2)`$ is a slit complex plane, $`\overline{\mathrm{\Omega }_0}\mathrm{\Omega }`$, and $`\mathrm{\Omega }_0`$ is a bounded topological disc; moreover, if one denotes

$$\mathrm{\Pi }=\{z:\mathrm{arg}(z)(0,\pi /r)\},$$

then the boundary of $`\mathrm{\Omega }_0`$ contains exactly one singular point $`c`$ in $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ such that the limit values of $`g`$ at $`c`$ is infinity.

The dynamical system $`g:\mathrm{\Omega }_0\mathrm{\Omega }`$ is the subject of the paper. (So that whenever we speak about iterates $`g^n`$ or $`g^n`$, $`n0`$, we mean iterates of the above map.)

There is a representation $`g(z)=F(z^r)`$ where $`F`$ is analytic in an appropriate domain. In particular, $`\mathrm{\Omega }_0`$ is symmetric w.r.t. the rotation by the angle $`2\pi /r`$, as well as w.r.t. the complex conjugation

$$zz^{}.$$

Denote by $`J`$ the Julia set of $`g`$: $`J=\{z:g^n(z)\mathrm{\Omega }_0,n=0,1,2,\mathrm{}\}`$. As it is proved in ,

the union

$$J_{\mathrm{}}=_{n=0}^{\mathrm{}}\alpha ^nJ$$

of increasing sequence of compacts $`\alpha ^nJ`$, $`n0`$, is dense in the plane.

This is the reason of uniqueness of the curves constructed in Theorem A and Theorem C (b)-(b’). Note that the dense set $`J_{\mathrm{}}`$ is connected (but not closed).

By a curve, or arc we usually mean an open one, i.e. without the end points. A curve with the end points is called closed (this will be clear from the context).

Denote by $`HD(E)`$ the Hausdorff dimension of a subset $`E`$ of the plane.

Theorem A (invariant access at zero) There exists a unique simple unbounded curve $`L`$ which lies in $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ and terminates at the critical point $`0`$, and which has the following properties (1)-(2):

(1) $`L`$ is invariant under the rescaling $`z|\alpha |z`$,

(2) $`L`$ is disjoint with the Julia set $`J`$ of the polynomial-like map $`g`$; in fact,

$$LJ_{\mathrm{}}=\mathrm{}.$$

Additionally, $`L`$ satisfies the following properties:

(3) $`1<HD(L)<2`$ and $`L`$ has no tangent at any point. Moreover, $`L`$ is a quasicircle (i.e., a quasiconformal image of the real line),

(4) $`cL`$; if one denotes by $`L_n`$ the arc of $`L`$ between the points $`c/|\alpha |^n`$ and $`c/|\alpha |^{n+1}`$, $`n=0,1,2,\mathrm{}`$, and by $`L_{\mathrm{}}`$ the infinite arc of $`L`$ between $`c`$ and $`\mathrm{}`$, then, for $`n=0,1,\mathrm{},`$:

* (4a) $`L_{\mathrm{}}\mathrm{\Omega }\mathrm{\Omega }_0`$,
* (4b) the arc $`L_n`$ lies in the “annulus” $`g^{2^n}(\mathrm{\Omega })g^{2^{n+1}}(\mathrm{\Omega })`$ and joins points $`c/|\alpha |^ng^{2^n}(\mathrm{\Omega })`$ and $`c/|\alpha |^{n+1}g^{2^{n+1}}(\mathrm{\Omega })`$,
* (4c) the curve $`g^{2^n}(L_n)`$ is equal to either $`(L^{(n)})^{}`$ or $`(L^{(n)})^{}`$, where $`L^{(n)}=L_{\mathrm{}}/|\alpha |^n`$ is the (infinite) arc of $`L`$ between $`c/|\alpha |^n`$ and $`\mathrm{}`$,

(5) the intersection of the curve $`g^{2^n}(Lg^{2^n}(\mathrm{\Omega }))`$ with either $`L^{}`$ or $`L^{}`$ is equal to either $`(L^{(n)})^{}`$ or $`(L^{(n)})^{}`$; moreover, for any $`k=2^{n_1}+2^{n_2}+\mathrm{}+2^{n_l}`$ with $`n_1>n_2>\mathrm{}>n_l`$, the intersection of the curve $`g^k(Lg^k(\mathrm{\Omega }))`$ with one of the curves $`\pm L,\pm L^{}`$ is equal to one of the infinite arcs among $`\pm L_{\mathrm{}}/|\alpha |^{n_l},\pm L_{\mathrm{}}^{}/|\alpha |^{n_l}`$.

Considering all the preimages of $`LL^{}`$, we build a Markov partition (even tiling, see below) of $`g`$, which is invariant under the rescaling. Let us define it precisely. Consider two infinite open “sectors” $`R_0,R_0^{}`$, where $`R_0`$ is bounded by the curves $`L`$ and $`L^{}`$. Let us rotate the curves $`L`$ and $`L^{}`$ by the angles $`2\pi j/r,0jr1`$. Then we get $`2r`$ curves, which divide either “sector” $`R_0,R_0^{}`$ into $`r1`$ smaller “sectors” $`R_{0,1},R_{0,2},\mathrm{},R_{0,r1}`$ (in counterclockwise direction) and $`R_{0,1}^{},R_{0,2}^{},\mathrm{},R_{0,r1}^{}`$ respectively. They are said to be the set $`_0`$ of $`2(r1)`$ pieces of the depth $`0`$. Now, for every $`n=1,2,\mathrm{}`$, we define the set $`_n`$ of pieces of depth $`n`$ as the set of components of $`g^n(R)`$, $`R_0`$. Observe that the set of $`1`$-depth pieces consists of $`2r(r1)`$ bounded Jordan domains. Hence, all pieces of all depths($`1`$) are bounded Jordan domains. Closed pieces are said to be the closures of the pieces. For a piece $`R`$ of depth $`n1`$, define its base points” $`x_R,x_R^{\mathrm{}}R`$ as follows: if $`g^n(R)_0`$ then $`g^n(x_R)=0`$, $`g^n(x_R^{\mathrm{}})=\mathrm{}`$. For example, for the pieces of depth $`1`$, their base points are rotated (by $`2\pi j/r,j𝐙`$) and conjugated pairs of points to the pair $`x_0,c`$, where $`x_0>0`$ is such that $`g(x_0)=0`$.

Theorem B (the Markov partition) The set $`=_{n1}_n`$ of all pieces satisfies the following properties.

(a) (invariance) if $`R_n`$, then $`R/\alpha _{2n}`$. Besides, $`RJ_{\mathrm{}}=\{x_R\}`$.

(b) (Markov property) any two pieces $`R,R^{}`$ are either disjoint or one contains the other one; moreover, $`RR^{}`$ is either (i) empty, or (ii) a non-trivial arc, which contains one of the base points $`x_R^{\mathrm{}}`$, $`x_R^{}^{\mathrm{}}`$, or (iii) $`RR^{}=\mathrm{}`$ and $`RR^{}=\{x_R\}=\{x_R^{}\}`$.

(c) (tiling) the union of all closed pieces together with the real line rotated by the angles $`2\pi j/r,j=1,\mathrm{},r1,`$ covers a neighborhood of zero.

(d) (bounded distortion) all pieces are roughly of the same shape; more precisely, for any piece $`R`$ there exists a minimal $`n0`$ such that:

* (d1) $`g^n(R)`$ is one of the pieces of the form $`G/\alpha ^k`$, for some piece $`G`$ of depth one and for some $`k0`$,
* (d2) the map $`g^n:RG/\alpha ^k`$ extends to a univalent map onto $`V(G)/\alpha ^k`$, where $`V(G)`$ is a neighborhood of $`\overline{G}`$, so that $`V(G)`$ is fixed for each of $`2r(r1)`$ closed pieces of depth one.

Moreover, there exist $`C>0,0<\lambda <1`$, such that, for every $`m`$ different pieces $`R_mR_{m1}\mathrm{}R_1`$ one has diam$`(R_m)C\lambda ^m`$diam$`(R_1)`$.

Introduce the extended set of pieces $`^{ext}=_{n𝐙}\{\alpha ^nR:R\}`$. The elements of $`^{ext}`$ are also called pieces. Theorem B (a), (c) shows that $`^{ext}`$ and the set of closures of all (pairwise disjoint) pieces of $`^{ext}`$ (united with the rotated real axis) forms a tiling of the plane.

Let us arrange the set of all pieces $`^{ext}`$ by inclusion. Then there is a countable number of the pieces of the first level (so that they are not containing in bigger pieces), the second level etc: every piece of level $`n`$ is contained in some pieces of levels up to $`n`$ and contains pieces of bigger levels.

Let us introduce the following sets:

$`B=_{n0}\alpha ^nB_0`$, where $`B_0`$ is the set of all $`z`$ such that, for some $`n0`$, $`g^n(z)=0`$.

$`Y=_{n0}\alpha ^nY_0`$, where $`Y_0`$ is the set of all $`z`$ such that, for some $`n0`$, $`g^n(z)`$ lies in the real axis. In particular, $`B_0Y_0J`$.

$`^{ext}`$ is said to be the set of all $`z`$ such that $`zR`$ for some $`R^{ext}`$. In particular, $`B^{ext}`$.

Finally, $`J^{ess}=𝐂(Y^{ext})`$. Note that $`JY_0J^{ess}`$.

We use Theorems A-B to prove

Theorem C (geometry of the Feigenbaum plane)

(a) for every $`zJ^{ess}^{ext}Y=𝐂Y`$ there is a sequence of closed nested pieces $`(\overline{R_n(z)})_{n0}`$ where $`R_n(z)^{ext}`$ is a piece of level $`n`$ such that $`z\overline{R_n(z)}`$; moreover (see Theorem B (d)), diam$`R_n(z)C\lambda ^n`$diam$`R_1(z)`$, with the universal $`C>0,\lambda <1`$. If $`zJY_0`$, then all $`R_n(z)`$;

(b) let $`x,y\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }}`$. There exists a simple curve $`l(x,y)`$, such that:

(b1) it joins the point $`x`$ and $`y`$,

(b2) it lies in $`\mathrm{\Pi }J_{\mathrm{}}`$.

Moreover, $`l(x,y)`$ consists of arcs of the boundaries of pieces of $`^{ext}`$, and if $`x,y`$ belong to a closed piece, then $`l(x,y)`$ lies in the same closed piece; finally, if $`x,y\mathrm{\Pi }Y`$, then $`l(x,y)`$ is the unique simple curve that satisfies (b1)-(b2);

(b’) given $`x\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }}`$, define an “external ray” $`l\mathrm{\Pi }`$ to the point $`x`$ as the curve $`l(x,\mathrm{})`$ (i.e. the simple curve that joins $`x`$ and $`\mathrm{}`$ and is contained inside the curve $`l(x,c)`$ extended by the infinite arc $`L_{\mathrm{}}`$). Then: (i) for any $`n𝐙`$, $`l(|\alpha |^nx,\mathrm{})=|\alpha |^nl(x,\mathrm{})`$, and (ii) for any two “external rays” $`l_1,l_2`$, the intersection $`l_1l_2`$ is equal to a simple curve joining a point $`yl_1l_2`$ and infinity, where $`y`$ is such that, for some non-negative $`n,k`$, the point $`g^n(y/\alpha ^k)`$ belongs to the set $`\{c\mathrm{exp}(i2\pi j/r),c^{}\mathrm{exp}(i2\pi j/r),j=0,\mathrm{},r1\}`$,

(c) there exists $`C`$ such that, for every point $`z\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }}`$, there exists a rectifiable curve inside of $`J_{\mathrm{}}\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }}`$ with the length less than $`C|z|`$, which connects $`z`$ and $`0`$.

We complete the system of “external rays” from $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ to the whole plane in a natural way:

Complement to (b’). Applying to the “external rays” in $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ complex conjugation and rotations by the angles $`2\pi j/r`$ ($`1jr1`$), we define the set of “external rays” in the whole plane (in particular, to any point of the plane). Specifically, there are precisely $`2r`$ “rays” to the critical point $`0`$ (obtained as above from the “ray” $`L\mathrm{\Pi }`$). Hence, one can define precisely $`2r`$ “rays” to any point of the set $`B`$. Moreover, if $`x𝐑B`$, then, as it easy to see, there are precisely $`2`$ “rays” to $`x`$ (at least two, by the complex conjugation, and at most two, by topological considerations). Therefore, one can define precisely $`2`$ “rays” to any point of $`YB`$. To any other point of the plane, the number of “rays” is $`1`$ (by Theorem C (b)).

It is known , that $`g`$ has a maximal analytic continuation to a domain $`W`$, which is simply connected. Moreover, $`W=_{n0}\alpha ^ng^{2^n}(\mathrm{\Omega })`$ , and $`W`$ is dense in the plane  (because the dense set $`J_{\mathrm{}}W`$). Note that $`W`$ is invariant under the complex conjugation and rotation by $`2\pi /r`$. Then Theorems A (4b) and C (b) give us

###### Corollary 1.1

(a) $`L_{\mathrm{}}W`$,

(b) $`W`$ is a dendrite, that is:

* (b1) for every two points $`x,yW\mathrm{\Pi }`$ there exists a unique curve, namely, $`l(x,y)`$, see Theorem C (b), that joins $`x`$ and $`y`$ inside $`W\mathrm{\Pi }`$,
* (b2) if $`x,yzW`$, then the diameter of $`l(x,y)`$ tends to zero.

* Part (a) follows immediately from Theorem A (4b). To prove (b1), assume the contrary, i.e., assume that, for some $`xy`$ in $`W\mathrm{\Pi }`$, the curve $`l(x,y)`$ is not contained in $`W`$. Since $`W`$ is connected (on the Riemann sphere), then $`l(x,y)W`$ separates the sphere. On the other hand, both sets $`W`$ and $`\overline{l(x,y)}`$ are disjoint with the dense and connected set $`J_{\mathrm{}}`$, a contradiction. By the same reason, the curve $`l(x,y)`$ is the unique simple curve in the plane connecting $`x,y`$ inside of $`W`$.

For the proof of (b2), see Sect. 5.

$`\mathrm{}`$

## 2 Proof of Theorem A

We construct the curve $`L`$ as the union $`_{n𝐙}|\alpha |^nI`$, where $`I`$ is a simple (closed, i.e. with the end points) curve joining $`c`$ and $`c/|\alpha |`$. In turn, the curve $`I`$ is going to be the limit set of a finite system of conformal maps (iterated function system).

### 2.1 Some basic facts

Denote by $`𝐇^\pm `$ the upper and lower half-planes. Let also $`x_0`$ be the unique point $`0<x_0<1`$, such that $`g(x_0)=0`$. The following facts 1-3 (see ) will be of crucial importance for the proof.

1. Let $`u`$ be the branch of $`g^1`$ such that $`u(1)=0`$ and $`u(1/\alpha )=1`$. Then $`u`$ extends as a univalent (symmetric under the complex conjugacy) function to the slit plane $`𝐇^+𝐇^{}(\alpha ,1)`$, and $`u(𝐇^{})\mathrm{\Pi }`$. It satisfies the equation

$$u(z)=\alpha u(u(z/\alpha )),z𝐇^+𝐇^{}(\alpha ,1).$$

2. Introduce the following antiholomorphic maps of $`𝐇^+`$ into itself:

$$u^{}:zu(z^{}),$$

$$\chi :z|\alpha |u^{}(z),$$

Then $`u^{}`$, $`\chi `$ extend to homeomorphisms of $`\overline{𝐇}^+`$ into itself, and $`\chi :𝐇^+𝐇^+`$ has a unique (globally attracting) fixed point, namely, the singular point $`c\mathrm{\Pi }`$.

3. Denote

$$\omega =u^{}(𝐇^+).$$
(2)
Then $`\omega `$ is a Jordan domain. Its boundary consists of a real segment $`[0,|\alpha |x_0]=u^{}([\alpha ,1])`$, a sequence of (closed) analytic arcs $`\tau _n,n0`$, and the point $`c`$. Here $`\tau _0`$ is the segment $`\mathrm{exp}(i\pi /r)[0,|u(\alpha ^2)|]=u^{}([1,\alpha ^2])`$, and $`\tau _{n+1}=\chi (\tau _n)=u^{}((1)^{n+1}[|\alpha |^{n+1},|\alpha |^{n+3}])`$, $`n0`$. In particular, $`\{\tau _n\}`$ converge to the point $`c`$ exponentially fast. For every $`n`$, $`\tau _n,\tau _{n+2}`$ meet at a joint end point at the angle $`\pi /r`$.

Observe (after ) that the map $`u^{}`$ conjugates $`z\alpha z^{}`$ and $`\chi `$:

$$\chi u^{}(z)=u^{}(\alpha z^{}).$$
(3)
Hence,

$$\chi ^2u^{}(z)=u^{}(\alpha ^2z).$$
(4)
In particular, we have

###### Comment 1

If $`\gamma `$ is any straight ray in $`𝐇^+`$ starting at zero, then $`u^{}(\gamma )`$ is an (open) analytic arc in $`\omega `$ joining the points $`c`$ and $`x_0`$ in $`\omega `$, which has a finite length (because it is invariant under $`\chi ^2`$). Moreover, since the map $`u^{}`$ extends to a univalent map in a neighborhood of zero, $`u^{}(\gamma )`$ extends to an analytic curve through the point $`x_0`$.

### 2.2 Two iterated function systems

Note that

$$u^{}(\omega )=u(u(𝐇^+))=u(u(𝐇^{}/\alpha ))=u(𝐇^{})/(\alpha )=\omega /|\alpha |.$$

Since $`\omega \mathrm{\Pi }`$, we have $`\omega /|\alpha |=u^{}(\omega )u^{}(𝐇^+)=\omega `$ and $`u^{}(\omega )u^{}(\mathrm{\Pi })`$.

Introduce a compact set

$$X=\overline{u^{}(\mathrm{\Pi })u^{}(\omega )}=\overline{u^{}(\mathrm{\Pi })(\omega /|\alpha |)},$$

and the following two families $`S_{\mathrm{}}=\{\psi _k\}_{k=1}^{\mathrm{}}`$, $`S=\{\phi _1,\phi _2,\phi _3\}`$ of conformal maps from $`𝐇^+`$ into itself defined as follows:

$$\psi _k(z)=u^{}(|\alpha |^kz),k=1,2,3,4,\mathrm{},$$
(5)
and

$$\phi _1=\psi _1,\phi _2=\psi _2,\phi _3=\chi ^2.$$
(6)
The eq. (3) implies

$$\psi _{2j}(z)=\chi ^{2j}(u^{}(z)),(j1)\psi _{2j+1}(z)=\chi ^{2j+1}(u^{}(z^{})),(j0).$$
(7)
Therefore,

$$\psi _{2j+2}=\phi _3^j\phi _2,\psi _{2j+1}(z)=\phi _3^j\phi _1,(j0).$$
(8)
###### Comment 2

The latter means that the infinite system $`S_{\mathrm{}}`$ is induced by the finite system $`S`$. So, it is enough to study the system $`S`$ (see also Comment 3). Although the system $`S_{\mathrm{}}`$ arises naturally if one wants to construct the curve $`L`$, the system $`S`$ is simpler to deal with. In the sequel, $`S_{\mathrm{}}`$ is more convenient for the study of properties related to rescaling ((1)-(2), (4)-(5) of Theorem A) while $`S`$ is used to prove the metric properties (3), Theorem A.

Denote by $`\rho `$ the hyperbolic metric of $`𝐇^+`$. Note that maps $`u^{}`$ and $`\chi `$ as conformal maps of $`𝐇^+`$ into itself are contractions w.r.t. the metric $`\rho `$.

###### Lemma 2.1

The family $`S`$ obeys the following properties.

(1) $`\text{Int}(X)`$ is a Jordan domain. The boundary of $`X`$ consists of: (i) a sequence of (closed) curves $`\tau _n/|\alpha |`$, $`n2`$, which converges to the points $`c/|\alpha |X`$, so that $`_{n2}\tau _n/|\alpha |\{c/|\alpha |\}`$ is a (closed) curve, which we call the “bottom” $`B_X`$ of $`X`$; (ii) the curve $`\tau _0(\tau _0/|\alpha |)`$ and a sequence of curves $`\tau _{2j}`$, $`j1`$, which converges to the point $`cX`$, so that $`\tau _0(\tau _0/|\alpha |)_{j1}\tau _{2j}\{c\}`$ is a curve, which we call the “left side” $`L_X`$ of $`X`$; (iii) the curve $`u^{}(\mathrm{exp}(i\pi /r)𝐑^+\tau _0)`$, which we call the “right side” $`R_X`$ of $`X`$. Finally, the compact $`X`$ is contained in $`𝐇^+`$.

(2) $`|\alpha |XX=_{j1}\tau _{2j}\{c\}`$.

(3) Each $`\phi _i`$ is either holomorphic or antiholomorphic injection of $`𝐇^+`$ into itself, which maps the compact $`X`$ into itself; moreover, there exist a domain $`V`$ and a number $`\lambda <1`$, such that $`XV`$, $`\overline{V}𝐇^+`$, $`\phi _i(V)V`$, and

$$\rho (\phi _i(x),\phi _i(y))\lambda \rho (x,y),$$

for $`i=1,2,3`$ and all $`x,yV`$.

(4) $`\phi _i(\text{Int}(X))\phi _j(\text{Int}(X))=\mathrm{}`$ for $`1i<j3`$.

(5) $`\phi _i(X)\phi _j(X)\mathrm{}`$ if and only if $`|ij|1`$.

(6) for any finite word $`\overline{\epsilon }=\{\epsilon _1,\mathrm{}\epsilon _n\}`$ of $`n`$ symbols $`\epsilon _i\{1,2,3\}`$, denote $`\phi _{\overline{\epsilon }}=\phi _{\epsilon _1}\phi _{\epsilon _2}\mathrm{}\phi _{\epsilon _n}`$. Then $`\phi _{\overline{\epsilon }}`$ maps $`V`$ into itself with uniformly bounded distortion: there is $`K`$ such that $`|\phi _{\overline{\epsilon }}^{}(x)|K|\phi _{\overline{\epsilon }}^{}(y)|`$ for every finite word $`\overline{\epsilon }`$ and any $`x,yV`$.

* Parts (1)-(2) follow from the definition of $`X`$ and from the description of $`\omega `$.

Part (3). For every $`k>0`$, $`\psi _k(X)=u^{}(|\alpha |^kX)u^{}(\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }\omega })=X`$. In particular, $`\phi _i(X)X`$, $`i=1,2`$. As for $`\phi _3=\chi ^2`$, one can use that $`\psi _2=\chi ^2u^{}`$ and write $`\chi ^2(X)=\chi ^2u^{}(\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }\omega })=\psi _2(\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }\omega })=u^{}(\alpha ^2\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }\omega })u^{}(\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }\omega })=X`$.

Let’s construct the domain $`V`$ (the existence of $`\lambda `$ then follows because $`\overline{V}𝐇^+`$). We start with the following general

Claim. For a point $`a𝐂`$, a simply connected domain $`Ua`$, and a map $`f`$ which is a holomorphic injection of $`U^{}=\{z^{}|zU\}`$ into $`U`$, define an antiholomorphic map $`f^{}(z)=f(z^{})`$, $`f^{}:UU`$; assume that $`f^{}(a)=a`$ and $`0<|\rho |<1`$, where $`\rho =f^{}(a^{})`$. Then there is a holomorphic change of coordinates $`K:U𝐂`$, $`K(a)=0`$, such that $`Kf^{}K^1:w\rho w^{}`$. Moreover, if $`YU`$ is compact, such that $`f^{}(Y)Y`$, then there is an arbitrary small neighborhood $`W_Y`$ of $`Y`$, such that $`f^{}(W_Y)`$ is compactly contained in $`W_Y`$.

It’s enough to prove the existence of $`K`$ locally, around $`a`$. Notice that the second iterate $`(f^{})^2`$ of $`f^{}`$ is holomorphic around its fixed point $`a`$, and its multiplier $`((f^{})^2)^{}(a)`$ is equal to $`|\rho |^2`$. Hence, there is a holomorphic change $`K`$, $`K(a)=0`$, $`K^{}(a)=1`$, such that $`K(f^{})^2K^1:w|\rho |^2w`$. Then the map $`Kf^{}K^1`$ is antiholomorphic around $`a`$, hence, there is a univalent at $`w=0`$ map $`F`$, such that $`Kf^{}K^1=F^{}`$. If $`F(w)=\rho w+a_nw^n+\mathrm{}`$, then one sees by substitution that $`a_n=0`$. Thus $`F(w)=\rho w`$, which proves that $`Kf^{}K^1(w)=\rho w^{}`$. Now, for every $`ϵ>0`$, the neighborhood $`W_Y`$ can be defined as $`K^1(W^ϵ)`$, where $`W^ϵ`$ is the $`ϵ`$-neighborhood of $`K(Y)`$.

Let’s apply Claim to the map $`\phi _1`$ and the point $`c/|\alpha |`$. It is relevant, because $`\phi _1=\psi _1=|\alpha |^1\chi |\alpha |`$, hence, $`c/|\alpha |`$ is the (global) attracting fixed point of the map $`\phi _1:𝐇^+𝐇^+`$. Besides, $`c/|\alpha |`$ lies in the “bottom” $`B_X`$ of $`X`$. Note that $`\phi _1(B_X)B_X`$. Hence, there is a small enough neighborhood $`W_B`$ of $`B_X`$, such that $`\phi _1(W_B)`$ is compactly contained in $`W_B`$.

Now note that the “left side” $`L_X`$ of $`X`$ as well as its “right side” $`R_X`$ is invariant under the holomorphic map $`\phi _3`$. Hence, one can choose a small enough neighborhood $`W_L`$ of $`L_X`$, such that $`\phi _3(W_L)`$ is compactly contained in $`W_L`$. Moreover, note the following (a)-(c):

(a) $`\phi _1`$ maps the “left side” $`L_X`$ onto a curve, which is an arc in “right side” $`R_X`$ extended by an arc in $`Int(X)`$, and it maps $`R_X`$ into $`Int(X)`$ except for an end point in $`B_X`$; (b) $`\phi _2`$ maps $`L_X`$ onto a curve, which is an arc in $`R_X`$ extended by an arc in $`Int(X)`$, and it maps $`R_XB_X`$ into $`Int(X)`$ except for an end point in $`B_X`$; (c) $`\phi _3`$ maps $`B_X`$ into $`Int(X)`$ except for end points in $`L_XR_X`$.

It follows that there is a small neighborhood $`W_R`$ of $`R_X`$, such that $`\phi _3(W_R)`$ is compactly contained in $`W_R`$ and $`\phi _1(W_R)\phi _2(W_R)XW_B`$, moreover, $`W_L`$ is chosen so small that $`\phi _1(W_L)\phi _2(W_L)W_R`$. Thus one can set $`V=XW_RW_LW_B`$. We have proved Part (3). This implies also, by Koebe distortion theorem, the bounded distortion property (6).

Let’s prove parts (4)-(5). For $`i=1,j=2`$, this follows directly from the definition of $`\phi _k`$. For $`i=2,j=3`$, we have $`\phi _2(X)=\phi _3u^{}(X)\phi _3u^{}(\omega )=\phi _3(\omega /|\alpha |)`$. Since $`Int(\omega /|\alpha |)`$ is disjoint with $`Int(X)`$, then $`\phi _2(Int(X))\phi _3(Int(\omega /|\alpha |))`$ is disjoint with $`\phi _3(Int(X))`$. On the other hand, $`\phi _2(X)\phi _3(X)`$ contains $`\phi _2\phi _3\phi _1(X)=\psi _2(X)\psi _3(X)`$, which is a non-empty set, by the definition of $`\psi _k`$ and by (2). Finally, for $`i=1,j=3`$, $`\phi _1(X)=u^{}(|\alpha |X)u^{}(|\alpha |\omega )`$ while $`\phi _3(X)=\phi _3u^{}(\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }\omega })`$, hence, by (4), $`\phi _3(X)=u^{}(\alpha ^2\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }\omega })`$, and this set is disjoint with $`u^{}(|\alpha |\omega )`$ because $`|\alpha |\omega `$ and $`\alpha ^2\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }\omega }`$ are disjoint.

$`\mathrm{}`$

### 2.3 The limit set

For any infinite word of symbols $`\overline{\epsilon }=\{\epsilon _n\}_{n>0}`$, $`\epsilon _n\{1,2,3\}`$, denote $`\overline{\epsilon }|n=\{\epsilon _1,\epsilon _2,\mathrm{},\epsilon _n\}`$ and define the limit set of $`S`$ as

$$I=_{\overline{\epsilon }}_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\phi _{\overline{\epsilon }|n}(X).$$

Since $`S`$ is finite, $`I`$ is a closed set. It is easy to see that

$$I=_{n>0}X_n.$$

Here $`X_n`$ is a decreasing sequence of compacts $`X_n=_{|\overline{\epsilon }|=n}\phi _{\overline{\epsilon }}(X)`$ where $`|\overline{\epsilon }|=n`$ means that the number of symbols in the finite word $`\overline{\epsilon }`$ is $`n`$. Since $`\phi _3(c)=c`$ and $`\phi _1(c/|\alpha |)=c/|\alpha |`$, then $`c,c/|\alpha |I`$.

###### Comment 3

Let’s consider the closure $`\overline{I}_{\mathrm{}}`$ of the limit set $`I_{\mathrm{}}`$ of the infinite system $`S_{\mathrm{}}=\{\psi _k:XX\}_{k𝐍}`$, where $`I_{\mathrm{}}=_{\overline{w}}_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\psi _{\overline{w}|n}(X)`$, and $`\overline{w}`$ are the infinite words of symbols $`w_n𝐍`$. Then it is easy to see that $`I=\overline{I}_{\mathrm{}}`$. Indeed, since $`S_{\mathrm{}}`$ is induced by $`S`$, $`\overline{I}_{\mathrm{}}I`$. To prove the opposite inclusion, notice that $`\phi _3^n(X)c`$ ($`n\mathrm{}`$), and consider any point $`aI`$, $`a=_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\phi _{\epsilon |n}(X)`$, where $`\epsilon `$ is an infinite word of symbols $`\epsilon _n\{1,2,3\}`$. If $`\epsilon _n=3`$ for all $`n>n_0`$, and $`\epsilon _{n_0}\{1,2\}`$, then $`a=\phi _{\epsilon |n_0}(c)`$ and $`\phi _{\epsilon |n_0}=\psi _w`$ for a finite word $`w`$ (in the alphabet $`𝐍`$ of $`S_{\mathrm{}}`$). If $`\epsilon _{n_j}\{1,2\}`$, for $`n_j\mathrm{}`$, then there is an infinite word $`\overline{w}=\{w_n\}_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}`$, $`w_n𝐍`$, such that $`\phi _{\epsilon |n_j}=\psi _{\overline{w}|j}`$, and hence $`aI_{\mathrm{}}`$.

Our first aim is to show that $`I`$ is a simple (closed, i.e. with the end points $`c,c/|\alpha |`$) curve. Since $`X_{1i3}\phi _i(X)`$ contains an open non-empty disc, and because of contraction, the Lebesgue measure (area) of $`I`$ is zero. In particular, $`I`$ has no interior. Clearly, $`I`$ is also locally connected. To be more precise, if $`x_{\overline{\epsilon }}_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\phi _{\overline{\epsilon }|n}(Int(X))`$, there is a unique word $`\overline{\tau }`$, such that $`\phi _{\overline{\tau }|n}(I),n1`$ form a sequence of connected closed neighborhoods of $`x`$ shrinking to $`x`$. Let now $`x\phi _\tau (X)I`$, for a finite word $`\tau `$, $`|\tau |=n`$. Assume first that $`n=1`$. As it follows from (a), (b), (c) (see the proof of Lemma 2.1), $`X_nX\phi _1^{n1}(X)\phi _3^{n1}(X)`$ for $`n2`$, and that $`\phi _1^n(X)c/|\alpha |`$, $`\phi _3^n(X)c`$ as $`n\mathrm{}`$. Therefore,

$$IX=\{c/|\alpha |,c\}$$
(9)
and, moreover, $`I_{1i3}\phi _i(X)`$ consists of the following $`4`$ points $`a_j,1j4`$, with corresponding sequences of closed connected neighborhoods:

$$a_4=c=_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\phi _3^n(I),a_1=c/|\alpha |=_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\phi _1^n(I),$$
(10)
$$a_2=\phi _1(a_4)=\phi _2(a_1)=_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\phi _1(\phi _3^n(I))\phi _2(\phi _1^n(I)),$$
(11)
$$a_3=\phi _2(a_4)=\phi _3(a_1)=_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\phi _2(\phi _3^n(I))\phi _3(\phi _1^n(I)).$$
(12)
If now $`n>1`$, then $`x`$ is an image by $`\phi _{\tau |n1}`$ of one of the points $`a_j,1j4`$. Thus $`I`$ is locally connected at every point.

We have just proved that $`I`$ is a dendrite. In particular, for every two points $`x,yI`$ there exists a unique simple arc $`[x,y]`$ connecting $`x,y`$ inside $`I`$. Now we show that $`I=[c/|\alpha |,c]`$. Assume there is some $`zI[c/|\alpha |,c]`$. Then we get a (branch) point $`d[c/|\alpha |,c]`$, i.e. such that $`[z,c][c/|\alpha |,c]=[d,c]`$ and $`[z,c/|\alpha |][c/|\alpha |,c]=[d,c/|\alpha |]`$. If $`d_{\overline{\epsilon }}_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\phi _{\overline{\epsilon }|n}(Int(X))`$, then passing to a big scale by some $`(\psi _{\overline{\epsilon }})^1`$ we get that $`I`$ has at least $`3`$ different points with the boundary of $`X`$, a contradiction with (9). If $`d\phi _\tau (X)I`$, for a finite word $`\tau `$, $`|\tau |=n`$, then applying $`\phi _{\tau |n1}^1`$ one can assume from the beginning that the branch point $`d`$ is one of the points $`a_j,1j4`$, also that, for some $`1i3`$, $`[d,z]\phi _i(X)`$ contains a non-trivial subarc $`[d,z^{}]`$, and either $`[c,d]`$ or $`[c/|\alpha |,d]`$ intersects $`\phi _i(X)`$. Then $`\phi _i^1(d)`$ is either $`c`$ or $`c/|\alpha |`$. If, say, it is $`c`$, then $`[c/|\alpha |,c]\phi _i^1([d,z^{}])`$ is a subset of $`I`$, and it intersets $`\phi _3^n(X)`$, $`n`$ big, in at least $`3`$ points, a contradiction with (9).

### 2.4 The curve $`L`$. Proof of (1)-(2) and (4)-(5) of Theorem A

Define two curves: $`L_0=I\{c,c/|\alpha |\}`$ and

$$L=_{n𝐙}|\alpha |^nI.$$

Then $`L`$ is a curve which satisfies the property (1) of Theorem A. $`L`$ is a simple curve because $`cI|\alpha |I(Int(X)\{c,c/|\alpha \})|\alpha |(Int(X)\{c,c/|\alpha \})=\{c\}`$, by Lemma 2.1(2). By Comment 3 and from the definition of the maps $`\psi _k`$, we see that

$$u^{}(L_{\mathrm{}})=_{k>0}u^{}(|\alpha |^k(L_0\{c\})=_{k>0}\psi _k(L_0\{c\})=L_0,$$

i.e.

$$g(L_0)=L_{\mathrm{}}^{}.$$

Therefore, using the functional equation, properties (4a)-(4c) follow easily. In particular, (4c) implies that $`L_nJ=\mathrm{}`$ for all $`n0`$ thus proving also (2). Let’s prove property (5) and the uniqueness.

The uniqueness: assume that $`l`$ is a curve in $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ satisfying (1)-(2) of Thm. A. Let $`xl\mathrm{\Omega }_0`$. Since $`(\mathrm{\Pi }\mathrm{\Omega }_0)J_{\mathrm{}}=\{c\}`$, we mush have $`x=c`$. Hence also $`c/|\alpha |^nl`$, $`n0`$. If now $`l`$ is different from $`L`$, then (1)-(2) give us a contradiction, as in the proof of Corollary 1.1.

(5): for any $`k>0`$, if $`x`$ lies in the intersection of $`\gamma =g^k(Lg^k(\mathrm{\Omega }))`$ and, say, $`L`$, then the whole arc of $`L`$ from $`x`$ to $`\mathrm{}`$ also belongs to $`\gamma `$, because otherwise the dense set $`_{n0}\alpha ^nJ`$ would be not connected, see the proof of Corollary 1.1. Prove other statements. First, it is easy to see that $`g(Lg^1(\mathrm{\Omega }))L^{}=L_{\mathrm{}}^{}`$ (because $`g(L_0)=L_{\mathrm{}}^{}`$ and $`g^2(L_1)=L_{\mathrm{}}^{}/\alpha `$). From this and from the functional equation, it follows that, for any $`n0`$, $`g^{2^n}(Lg^{2^n}(\mathrm{\Omega }))`$ intersects either $`L^{}`$ or $`L^{}`$ along either $`(L^{(n)})^{}`$ or $`(L^{(n)})^{}`$. Let’s apply this consequently for $`n=n_1,n_2,\mathrm{},n_l`$ when $`k=2^{n_1}+2^{n_2}+\mathrm{}+2^{n_l}`$ with $`n_1>n_2>\mathrm{}>n_l`$. Then we get the statement.

### 2.5 Metric properties of $`L`$: proof of (3) of Theorem A

#### The curve $`L`$ is nowhere differentiable.

It is enough to show

###### Lemma 2.2

The curve $`I`$ has no tangent at any point.

* We follow . Assume the contrary, i.e. $`I`$ has a tangent at a point $`aI`$. Since $`S`$ is finite, there is an infinite word $`ϵ=ϵ_1ϵ_2\mathrm{}ϵ_n\mathrm{}`$, such that $`a=_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\varphi _{ϵ|n}(X)`$. Then the maps $`f_n:=\varphi _{ϵ|n}:VV`$, $`n1`$, converge to the point $`a`$ uniformly in $`V`$. Let $`b=lim_j\mathrm{}b_{n_j}`$, where $`b_n=f_n^1(a)`$. One can further assume (possibly passing to a subsequence) that all maps $`f_{n_j}`$ are holomorphic (if they are all antiholomorphic, replace $`f_{n_j}`$ by complex conjugate to $`f_{n_j}`$). Define $`F_j=(f_{n_j}a)/f_{n_j}^{}(b_{n_j})`$. Since $`F_j(b_{n_j})=0`$, $`F_j^{}(b_{n_j})=1`$, and $`F_j`$ are univalent, one can assume (possibly passing to a subsequence) that $`F_j`$ converge uniformly in $`V`$ to a univalent map $`F`$, $`F(b)=0,F^{}(b)=1`$. Then $`f_{n_j}(z)a=\lambda _j(F(z)+\delta _j(z))`$, where $`\lambda _j=f_{n_j}^{}(b_{n_j})0`$ as $`j\mathrm{}`$, $`\lambda _j0`$, and $`\delta _j0`$ uniformly in $`V`$. Consider any $`zI`$, $`zb`$. Then $`F(z)0`$. If one fixes a sequence $`j_k\mathrm{}`$, such that $`\mathrm{arg}\lambda _{j_k}\theta `$, then $`\mathrm{arg}(f_{n_j}(z)a)\theta +\mathrm{arg}F(z)`$. By our assumption, we conclude that the function $`\mathrm{arg}F(z)`$ is a constant in $`zI`$. Therefore, $`I`$ is an analytic arc. In particular, it is analytic in a neighborhood of the point $`u^{}(|\alpha |c)L_0=I\{c,c/|\alpha |\}`$. But $`u^{}(L_{\mathrm{}})=L_0`$. Therefore, the curve $`L=_{n𝐙}|\alpha |^nI`$ is analytic in a neighborhood of the point $`c`$, and, hence, the curve $`L`$ is analytic at any point. Consider the curve $`u^{}(L)`$. It is also analytic and joins the points $`x_0L`$ and $`cL`$. Moreover, $`L_0Lu^{}(L)`$. Thus $`L_0`$ has two different analytic continuations, a contradiction.

$`\mathrm{}`$

This proves that $`L`$ has no tangent at any its point.

#### Hausdorff dimension of $`L`$.

Here we prove that $`HD(I)>1`$. The method of the proof is very similar to the one for the Julia set of $`z^2+\epsilon `$ . First, we show the existence of an $`h`$-conformal measure for the system $`S`$ (Lemma 2.3), then we derive from here that $`h=HD(I)`$ and that the $`h`$-Hausdorff measure of $`I`$ is between $`0`$ and $`\mathrm{}`$ (Corollary 2.1). Hence, if $`h=1`$, then the curve $`I`$ is rectifiable, therefore, has tangent at many points, a contradiction with Lemma 2.2. Here we only state Lemma 2.3 and Corollary 2.1. The proof is very close to the proof of corresponding statements in  and , and postponed until Appendix (one could also apply directly the theory developed in ).

###### Lemma 2.3

There exist $`0<h2`$ and a probability measure $`\mu `$ with its support $`supp(\mu )=I`$, which is $`h`$-conformal, i.e., $`\mu (\phi _i(A))=_A|\phi _i^{}(x)|^h𝑑\mu (x)`$ for $`i=1,2,3`$ and any Borel set $`AX`$. Moreover, $`\mu `$ has no atoms.

###### Corollary 2.1

$`h=HD(I)`$. Moreover, the $`h`$-Hausdorff measure of $`I`$ is finite and positive.

As we noticed before, Lemma 2.3, Corollary 2.1, and Lemma 2.2 imply that $`HD(L)>1`$.

#### $`L`$ is a quasi-circle.

The inequality $`HD(I)<2`$ follows from Lemma 2.3 and , Thm. 4.5. Hence, $`HD(L)=HD(I)<2`$. But we prove a stronger statement: $`L`$ (or, equivalently, $`I`$) is a quasicircle. According to , it is enough to prove that $`I`$ satisfies $`M`$-condition: there is $`M`$ such that for every $`3`$ points $`\xi _1,\xi _2,\xi _3`$ of the curve $`I`$ such that $`\xi _3`$ lies between $`\xi _1`$ and $`\xi _2`$, $`|\xi _3\xi _1|/|\xi _2\xi _1|M`$. Let’s agree that the point $`\xi _1`$ lies between $`c/|\alpha |`$ and $`\xi _3`$. The $`M`$-property follows from the following two observations.

(a) Because of the bounded distortion property Lemma 2.1(6), one can assume that the points $`\xi _1`$ and $`\xi _2`$ belong to different $`\phi _k(I),\phi _n(I),1k<n3`$: $`\xi _1\phi _k(I),\xi _2\phi _n(I)`$.

(b) If $`nk=2`$, then there is $`\sigma >0`$ such that $`|\xi _1\xi _3|\sigma `$, for all $`\xi _1,\xi _3`$ as above, and the existence of some $`M=M(\sigma )`$ follows. Assume now that $`nk=1`$. For example, $`\xi _1\phi _2(I)`$, $`\xi _2\phi _3(I)`$. Note that $`\phi _2(I)`$ and $`\phi _3(I)`$ has in common a single boundary point $`a=a_3=\phi _2(c)=\phi _3(c/|\alpha |)=_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\phi _2(\phi _3^n(X))\phi _3(\phi _1^n(X))`$. By the triangle inequality, enough to prove the $`M`$-property for $`\xi _3=a`$. So, assume $`\xi _3=a`$. Note that $`\xi _1\phi _2(\phi _3^n(X))`$, $`\xi _2\phi _3(\phi _1^m(X))`$, for some $`n,m0`$, and the sets $`\phi _3^k(X)`$, $`\phi _1^{2k}(X)`$ converge (as $`k\mathrm{}`$) to the fixed points $`c`$, $`c/|\alpha |`$ of $`\phi _3`$, $`\phi _1`$ resp. with the same speed, because $`\phi _1^2=|\alpha |^1\phi _3|\alpha |`$. Hence, $`|\xi _1a|/|\xi _1\xi _2|`$ is comparable to $`|\stackrel{~}{\xi }_1a|/|\stackrel{~}{\xi }_1\stackrel{~}{\xi }_2|`$, where $`\stackrel{~}{\xi }_1\phi _2(\phi _3^{n_0}(X)\phi _3^{n_0+1}(X))`$, $`\stackrel{~}{\xi }_2\phi _3(\phi _1^{m_0}(X)(\phi _1^{m_0+2}(X))`$, with some $`n_0,m_00`$, and, additionally, either $`n_0`$ or $`m_0`$ is zero. Besides, any two sets of the form $`\phi _2(\phi _3^n(X)\phi _3^{n+1}(X))`$, $`\phi _3(\phi _1^m(X)\phi _1^{m+2}(X))`$ are disjoint. All this implies that the distance between $`\stackrel{~}{\xi }_1,\stackrel{~}{\xi }_2`$ is bounded from below by the (positive) distance between the sets $`\phi _2(\phi _3^{n_0}(X)\phi _3^{n_0+1}(X))`$, $`\phi _3(\phi _1^{m_0}(X)(\phi _1^{m_0+2}(X))`$. The $`M`$-property follows.

## 3 Proof of Theorem B

(a): note that, for any $`n0`$, $`_n`$ is invariant w.r.t. the complex conjugation and w.r.t. the rotation by the $`r`$-th root of unity. In particular, it is invariant by $`zz`$. Hence, Theorem A(1) implies that if $`R_0`$ then $`R/\alpha _0`$. If now $`g^n(R)=R_0`$ for some $`R_0_0`$, then $`g^{2n}(R/\alpha )=g^n(R)/\alpha =R_0/\alpha _0`$. Let’s show that $`RJ_{\mathrm{}}`$ is the base point $`\{x_R\}`$ of $`R`$. First, $`RJ=\{x_R\}`$, from the definition. If now $`xR\alpha ^nJ`$, for some $`n`$, then $`x/\alpha ^n(R/\alpha ^n)J=GJ=\{x_G\}`$, for a piece $`G`$. Hence, $`x=\alpha ^nx_G=x_R`$.

(b) follows from Theorem A(5). In fact, by the same reason, a stronger statement holds. Namely, remind that $`R_0`$ is an infinite open “sector” bounded by the curves $`L`$ and $`L^{}`$. Introduce the set $`\stackrel{~}{}=\{\stackrel{~}{R}\}`$ of all components of $`g^n(R_0)`$ and $`g^n(R_0^{})`$ for all $`n1`$. Then any two such components are either disjoint or one covers the other one. Repeating (a), we get also that if $`\stackrel{~}{R}\stackrel{~}{}`$ then $`\pm \stackrel{~}{R}/\alpha \stackrel{~}{}`$.

Note that any piece $`R`$ is contained in one and only one element $`\stackrel{~}{R}\stackrel{~}{}`$ such that $`R`$ and $`\stackrel{~}{R}`$ have the same boundary “base points” (remind that if $`g^n(R)_0`$ then the “base points” of $`R`$ are $`x_R`$, $`x_R^{\mathrm{}}`$ s.t. $`g^n(x_R)=0`$, $`g^n(x_R^{\mathrm{}})=\mathrm{}`$).

(c)-(d). It is enough to prove both statements replacing $`R`$ by $`\stackrel{~}{R}\stackrel{~}{}`$.

Let’s construct a “machine” that produces new elements of $`\stackrel{~}{}`$. Consider a component $`\stackrel{~}{R}_1`$ of $`g^1(R_0^{})`$, namely, $`\stackrel{~}{R}_1=u^{}(R_0)`$. Its boundary consists of the points $`c,x_0`$ and two arcs $`\gamma ^\pm `$ joining the points $`c,x_0`$, such that $`g(\gamma ^+)=L`$ and $`g(\gamma ^{})=L^{}`$. Moreover, $`\gamma ^{}L=L_0`$ (because $`g(L_0)=L_{\mathrm{}}^{}L^{}`$) while $`\gamma ^+`$ has no common arcs with $`L`$. Denote by $`\gamma _1^{}`$ the sub-arc of $`\gamma ^{}`$ between the points $`c/|\alpha |`$ and $`x_0`$: $`\gamma _1^{}=\gamma ^{}\overline{L}_0`$ . In turn, it is divided into two arcs: $`\beta _1`$ and $`\beta _2`$ such that $`g(\beta _1)=L_0^{}`$ and $`g(\beta _2)`$ is the arc of $`L^{}`$ between $`0`$ and $`c^{}/|\alpha |`$. Observe that

$$\gamma ^+/|\alpha |\gamma _1^{}=\beta _1.$$
(13)
(Proof: $`g^2(\gamma ^+/|\alpha |)=g(\gamma ^+)/\alpha =L/\alpha =L`$; hence, $`g(\gamma ^+/|\alpha |)=(\gamma ^{})^{}`$ and $`g(\gamma ^+/|\alpha |\gamma _1^{})=L_0^{}=g(\beta _1)`$.)

Denote by $`\mathrm{\Delta }_0`$ an open “triangle” (with the “vertices” $`x_0,x_0/|\alpha |,c/|\alpha |`$) bounded by the interval $`(x_0/|\alpha |,x_0)`$, the sub-arc $`\beta _2=\gamma _1^{}\beta _1`$ of $`\gamma _1^{}`$, and the sub-arc $`\gamma ^+/|\alpha |\beta _1`$ of $`\gamma ^+/|\alpha |`$. Denote also by $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ a (bigger) open “triangle” bounded by the interval $`(0,x_0)`$, the arc $`\gamma _1^{}`$, and the arc $`L\overline{L_0L_{\mathrm{}}}`$ of $`L`$ between $`0`$ and $`c/|\alpha |`$. It is now easy to check that $`g(\mathrm{\Delta }_0)=\mathrm{\Delta }^{}`$, i.e. $`\mathrm{\Delta }_0=u^{}(\mathrm{\Delta })`$. Also, $`R_2:=\stackrel{~}{R}_1/|\alpha |\mathrm{\Delta }`$. We have now a dynamical system (the “machine”) consisting of two maps $`A:zz/|\alpha |`$ and $`B:zu^{}(z)`$ of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ into itself which produces new elements of $`\stackrel{~}{}`$: if $`\stackrel{~}{R}\stackrel{~}{}`$ is a subset of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, then $`A(\stackrel{~}{R})`$ and $`B(\stackrel{~}{R})`$ are again elements of $`\stackrel{~}{}`$. To study it, note that there is a neighborhood $`U`$ of $`\overline{\mathrm{\Delta }}`$, such that $`B=u^{}`$ extends to a conformal map on $`U`$, $`\overline{B(U)}U`$ and $`\overline{A(U)}U`$ (for example, take a Poincare neighborhood of an interval $`(\epsilon ,1)`$ in the slit plane $`(𝐂𝐑)(\epsilon ,1)`$). Then $`A,B:\overline{\mathrm{\Delta }}\overline{\mathrm{\Delta }}`$ are stricts contractions in the hyperbolic metric of $`U`$. Besides, $`A(\mathrm{\Delta })`$, $`B(\mathrm{\Delta })`$, and $`R_2`$ are pairwise disjoint, and $`A(\overline{\mathrm{\Delta }})B(\overline{\mathrm{\Delta }})\overline{R}_2=\overline{\mathrm{\Delta }}`$. It follows that if we apply to $`R_2`$ all possible finite compositions of $`A`$ and $`B`$, then the union of the closures of all elements of $`\stackrel{~}{}`$ obtained like this, with the points of the segment $`[0,x_0]`$, is just the closure of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$.

Let’s finish the proof of (c). As we have just seen, the set $`F=\pm (\overline{\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }^{}})`$ is filled by the closed pieces (and the points of the segment $`[x_0,x_0]`$). $`F`$ also a closed neighborhood of the point $`g^2(0)=1/\alpha (x_0,0)`$. Pulling $`F`$ back by a branch of $`g^2`$ we get a neighborhood of zero with the same property.

Let’s prove (d). Let $`R`$ be any piece. Since $`R`$ is a preimage of a piece of the depth one, there indeed exists a minimal $`n0`$ such that $`g^n(R)=G/\alpha ^k`$, for some piece $`G`$ of the depth one and for some $`k0`$. Then $`g^n(\stackrel{~}{R})=\stackrel{~}{G}/\alpha ^k`$, for corresponding $`\stackrel{~}{R}R`$ and $`\stackrel{~}{G}G`$ (so that $`g(\stackrel{~}{G})`$ is either $`R_0`$ or $`R_0^{}`$). To prove (d2), we find for each (among $`2r`$) component $`\stackrel{~}{G}`$ of $`g^1(R_0)`$ or $`g^1(R_0^{})`$ a fixed neighborhood $`V(\stackrel{~}{G})`$, so that the branch of $`g^n`$ from $`\stackrel{~}{G}/\alpha ^k`$ onto $`\stackrel{~}{R}`$ extends to a map onto $`V(\stackrel{~}{G})/\alpha ^k`$

If $`\stackrel{~}{G}`$ does not touch the real axis, such a neighborhood obviously exists. The remaining possibility is that $`\stackrel{~}{G}`$ is one of $`\pm \stackrel{~}{R}_1`$, $`\pm \stackrel{~}{R}_1^{}`$ (see the definition of $`\stackrel{~}{R}_1`$ above).

For example, let $`\stackrel{~}{G}=\stackrel{~}{R}_1`$. Let us fix a neighborhood $`V`$ of the closure of $`\stackrel{~}{R}_1`$, so that $`V`$ intersects the real axis along, say, the interval $`(g^3(0),1+ϵ)`$, with $`ϵ>0`$ fixed and small enough. Assume that the branch of $`g^n`$ from $`\stackrel{~}{R}_1/\alpha ^k`$ onto $`\stackrel{~}{R}`$ does not extend to a map on $`V/\alpha ^k`$, i.e., $`g^n=g^{(nm)}g^m`$ where $`g^m(V/\alpha ^k)`$ covers $`0`$ for the first time. Then, as the real Feigenbaum dynamics shows us, $`m=2^k`$, and, moreover, the branch $`g^m(z)=g^{2^k}(z)=(1/\alpha ^k)g^1(\alpha ^kz)`$, hence, the element $`g^{nm}(\stackrel{~}{R})=g^m(\stackrel{~}{R}_1/\alpha ^k)`$ has the form $`\stackrel{~}{G}_1/\alpha ^{k+1}`$, for a component $`\stackrel{~}{G}_1`$ of either $`g^1(R_0)`$ or $`g^1(R_0^{})`$, a contradiction with the minimality of $`n`$.

Thus (d1)-(d2) are proved.

To complete the proof show that if $`R_mR_{m1}\mathrm{}R_1`$ are different pieces, then $`diam(R_m)C\lambda ^mdiam(R_1)`$, for universal $`C>0,\lambda <1`$. First, observe, that any piece $`G`$ of depth one contains at least two (in fact, infinite number) of disjoint pieces of level $`2`$ (i.e. which are not contained in any other piece except $`G`$). Hence, by (d1)-(d2), there exists $`\rho <1`$, so that $`area(R^{})/area(R)\rho `$ for arbitrary different pieces $`R^{}R`$. It follows, $`area(R_m)\rho ^marea(R_1)`$. Second, again by (d1)-(d2) and by compactness of an appropriate family of univalent maps, there is $`C`$, such that $`C^1(diam(R))^2/area(R)C`$ for all pieces $`R`$. Therefore, $`diam(R_m)C\rho ^{m/2}diam(R_1)`$.

The proof of (c)-(d) yields the following

###### Comment 4

We have seen that the “machine” produces the covering of the triangle $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ by the pairwise disjoint pieces, and each of them touches the interval $`(0,x_0)`$. It follows that every piece $`R`$ of the level $`1`$ touches at its “base point” $`x_R`$ one of the lines $`𝐑\mathrm{exp}(i\pi j/r)`$, $`j=0,1,\mathrm{},r1`$.

###### Comment 5

Since every point of $`\overline{\mathrm{\Delta }}𝐑^+`$ is a limit of real “base points” $`x_{\stackrel{~}{R}}`$ of elements $`\stackrel{~}{R}`$ produced by the “machine”, for every point $`x\overline{\mathrm{\Delta }}`$, which lies either in $`𝐑^+`$ or in the boundary of a piece of level one, there exists a simple curve $`l(x,c/|\alpha |)`$ which joins the points $`x`$ and $`c/|\alpha |`$, lies in the (open) “triangle” $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ and such that $`l(x,c/|\alpha |)`$ consists of closed sub-arcs of boundary curves of pieces of level one.

###### Comment 6

The ”ray” $`g^2(Lg^2(\mathrm{\Omega }))`$, in a neighborhood of the landing point $`g^2(0)`$, consists of (closed, i.e. with their end points) arcs of boundaries of pieces of level one (follows from Theorem A(5)). This sequence of arcs accumulates only at the point $`g^2(0)`$, as it follows from Theorem B (d) and the previous Comment. Pulling this picture back, we see the same is true for the ”ray” $`L`$ (with the obvious replacement of $`g^2(0)`$ by $`0`$): $`L`$ consists of a sequence of (closed) arcs of $`R`$, where $`R`$ are some pieces of level one, which touch the straight ray $`𝐑^+\mathrm{exp}(i\pi /r)`$. Remind also that at the same time $`L`$ consists of a sequence of (closed) arcs of $`R`$ with ends at the points $`c/|\alpha |^n,n𝐙`$, where $`R`$ are some pieces of level one, which touch the real ray $`𝐑^+`$.

## 4 Some conclusions

Let us summarize some useful facts that follow from the previous section.

### 4.1 The structure of a piece

Let $`R^{ext}`$ be any piece. By the definition, $`g^m(R/\alpha ^j)=G`$, for some $`m,j0`$, where $`G`$ is a piece of the depth zero, i.e. one of the infinite “sectors” $`R_{0,1},R_{0,2},\mathrm{},R_{0,r1}`$, $`R_{0,1}^{},R_{0,2}^{},\mathrm{},R_{0,r1}^{}`$ (see the definition before Theorem B). The $`G`$ contains one and only one straight ray of the form $`𝐑^+\mathrm{exp}(i\pi j/r),j=\pm 1,\mathrm{},\pm (r1)`$. Denote it by $`\gamma _G`$. The following facts have been proved.

1. The boundary of $`R`$, $`R=L(R)\{x_R\}`$, where $`x_RB`$ is a “base point”, i.e. $`g^m(x_R/\alpha ^j)=0`$, and $`L(R)`$ is a simple (open) curve which consists of arcs of preimages of the curve $`L`$. Hence, $`L(R)𝐂J_{\mathrm{}}`$.

2. Define the “vein” of $`R`$, $`\gamma _R`$, so that $`g^m(\gamma _R/\alpha ^j)=\gamma _G`$. Then $`\gamma _R`$ is an analytic arc joining the “base points” $`x_R,x_R^{\mathrm{}}`$ of $`R`$. Moreover, $`\gamma _RJ_{\mathrm{}}`$, and the length of $`\gamma _R`$ is finite (Comment 1 and Theorem B (d)).

3. Let $`n1`$ be the level of the piece $`R`$. Let us look at the set $`^{ext}(R)`$ of all pieces of level $`n+1`$ which are contained in $`R`$. Then:

* (3a) they form a partition of $`R`$, i.e. they are pairwise disjoint, and the union of their closures $`\overline{P}`$ ($`P^{ext}(R)`$) united with the (closed) “vein” $`\gamma _R\{x_R\}\{x_R^{\mathrm{}}\}`$ is the closure of $`R`$,
* (3b) each $`P^{ext}(R)`$ touches the “vein” $`\gamma _R`$ at the point $`x_P`$ (Comment 4); the boundaries of $`P`$, $`R`$ are either disjoint or have a common non-trivial arc,
* (3c) the latter is true for any two pieces $`P,P^{}^{ext}(R)`$, with an extra possibility that $`P,P^{}`$ can lie on different sides of the “vein” and have the same “base point” $`x_P=x_P^{}`$,
* (3d) all $`P^{ext}(R)`$ as well as $`R`$ have roughly the same shape (see Theorem B (d)).
* (3e) the ”base points” $`x_R,x_R^{\mathrm{}}`$ divide $`R`$ into two simple curves: $`L^\pm (R)`$ (in other words, $`L^+(R)L^{}(R)\{x_R^{\mathrm{}}\}=L(R)`$). As it follows from Comment 6, either curve $`L^\pm (R)`$ consists of a sequence $`\{L_n^\pm (R)\}_{n=\mathrm{}}^+\mathrm{}`$ of (closed) sub-arcs of boundaries of pieces $`R_n^\pm `$ from $`^{ext}(R)`$ (so that $`x_{R_n^+}=x_{R_n^{}}`$), which accumulate at the points $`x_R,x_R^{\mathrm{}}`$: $`lim_n\mathrm{}L_n^\pm (R)=\{x_R\}`$, $`lim_{n+\mathrm{}}L_n^\pm (R)=\{x_R^{\mathrm{}}\}`$.

For every large enough integer $`m`$, denote by $`W_m(R)`$ the domain bounded by the arcs $`L_n^\pm ,nm`$, the points $`x_R^{\mathrm{}}`$ and $`x_{R_m^+}=x_{R_m^{}}`$, and arcs of $`R_m^\pm `$ from $`x_{R_m^\pm }`$ to $`R`$.
* (3f) if $`y`$ is an end point of an arc $`L_n^\pm (R)`$, then, for some non-negative $`n,j`$, the point $`g^n(y/\alpha ^j)`$ belongs to the set $`\{c\mathrm{exp}(i2\pi j/r),c^{}\mathrm{exp}(i2\pi j/r),j=0,\mathrm{},r1\}`$. Indeed, it is enough to prove it when $`R`$ is of depth zero. Note that $`y`$ belongs to the boundaries of two different pieces. Then iterating it further we apply Theorem A (5) and get the statement.

### 4.2 Neighborhoods of points

Fix a point $`zM^{ext}Y`$. That is, for some non-negative $`n,j`$, the point $`w=w(z)=g^n(z/\alpha ^j)`$ is either infinity or belongs to one of the curves $`L\mathrm{exp}(i2\pi j/r),L^{}\mathrm{exp}(i2\pi j/r)`$ ($`0jr1`$). We want to describe a basis of neighborhoods at $`z`$ as union of pieces. Consider two cases.

* $`z`$ is not a “base point” $`x_R^{\mathrm{}}`$ of any piece $`R`$. Then, by Comment 4, the corresponding $`w`$ is a boundary point of at least $`2`$ and at most $`3`$ closed pieces of level $`1`$, such that their union forms a closed neighborhood of $`w`$. Returning to $`z`$ and using (3e), we find a sequence of closed neighborhoods $`W_n(z)`$ of $`z`$ shrinking to $`z`$, such that each $`W_n(z)`$ is the union of at least $`2`$ and at most $`3`$ closed pieces.
* $`z`$ is a “base point” $`x_R^{\mathrm{}}`$ of a piece $`R`$. It follows from the definition of $`x_R^{\mathrm{}}`$, that then there are exactly $`r1`$ pieces $`R_j,j=1,\mathrm{},r1`$, so that $`z=x_{R_j}^{\mathrm{}}`$. Moreover, all $`R_j`$ are of the same depth (and, in fact, of the same level). Similarly to the first case, we then get a sequence of closed neighborhoods $`W_n(z)`$ of $`z`$ shrinking to $`z`$, such that each $`W_n(z)`$ is the union of at least $`1`$ and at most $`2`$ closed pieces AND $`r1`$ closures of domains $`W_n(R_j),j=1,\mathrm{},r1`$ defined in (3e) (see the previous subsection).

## 5 Theorem C and Corollary

### 5.1 Proof of Theorem C

If $`zJ^{ess}`$, (a) follows directly from Theorem B(b)-(c). If $`zM^{ext}Y`$, then (a) follows from Section 4.2.

To prove (c) we need

Fact. There is $`C^{}`$ such that, for any piece $`R`$ and any point $`w\overline{R}`$, there exists a rectifiable curve $`\sigma (w,x_R)RJ_{\mathrm{}}`$ (in fact, consisting of closed (arcs of) “veins” of different pieces), which joins $`w`$ and the “base point” $`x_R`$ and of length less than $`C^{}`$diam$`R`$.

Indeed, let $`R`$ be of level $`n`$; if $`zY`$, then, by (a), $`\{w\}=_{kn}\overline{R_k(w)}`$ where $`R_k(w)`$ is a piece of level $`k`$ s.t. $`w\overline{R_k(w)}`$. Moreover, for any $`kn`$, $`R_{k+1}(w)`$ is contained in $`R_k(w)`$ and touches the “vein” of $`R_k(w)`$. With this representation, the curve $`\sigma (w,x_R)`$ arises naturally: we start at $`x_R`$ and follow the “vein” $`\gamma _R`$ until the base point $`x_{R_{n+1}(w)}`$, then follow the “vein” $`\gamma _{R_{n+1}(w)}`$ until the base point $`x_{R_{n+2}(w)}`$ etc. Now Fact is a corollary of Theorem B (d). If $`zY`$, then $`y`$ belongs to a “vein” of a piece $`R_m`$ contained in $`R_n(w)`$. Then we repeat the above construction going along “veins” from the piece $`R_m`$ until the base point $`x_R`$.

Then (c) follows from the Fact and Theorem B (c).

It remains to prove (b) and (b’). The existence of the curve $`l(x,y)`$ ($`x,y\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }}`$) follows from (i)-(vii):

* (i) if $`l(x,y)`$ is constructed then one can set $`l(|\alpha |^jx,|\alpha |^jy)=|\alpha |^jl(x,y)`$, $`j𝐙`$.
* (ii) it is enough to construct $`l(x,c)`$, for any $`x\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }}`$, because then $`l(x,y)`$ will be a composition of the curves $`l(x,c),l(c,y)`$ with cancelling out arcs passing in opposite directions.
* (iii) if $`x𝐑^+`$ or $`xR`$, where $`R`$ is a piece of level one, which lies in the closed “sector” $`S`$ bounded by the curves $`L`$ and $`𝐑^+`$, then using (i) and Comment 5, we see that the curve $`l(x,c)`$ exists, belong to $`S`$ and it goes inside some of the curves $`L(R)`$ where $`R`$ runs over the pieces of level one.
* (iv) let $`x\overline{G}`$, for a piece $`G`$ of depth zero (since $`x\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }}`$, it means that $`x`$ belongs to the closed “sector” bounded by $`L`$ and $`\mathrm{exp}(2\pi i/r)𝐑^+`$). Moreover, assume that $`x`$ lies either on the ray $`\mathrm{exp}(2\pi i/r)𝐑^+`$ or in $`R`$, for a piece $`R`$ of level one. Consider the point $`g(x)`$. It belongs to the “sector” $`S`$ (defined in (iii)). Using (i) and (iii), we obtain the curve $`l(g(x),c)`$, and then define the curve $`l(x,g^1(c))=g^1(l(g(x),c))`$, with a branch $`g^1:g(G)G`$. Extending the curve $`l(x,g^1(c))`$ along the boundary of $`G`$ to infinity, we get a curve $`l(x,\mathrm{})`$ which lies in $`\overline{G}`$ and consists of arcs of the curves $`L(R)`$ where $`R`$ are pieces of level one.

Cases (iii)-(iv) cover the points $`x\overline{\mathrm{\Pi }}`$ belonging either to two rays $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ or to the boundary of a piece of level one.
* (v) now we can go into deeper levels. Let $`x\overline{R}_n`$, for some $`R_n^{ext}`$, a piece of level $`n`$, and such that $`x`$ lies either on the “vein” $`\gamma _{R_n}`$ or in the boundary $`R_{n+1}`$ of a piece $`R_{n+1}`$ of level $`n+1`$. Using (i) one can assume that $`R_n`$. If now $`m0`$ is so that $`g^m(R_n)=G_0`$, then we can apply (iv) to the point $`g^m(x)\overline{G}`$. Going back to $`\overline{R}_n`$ by a branch of $`g^m`$, we get the curve $`l(x,x_{R_n}^{\mathrm{}})\overline{R}_n`$. It consists of arcs of curves $`L(R)`$, for a collection of pieces $`RR_n`$ of level $`n+1`$.
* (vi) let $`xY\mathrm{\Pi }`$. Then $`x`$ lies in a “vein” of a closed piece $`R_n`$ of a maximal level $`n`$. Then use (v) to get $`l(x,x_{R_n}^{\mathrm{}})`$. Since $`x_{R_n}^{\mathrm{}}`$ lies in a closed piece $`R_{n1}`$ of level $`n1`$, we get $`l(x_{R_n}^{\mathrm{}},x_{R_{n1}}^{\mathrm{}})`$ which composing with $`l(x,x_{R_n}^{\mathrm{}})`$ gives $`l(x,x_{R_{n1}}^{\mathrm{}})`$ etc. until we get $`l(x,x_R^{\mathrm{}})`$, where $`x_R^{\mathrm{}}`$ is a base point of a piece $`R`$ of level one. Then apply (iv). Above considerations treat also the case when $`x^{ext}`$.
* (vii) finally, let $`xJ^{ess}`$. Then $`\{x\}=_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}R_n(x)`$, and $`l(x,c)`$ can be defined as the composition of curves $`l(x_{R_n(x)}^{\mathrm{}},x_{R_{n+1}(x)}^{\mathrm{}})`$ for all $`n`$.

Let’s prove the uniqueness. If $`x,y`$ are not in $`J_{\mathrm{}}`$, then $`l(x,y)`$ is unique because otherwise (as in the proof of Corollary 1.1) $`J_{\mathrm{}}`$ would not be connected. Let now $`x|\alpha |^nJY`$. If there are two different simple curves joining $`x,y`$ and satisfying (b1)-(b2) of Theorem C, then again because $`J_{\mathrm{}}`$ is connected, for some $`mn`$, the set $`|\alpha |^mJ\{x\}`$ has at least two components. This is equivalent to say that $`x|\alpha |^mY_0`$, a contradiction.

(b’): (i) is clear from the construction, (ii): notice that, by the construction of the curves $`l(x,y)`$, any two such curve are either disjoint, or intersected along an arc, so that each its end point belongs to two different pieces. It remains to apply the property (3f) of Sect. 4.1.

### 5.2 Proof of Corollary 1.1 (b2)

We need to show that the curves $`l(x,y)z`$ whenever $`x,y,zW`$ and $`x,yz`$.

If $`zJ^{ess}`$, then $`z`$ is the intersection of nested sequence of (open) pieces $`R_n(z)`$, so that $`R_n(z)`$ is a neighborhood of $`z`$. Then the statement follows from Theorem C (a).

If $`zM^{ext}Y`$, then we use the sequence of closed neighborhoods $`W_n(z)`$ of $`z`$ constructed in Section 4.2: $`l(x,y)W_n(z)`$ whenever $`x,yW_n(z)`$. Since $`W_n(z)`$ shrink to $`z`$, we get the result.

## 6 Appendix: proof of Lemma 2.3 and Corollary 2.1

Remind that $`I`$ is the limit set of the system of maps $`S=\{\phi _i:XX\}_{1i3}`$.

Proof of Lemma 2.3. We need to find $`0<h2`$ and a non-atomic probability measure $`\mu `$ with its support $`supp(\mu )=I`$, which is $`h`$-conformal, i.e., $`\mu (\phi _i(A))=_A|\phi _i^{}(x)|^h𝑑\mu (x)`$ for $`i=1,2,3`$ and any Borel set $`AX`$. There are two ways of proving such statements. One method goes back to Bowen and Ruelle, and is developed e.g. in ; first, it is shown the existence of so-called semi-conformal measure, which is a fixed point of the corresponding adjoint Ruelle transfer operator, then the condition (5) of Lemma 2.1 can be used to prove that this semi-conformal measure is actually conformal (see the proof of Lemma 3.10 of ). Here we follow the second, more direct approach of , where the existence of conformal measure for rational maps is proved. Main difference with  is that the “expanding” system of inverse maps $`\phi _i^1`$ does not glue to a global map. On the other hand, the set of points where it does not happen, $`\phi _i(X)\phi _j(X),ij`$, is “small” because of Lemma 2.1 (5).

Fix a point $`zInt(X)I`$. For every $`s>0`$, define the series

$$P(s):=\underset{\epsilon \mathrm{\Delta }}{}|\phi _\epsilon ^{}(z)|^s,$$

where $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is the set of all finite words $`\epsilon `$. Considering the area case ($`s=2`$), we see that $`P(s)`$ is finite for $`s2`$. Define

$$h=inf\{s:P(s)<\mathrm{}\}.$$

Then $`h>0`$ because $`inf\{i,xX:|\phi _i^{}(x)|\}>0`$. Pick up a positive function $`\tau (t),t>0`$, such that:

(i) $`\tau (t)+\mathrm{}`$ as $`t0`$ in such a way, that for all $`\delta >0`$, $`0<\lambda <\mathrm{}`$, there is $`t_0(\delta ,\lambda )`$ so that $`\tau (\lambda t)/\tau (t)(1\delta ,1+\delta )`$ for $`0<tt_0`$,

(ii) $`P_\tau (h):=_{\epsilon \mathrm{\Delta }}\tau (|\phi _\epsilon ^{}(z)|)|\phi _\epsilon ^{}(z)|^h=\mathrm{}`$

(If $`P(h)=\mathrm{}`$, there is no need for introducing the function $`\tau `$).

Notice that (i) implies that $`\tau (t)<t^a`$ for every $`a>0`$ and all $`t`$ small enough. Therefore, $`P_\tau (s):=_{\epsilon \mathrm{\Delta }}\tau (|\phi _\epsilon ^{}(z)|)|\phi _\epsilon ^{}(z)|^s<\mathrm{}`$ for $`s>h`$.

For every $`s>h`$, define a probability measure

$$\mu _s=\frac{1}{P_\tau (s)}\underset{\epsilon \mathrm{\Delta }}{}\tau (|\phi _\epsilon ^{}(z)|)|\phi _\epsilon ^{}(z)|^s\delta _{\phi _\epsilon (z)}.$$
(14)
Let $`\mu `$ be any weak limit of $`\mu _s`$ as $`s`$ desreases to $`h`$. Then (ii) implies that $`\mu `$ is supported on $`I`$. Fix $`i\{1,2,3\}`$. First consider any point $`x_0IInt(X)`$ and consider a small enough neighborhood $`U`$ of $`x_0`$. Then $`\phi _j(x)\phi _i(U)`$, for some $`xX`$, implies that $`j=i`$ and $`xU`$. Because of (i) and since the length of words $`\epsilon `$, such that $`\phi _\epsilon (z)U`$ , tends to infinity as $`U`$ shrinks to $`x_0`$, we derive that for any $`s>h`$,

$$\mu _s(\phi _i(U))/|\phi _i^{}(x_0)|^s\mu _s(U)[K^1,K],$$
(15)
where the constant $`K>1`$ tends to $`1`$ uniformly in $`s`$ as $`U`$ shrinks to $`x_0`$.

Let’s show that any $`xI`$ is not an atom of $`\mu `$. Assume the contrary. If $`x=_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\phi _{\epsilon |n}(Int(X))`$ for an infinite word $`\epsilon `$, then applying (15) finitely many times to the points $`\phi _{\epsilon |n}^1(x)`$ we come to a contradiction with the fact that the measure $`\mu `$ is finite. As for the rest of the points $`x`$, the same argument shows that one can assume from the beginning that $`xI_{1j3}\phi _j(X)=\{a_j,1j4\}`$. If $`x`$ is either $`a_1`$ or $`a_4`$, then $`x`$ is the attracting fixed point of either $`\phi _1`$ or $`\phi _3`$. If, say, $`x=a_1`$, then again, for small neighborhoods $`U`$ of $`a_1`$, $`\phi _j(y)\phi _1(U)`$, for some $`yX`$, implies that $`j=1`$ and $`yU`$. Then we can apply the same argument as above to the map $`\phi _1`$, and get a contradiction. Consider the remaining cases when $`x`$ is either $`a_2`$ or $`a_3`$, say, $`x=a_2`$. Since $`a_2=\phi _3(a_1)=\phi _1(a_4)`$, for a small neighborhood $`U`$ of $`a_2`$, $`\phi _j(y)U`$, for some $`yX`$, implies that $`j`$ is either $`3`$ or $`1`$, and $`y`$ lies in a neighborhood of $`a_1`$, $`a_4`$ resp. It shows that either $`a_1`$ or $`a_4`$ is an atom, a contradiction.

Since $`\mu `$ has no atoms and $`I_{1i3}\phi _i(X)`$ is finite, it is easy to see that the measure $`\mu ^{}`$ defined by $`\mu ^{}(A)=\mu (\phi _i(A))`$, for any Borel $`AX`$, is absolutely continues w.r.t. $`\mu `$. By the same reason, $`x_0`$ as in (15) is a typical point of $`\mu `$. Passing to the limit in (15) as $`sh`$ and $`U`$ shrinks to $`x_0`$ we have $`d\mu ^{}/d\mu =|\phi _i^{}|^h`$ $`\mu `$-a.e.

Proof of Corollary 2.1. Prove that $`h=HD(I)`$ and the $`h`$-Hausdorff measure of $`I`$ is finite and positive. This will follow in a usual way (see e.g. , Lemma 3.14) from the finiteness of the system $`S`$ and the existence of the conformal measure. By a general fact from geometric measure theory, see e.g. , it is enough to show that there exists a constant $`C>0`$, such that, for every $`xI`$ and every $`0<r<1`$,

$$C^1\frac{\mu (B(x,r))}{r^h}C.$$
(16)
Notice that by the bounded distortion property there is $`C_0`$ such that, for every finite word $`\tau `$, $`|\tau |=n`$, for every $`yX`$, we have $`C_0^1diam(\phi _\tau (X))/|\phi _\tau ^{}(y)|C_0`$, $`C_0^1area(\phi _\tau (X))/diam(\phi _\tau (X))^2C_0`$, $`C_0^1diam(\phi _\tau (X))/diam(\phi _{\tau |n1}(X))C_0`$. and $`C_0^1\mu (\phi _\tau (X))/diam(\phi _\tau (X))^hC_0`$. Let $`x=_{n=1}^{\mathrm{}}\phi _{\epsilon |n}(X)`$. Let $`m`$ be minimal such that $`\phi _{\epsilon |m}(X)B(x,r)`$. From the minimality of $`m`$ and because $`x\phi _{\epsilon |m}(X)`$, $`diam(\phi _{\epsilon |m}(X))r/C_0`$, hence, $`\mu (B(x,r))diam(\phi _{\epsilon |m}(X))^h/C_0r^h/C_0^{h+1}`$. To prove the opposite inequality, consider a collection $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ of sets of the form $`\phi _w(X)`$, such that $`B(x,r)\phi _w(X)\mathrm{}`$, $`\phi _w(X)B(x,2r)`$, and the cardinalities $`|w|`$ are minimal (i.e. if $`\phi _w(X)\mathrm{\Sigma }`$, then $`\phi _{w||w|1}(X)`$ is not a subset of $`B(x,2r)`$). Clearly, these sets form a cover of $`B(x,r)I`$, and their interiors are pairwise disjoint. From the minimality of $`|w|`$, we conclude that $`diam(\phi _w(X))r/C_0`$. Hence, $`4\pi r^2=areaB(x,2r)_{A\mathrm{\Sigma }}area(A)C_0^1_{A\mathrm{\Sigma }}diam(A)^2Nr^2/C_0^3`$, where $`N`$ is the number of elements in $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$. Therefore, $`N4\pi C_0^3`$, and, finally, $`\mu (B(x,r))_{A\mathrm{\Sigma }}\mu (A)C_0_{A\mathrm{\Sigma }}diam(A)^hNC_0(4r)^h4^{1+h}\pi C_0^4r^h`$.

Acknowledgments. I would like to thank Feliks Przytycki, Juan Rivera-Letelier, Sebastian van Strien, and Greg Swiatek for discussions, and the referee for very useful remarks that led to a revision of the paper.