A Computational Approach to Conley’s Decomposition Theorem

Background. The discrete dynamics generated by a continuous map can be represented combinatorially by an appropriate multivalued map on a discretization of the phase space such as a cubical grid or triangulation. Method of approach. We describe explicit algorithms for computing dynamical structures for the combinatorial multivalued maps. Results. We provide computational complexity bounds and numerical examples. Specifically we focus on the computation attractor-repeller pairs and Lyapunov functions for Morse decompositions. Conclusions. The computed discrete Lyapunov functions are weak Lyapunov functions and well-approximate a continuous Lyapunov function for the underlying map.