Distribution of periodic orbits for the Casati–Prosen map on rational lattices

We study numerically the periodic orbits of the Casati–Prosen map, a two-parameter reversible map of the torus, with zero entropy. For rational parameter values, this map preserves rational lattices, and each lattice decomposes into periodic orbits. We consider the distribution function of the periods over prime lattices, and its dependence on the parameters of the map. Based on extensive numerical evidence, we conjecture that, asymptotically, almost all orbits are symmetric, and that for a set of rational parameters having full density, the distribution function approaches the gamma-distribution R ( x ) = 1 − e − x ( 1 + x ) . These properties, which have been proved to hold for random reversible maps, were previously thought to require a stronger form of deterministic randomness, such as that displayed by rational automorphisms over finite fields. Furthermore, we show that the gamma-distribution is the limit of a sequence of singular distributions which are observed on certain lines in parameter space. Our experiments reveal that the convergence rate to R is highly non-uniform in parameter space, being slowest in sharply-defined regions reminiscent of resonant zones in Hamiltonian perturbation theory. ► We study the concept of reversibility for a zero-entropy map on a discrete space. ► We examine the distribution of periodic orbit lengths. ► We show a smooth universal period distribution, for almost all parameters. ► We show a sequence of singular distributions converging to the above.