On cusps and flat tops

Abstract

We develop non-invertible Pesin theory for a new class of maps called cusp maps. These maps may have unbounded derivative, but nevertheless verify a property analogous to $C^{1+\epsilon}$. We do not require the critical points to verify a non-flatness condition, so the results are applicable to $C^{1+\epsilon}$ maps with flat critical points. If the critical points are too flat, then no absolutely continuous invariant probability measure can exist. This generalises a result of Benedicks and Misiurewicz.