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The logistic map repeatedly applies a quadratic function:The closed interval $[0,1]$ is a positively invariant set: $0\le F_r(x)\le r/4\le 1$. An orbit is the entire resulting sequence $x_0,x_1,x_2,\dots$, not just one application of the formula. For example, with $r=2$ and $x_0=0.2$, the first states are $0.2,0.32,0.4352,0.49160192,\dots$, approaching the fixed point $1/2$.

As a simple model of population dynamics, $x_n$ is a scaled abundance in generation $n$. When abundance is small, $x_{n+1}/x_n=r(1-x_n)$ is close to $r$; increasing abundance reduces this per-capita multiplier. The falling side of the quadratic function represents sufficiently severe crowding reducing the next generation. The scale $x=1$ is not generally the carrying capacity: the positive fixed point is $1-1/r$. The logistic map is a discrete-generation model; the continuous-time logistic growth equation has a different evolution rule and does not produce its period-doubling cascade.

The practical question is how abundance behaves after the initial adjustment: does it settle, alternate, or continue varying? The same formula permits all these possibilities. The following figure shows three orbits, their cobweb plots, and a bifurcation diagram. In a cobweb plot, moving vertically to $y=F_r(x)$ calculates the next state, and moving horizontally to $y=x$ makes that value the input for the next step.

The fixed points solve $F_r(x)=x$:The second fixed point is in $[0,1]$ for $r\ge 1$ and coincides with zero at $r=1$. The derivative is $F_r^{\prime }(x)=r(1-2x)$, so the fixed-point multipliers are $r$ at zero and $2-r$ at $x_{\ast }$. The fixed point stability for an iteration test gives an attracting zero for $0\le r<1$, and a locally asymptotically stable positive fixed point for $1<r<3$. A multiplier of modulus one needs a nonlinear argument; the strict derivative test alone settles neither $r=1$ nor $r=3$.

This derivative test has a direct interpretation. A small error $e_n=x_n-x_{\ast }$ obeysAt $r=2.8$, the leading multiplier is $-0.8$: the error changes sign, explaining the alternating approach, while its magnitude eventually shrinks by approximately a factor $0.8$ per step. At $r=3.2$, the multiplier is $-1.2$, and the positive fixed point repels nearby states. However, a different outcome has asymptotic stability: the logistic map two-cycle attracts nearby orbits.

For $3<r<1+\sqrt{6}$, the attracting period-two orbit has the two valuesAt $r=3.2$ they are approximately $0.513045$ and $0.799455$, with $F_r(x_{-})=x_{+}$ and $F_r(x_{+})=x_{-}$. Their periodic-orbit multiplier is $4+2r-r^2=0.16$, so a small displacement shrinks over two steps even though the fixed point is unstable. The brief algebraic justification is to factor $F_r^2(x)-x$, remove the fixed point factors, and multiply the two derivatives using the chain rule.

At $r=3$, the positive fixed-point multiplier passes through $-1$ and a period-doubling bifurcation creates the period-two orbit. At $r=1+\sqrt{6}\approx 3.44949$, its periodic-orbit multiplier passes through $-1$ and an attracting period-four periodic orbit emerges. At $r=3.5$, the period-four values are approximately $0.382820,0.826941,0.500884,0.874997$ in that order. Further period-doubling bifurcations accumulate near $r\approx 3.56995$. Beyond that value there are also parameter windows with attracting periodic orbits, including a period-three window near $r=3.83$. Neither a crowded numerical plot nor a parameter beyond the accumulation value proves sensitive dependence on initial conditions on the attracting set.

The endpoint $r=4$ supplies an analytically transparent example. The homeomorphism $h(u)={\sin }^2(\pi u/2)$ satisfieswhere $T$ is the full tent map. Thus these maps have topological conjugacy; stretching and folding in the tent map explain sensitive dependence on initial conditions and Devaney chaos for $F_4$ on $[0,1]$. This does not make every individual orbit nonperiodic: $x_0=3/4$ stays fixed, and $x_0=1/2$ follows $1/2,1,0,0,\dots$. Sensitivity means that these exceptional orbits also have arbitrarily close initial states that eventually depart substantially.

Robert M. May's "Simple mathematical models with very complicated dynamics" (1976), Nature 261, pp. 459–467, reviewed how simple deterministic recurrence relations can pass from stable abundances through period-doubling cascades to irregular behaviour. May presented the logistic map as an especially accessible example and discussed the relevance of such models to population dynamics. The paper explicitly describes itself as a review of results found by several researchers, bringing their findings together for a broad scientific audience.^[ref]

We count periodic orbits whose trajectories remain near the two specified homoclinic orbits; the local hypotheses impose no bound on unrelated distant cycles. Choose the return domain small enough that $A\delta |x{|}^{\delta -1}$ and $B\delta |x{|}^{\delta -1}$ are less than one. Each admissible return branch is then a contraction mapping.

A right-lobe periodic orbit is a fixed point $(p,+1)$ with $p>0$ and $p=-\mu +A{p}^{\delta }$. For small amplitudes it exists exactly when $\mu <0$, and $p=-\mu +o(|\mu |)$. Similarly, a left-lobe periodic orbit has $(x,y)=(-q,-1)$, $q>0$, $q=-\nu +B{q}^{\delta }$, and exists for $\nu <0$. Their Floquet multipliers tend to zero, so both are attracting.

A period-two orbit of the section map corresponds to one flow periodic orbit traversing both lobes. Write its states as $(p,-1)$ and $(-q,+1)$. Its positive amplitudes satisfyThe two-step derivative is $AB{\delta }^2{p}^{\delta -1}{q}^{\delta -1}$, again tending to zero. The asymmetric planar gluing return map therefore gives at most one such attracting two-lobe cycle in the small domain. Its boundaries are obtained by setting one amplitude to zero:For the original flow these are leading equations, with corrections $o({\nu }^{\delta })$ or $o({\mu }^{\delta })$. On $C_R$, the negative unstable branch makes both excursions before returning to the positive stable branch; on $C_L$ the positive unstable branch returns to the negative stable branch. Each is a compound homoclinic orbit, with one extra passage near the saddle equilibrium. They are distinct from the primary loop curves $\mu =0$ and $\nu =0$.

The six open regions and their local cycles are:

There is no additional small alternating cycle when both parameters are negative. Indeed the two positive-amplitude equations would imply $q<A{p}^{\delta }$ and $p<B{q}^{\delta }$, giving $p<B{A}^{\delta }{p}^{{\delta }^2}$, impossible for sufficiently small positive $p$. On each mixed-sign quadrant the contraction equations give the two-lobe cycle precisely on the side of the compound curve toward the positive quadrant.

On $\mu =0$, there is the primary right homoclinic orbit, together with a left cycle if $\nu <0$ or a two-lobe cycle if $\nu >0$. On $\nu =0$ the analogous statement holds with left and right interchanged. On $C_R$ there is a compound homoclinic orbit and the right single-lobe cycle; on $C_L$ there is a compound homoclinic orbit and the left single-lobe cycle. At $(0,0)$ the two primary loops meet at the same saddle equilibrium. The approach to each homoclinic orbit has a diverging period; it is not a saddle-node collision of two finite-period cycles.

With reflection symmetry, choose $\mu =\nu =m$ and $A=B$. The two primary homoclinic orbit curves are then encountered simultaneously at $m=0$. For $m<0$ the return has two attracting single-lobe cycles; for $m>0$ it has one attracting two-lobe cycle. This is the symmetric homoclinic gluing bifurcation: two cycles meet the two saddle loops and are replaced by a cycle traversing both lobes. Since $\delta >1$, the saddle equilibrium contracts strongly enough for the nearby cycles to be stable.

One can also use the signed gluing-map reduction $z=-xy$. In the symmetric return map it gives $z^{\prime }=m+A\mathrm{sgn}(z)|z{|}^{\delta }$. A negative fixed point lifts to two reflection-related flow cycles; a positive fixed point lifts to one period-two orbit of the two-sheet section map, hence one two-lobe flow cycle. This distinction prevents counting the two section intersections as two different flow cycles.

Without reflection symmetry the two splitting parameters are independent. The primary loops occur separately, and the two compound curves bound small coexistence wedges where a single-lobe and a two-lobe cycle are both stable. Thus the six-region picture is the generic two-parameter unfolding of the symmetric gluing event. The simultaneous encounter of both primary loops is codimension two for a general planar flow but codimension one in the reflection-symmetric family. The contraction argument applies to the small return domain; it makes no assertion that a globally arbitrary $P,Q$ system has only these cycles everywhere.

Let a scalar fixed point have magnitude $r>0$. If $z=-r<0$, then $x$ and $y$ have the same sign; the two lifts are the fixed points $(r,1)$ and $(-r,-1)$. If $z=r>0$, their signs are opposite, and the lift is the period-two orbit $(r,-1)\leftrightarrow (-r,1)$. The scalar fixed-point multiplier isThe two-return fixed-point multiplier of the period-two lift is $m^2$, so in either case dynamical stability requires $m<1$. The negative fixed point represents one of two mirror-related single-lobe periodic orbits in the flow, whereas the positive fixed point represents a double-lobe periodic orbit.

For $\delta >1$, the nearby fixed point is $z=\mu +o(\mu )$ and its fixed-point multiplier tends to zero. Thus two stable single-lobe limit cycles for $\mu <0$ glue into one stable double-lobe limit cycle for $\mu >0$. Their periods diverge as the separatrix is approached; $\mu =0,z=0$ is not a finite-period limit cycle.

For $0<\delta <1$, the small branch instead satisfies $z\sim -\mathrm{sgn}(\mu )(|\mu |/A{)}^{1/\delta }$ and its fixed-point multiplier tends to infinity. Hence one unstable double-lobe limit cycle on $\mu <0$ splits into two unstable single-lobe limit cycles on $\mu >0$. Additional finite-size stable branches depend on the surrounding map; near the resonance $\delta =1$ with $A<1$ they are resolved by the saddle-node bifurcations in part (c).

The map normal forms at multiplier $+1$ are given in the numbered subparts below. For the multiplier $-1$ problem, the second iterate instead exposes the emerging period-two cycle.

For the multiplier $-1$ problem, write $x=X+\alpha /2$. To the required weighted order, with $X=O({\mu }^{1/2})$, the shifted map is $X_{n+1}=-X_n+b{X}_n+\gamma X_n^2+\delta X_n^3$, where $b=\beta +\alpha \gamma$. Composing it with itself cancels the quadratic term. The cubic contribution is $-2\delta X^3-2{\gamma }^2{X}^3$, while the linear correction is $-2bX$. Consequently the quadratic-cubic flip criticality calculation givesThus the second iterate has normal form $X_{n+2}=X_n+\hat{\mu }{X}_n-A{X}_n^3$, up to terms of weighted order at least four. This is the asymptotic interpretation of the stated remainder under $X=O({\mu }^{1/2})$; a uniformly valid local expansion about the exact fixed point also retains mixed parameter remainders.

Assuming $\hat{\mu }$ crosses zero transversely and $A\ne 0$, the small nonzero fixed points of the second iterate satisfy $X^2\sim \hat{\mu }/A$. They form a period-two orbit. For $A>0$ they exist on the side $\hat{\mu }>0$, where the original fixed point has become unstable, and the second-iterate multiplier is $1-2\hat{\mu }+o(\hat{\mu })$, so the cycle is stable. The period-doubling bifurcation is therefore supercritical precisely when $\delta +{\gamma }^2>0$. Equality is a degenerate case requiring higher-order terms.

For the real logistic map, $f(x)=x$ factors asThere is always the fixed point $x_0=0$. If $\mu \ne 0$ there is also $x_{\ast }=1-1/\mu$, distinct from zero unless $\mu =1$. At $\mu =0$ the map is constant and zero is its only fixed point. Negative $\mu$ must be retained because the paper specifies $x\in \mathbb{R}$.

Since $f^{\prime }(x)=\mu (1-2x)$, the fixed-point multipliers areThe fixed point stability for an iteration criterion gives $x_0$ attracting for $-1<\mu <1$, and $x_{\ast }$ attracting for $1<\mu <3$. The respective fixed points are repelling when $|\mu |>1$ and $|2-\mu |>1$. At the unit-modulus boundaries the linear criterion needs a nonlinear supplement.

At $\mu =1$, the two fixed point branches meet and exchange stability: this is a transcritical bifurcation. Explicitly, with $\delta =\mu -1$,which has the required nonzero parameter and quadratic terms. At the critical value itself, $f(x)=x-x^2$ attracts small positive points and pushes negative points away, so the merged fixed point is not stable from both sides.

At $\mu =-1$ the origin’s fixed-point multiplier crosses $-1$, while at $\mu =3$ the nonzero fixed-point multiplier crosses $-1$. Both are period-doubling bifurcations. To check existence and stability of the new periodic orbit, factor the second iteration of a map:The two non-fixed roots areThey form a real period-two orbit for $\mu <-1$ or $\mu >3$. Its periodic-orbit multiplier isIt is less than one in absolute value just below $-1$ and just above $3$, respectively. Thus these are supercritical bifurcations in the direction where the parent fixed point loses stability. At the critical values the fixed points themselves are weakly attracting: at $\mu =-1$, $f^2(x)=x-2x^3+x^4$; at $\mu =3$, setting $u=x-2/3$ gives $u\mapsto u-18u^3-27u^4$ after two steps. Both shrink sufficiently small nonzero absolute values. The bifurcation values for finite fixed points are thereforeThe disappearance of the formula for $x_{\ast }$ at $\mu =0$ corresponds to that branch going to infinity, not a local bifurcation at a finite fixed point.

A fixed point $x_{\ast }$ satisfies $f(x_{\ast },\mu )=x_{\ast }$. A perturbation obeys $u_{n+1}=m{u}_n+O(u_n^2)$, where the periodic-orbit multiplier is $m=f_x(x_{\ast },\mu )$. It is linearly attracting for $|m|<1$ and repelling for $|m|>1$; at $m=\pm 1$ nonlinear terms decide Lyapunov stability. A crossing through $+1$ can produce a saddle-node, transcritical or pitchfork bifurcation, depending on the mathematical model parameter dependence and symmetry. A crossing through $-1$ generically gives a period-doubling bifurcation. A real one-dimensional function cannot have the complex conjugate pair needed for a Neimark–Sacker bifurcation.

For a genuine period-two orbit, study the return map $f\circ f$ at either point. By the chain rule its periodic-orbit multiplier isIts modulus determines linear stability by the same criterion, now per two iterates.

For the real quadratic iteration map, the fixed-point equation givesThe derivative is $-2x$. The lower branch $x_{-}$ is repelling whenever $\mu >-1/4$. The upper branch satisfies $|-2x_{+}|<1$ exactly forAt $\mu =-1/4$ the two fixed points merge in a saddle-node bifurcation. With $u=x+1/2$ at that mathematical model parameter, $u^{\prime }=u-u^2$, so the point attracts from the right and is repelling from the left. At $\mu =3/4$, $x_{+}=1/2$ has periodic-orbit multiplier $-1$ and undergoes a period-doubling bifurcation. At the threshold itself $u^{\prime }=-u-u^2$ and the two-step return is $u^{\prime \prime }=u-2u^3-u^4$, proving weak asymptotic stability there despite the inconclusive linear test.

Factor the second-iterate equation:Removing the fixed-point factor yields the periodic orbit pointsThey are distinct and exchanged by $f$ exactly when $\mu >3/4$; at equality they coincide with the fixed point. Their product is $1-\mu$, hence their periodic-orbit multiplier is $4(1-\mu )$. ThusIt is repelling for $\mu >5/4$ and reaches its next period-doubling bifurcation threshold at $\mu =5/4$. At that exact endpoint it is weakly attracting: if $f^2$ is expanded about either periodic orbit point as $v^{\prime }=-v+A{v}^2+B{v}^3+O(v^4)$, then $A=2\mu -6x_i^2$, $B=-4x_i$, and $A^2+B=20\pm 10\sqrt{2}>0$. Its second return is $v^{\prime \prime }=v-2(A^2+B)v^3+O(v^4)$.

At $\mu =2$ put $h(y)=4{\sin }^2(\pi y)-2=-2\cos (2\pi y)$. The double-angle identity givesThis verifies the printed relation to the Bernoulli shift. Precisely, it is a semiconjugacy: $h(y)=h(1-y)$, so it is not invertible on the circle. To obtain a genuine interval topological conjugacy, use the homeomorphism $H(u)=-2\cos (\pi u)$ from $[0,1]$ onto $[-2,2]$, and the full tent mapThe same identity proves $f(H(u),2)=H(T(u))$.

The full tent map has dense periodic points, is topologically mixing and has sensitive dependence on initial conditions. To see these properties directly, its $n$th iterate has $2^n$ monotone branches on dyadic intervals of length $2^{-n}$, each mapping onto $[0,1]$. Every nonempty open interval contains such a branch domain, and a later iterate covers all of $[0,1]$, proving topological mixing. On any branch, the function graph of the iterate has a fixed point by the intermediate value theorem, so periodic points occur in every open interval. Given any initial point and any neighborhood, some iterate of that neighborhood covers the interval; one can choose a nearby point whose image differs from the initial point's image by at least a fixed positive distance. This proves sensitive dependence on initial conditions. Uniform continuity of the inverse homeomorphism transfers these properties to $f$ on $[-2,2]$.

Consequently the real quadratic iteration map is chaotic on its invariant interval in the Devaney sense: topological transitivity, dense periodic points and sensitive dependence on initial conditions, with all these orbits bounded. There are also aperiodic orbits: periodic points form a countable union of finite sets of roots of an equation of the equations $f^n(x)=x$, whereas the interval is uncountable. The semiconjugacy alone would not justify treating $h$ as invertible; the tent-map argument supplies the missing rigorous transfer.

The family $x_{n+1}=\mu -x_n^2$ has fixed points $(-1\pm \sqrt{1+4\mu })/2$. Its upper branch attracts linearly for $-1/4<\mu <3/4$ and loses stability in a period-doubling bifurcation. The resulting two-cycle has points $(1\pm \sqrt{4\mu -3})/2$ and multiplier $4(1-\mu )$, attracting for $3/4<\mu <5/4$. At $\mu =2$, the map is conjugate on $[-2,2]$ to the full tent map.

For $x^{\prime }=-\mu \mathrm{sgn}(x)+A\mathrm{sgn}(y)|x{|}^{\delta }$, $y^{\prime }=\mathrm{sgn}(x)$, the invariant sign sheet has $y=\pm 1$ after one iterate. There $z=-xy$ obeys the displayed one-dimensional map. A negative fixed $z$ lifts to two symmetry-related fixed points, while a positive fixed $z$ lifts to one period-two orbit. The origin of the return map represents the separatrix, where the flow return time diverges, and is not an ordinary finite-period orbit of a group action.