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[#P3138] Positive metric entropy for the standard map

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Problem. Does there exist a nonzero real parameter \(K\) for which the Chirikov standard map \(T_K(x,y)=(x+y+K\sin x,\,y+K\sin x)\pmod{2\pi}\) has positive Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy with respect to Lebesgue area?

Mixed phase space of the standard map.
A structural topology diagram of the statement's mathematical objects.
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Definitions and notation

1Context

Known frontier: Positive entropy can be created by nearby conservative perturbations, and hyperbolic sets of zero area are known for many parameters. Open boundary: Positive Lebesgue metric entropy for the exact standard map at any K remains unproved.

2Problem setup

Definition 1 (standard map). The displayed map of the two-torus, up to the conventional coordinate ordering.

Definition 2 (metric entropy). Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy computed with invariant Lebesgue measure.

Remark 1. The standard map is an explicit analytic area-preserving twist map. Numerics show large chaotic seas, yet proving a positive-area set with nonzero Lyapunov exponent for any parameter has resisted current methods.

3What counts as a solution

  • Exhibit K≠0 and prove h_Leb(T_K)>0.
  • Or prove h_Leb(T_K)=0 for every real K.

1Status

Saved packet · August 1, 2026

What counts as a solution

Saved packet status (Current status and exact unresolved remainder). OPEN as checked on 2026-08-01. Strongest checked neighboring result: Positive entropy can be created by nearby conservative perturbations, and hyperbolic sets of zero area are known for many parameters. Exact unresolved remainder: Positive Lebesgue metric entropy for the exact standard map at any K remains unproved.[1][2]

1Packet records

4 records

Notes and companion material

Original intake status. OPEN as checked on 2026-08-01. Strongest checked neighboring result: Positive entropy can be created by nearby conservative perturbations, and hyperbolic sets of zero area are known for many parameters. Exact unresolved remainder: Positive Lebesgue metric entropy for the exact standard map at any K remains unproved.

  • Equivalent-formulation queries: standard map positive metric entropy exists parameter open 2026; Chirikov standard map Lebesgue entropy positive proof
  • Strongest checked neighboring result: Positive entropy can be created by nearby conservative perturbations, and hyperbolic sets of zero area are known for many parameters.
  • Exact unresolved remainder: Positive Lebesgue metric entropy for the exact standard map at any K remains unproved.

2See also

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Plain text
“Positive metric entropy for the standard map.” TheoremDB. P3138. Problem statement; statement text SHA-256 0ce6b1bfdd7a586b3105e6966ceacd14f631092309ed6cf91909e8d0bd3b7e1a. https://theoremdb.org/statement/?ref=P3138
BibTeX
@misc{theoremdb-problem-0ce6b1bfdd7a586b3105e6966ceacd14f631092309ed6cf91909e8d0bd3b7e1a,
  title = {{Positive metric entropy for the standard map}},
  howpublished = {TheoremDB},
  note = {Problem statement; statement text SHA-256 0ce6b1bfdd7a586b3105e6966ceacd14f631092309ed6cf91909e8d0bd3b7e1a},
  url = {https://theoremdb.org/statement/?ref=P3138}
}

This problem includes 4 records joined by 3 typed links, sourced from people.math.harvard.edu[1], current as of August 1, 2026.

1References

  1. Packet source. O. Knill, dissertation discussion of the standard-map entropy problem. standard map open problem discussion. people.math.harvard.edu checked 2026-08-01. standard map open problem discussion. ↗book · secondary source · checked 2026-08-01Source use: original summary.Records that existence of a parameter with positive metric entropy is open.Also cited at O. Knill, dissertation discussion of the standard-map entropy problem. standard map open problem discussion.Source used to assess the problem's recorded status.For Positive metric entropy for the standard map: This is the dated publication status for the canonical target Positive metric entropy for the standard map.Source named by the research packet.
  2. On positive metric entropy problem, Reconnect project overview. cemeai.icmc.usp.br checked 2026-08-01. Sinai positive-entropy conjecture discussion. ↗website · reference source · checked 2026-08-01Source use: original summary.Describes current weak approximation results and the unresolved exact standard-map problem.Source used to assess the problem's recorded status.For Positive metric entropy for the standard map: Describes current weak approximation results and the unresolved exact standard-map problem.

Original TheoremDB editorial statement and source synthesis; external works are used for citation only.

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