On the topological conjugacy problem for interval maps

Abstract: We propose an inverse approach for dealing with interval maps based on the manner whereby their branches are related (folding property), instead of addressing the map equations as a whole. As a main result, we provide a symmetry-breaking framework for determining topological conjugacy of interval maps, a well-known open problem in ergodic theory. Implications thereof for the spectrum and eigenfunctions of the Perron-Frobenius operator are also discussed.