Statistical instability for contracting Lorenz flows

Abstract: We consider one parameter families of vector fields introduced by Rovella, obtained through modifying the eigenvalues of the geometric Lorenz attractor, replacing the expanding condition on the eigenvalues of the singularity by a contracting one. We show that there is no statistical stability within the set of parameters for which there is a physical measure supported on the attractor. This is achieved obtaining a similar conclusion at the level of the corresponding one-dimensional contracting Lorenz maps.