Density of first Poincare returns, periodic orbits, and Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy

It is known that unstable periodic orbits of a given map give information about the natural measure of a chaotic attractor. In this work we show how these orbits can be used to calculate the density function of the first Poincare returns. The close relation between periodic orbits and the Poincare returns allows for estimates of relevant quantities in dynamical systems, as the Kolmogorov Sinai entropy, in terms of this density function. Since return times can be trivially observed and measured, our approach to calculate this entropy is highly oriented to the treatment of experimental systems. We also develop a method for the numerical computation of unstable periodic orbits. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.