Periodic points and smooth rays

Abstract

Let P : C → C P: \mathbb {C} \to \mathbb {C} be a polynomial map with disconnected filled Julia set K P K_P and let z 0 z_0 be a repelling or parabolic periodic point of P P . We show that if the connected component of K P K_P containing z 0 z_0 is non-degenerate, then z 0 z_0 is the landing point of at least one smooth external ray. The statement is optimal in the sense that all but one cycle of rays landing at z 0 z_0 may be broken.