On Lipschitz equivalence of finite-dimensional linear flows

Abstract

Two flows on a finite-dimensional normed space $X$ are Lipschitz equivalent if some homeomorphism $h$ of $X$ that is bi-Lipschitz near the origin preserves all orbits, i.e., $h$ maps each orbit onto an orbit. A complete classification by Lipschitz equivalence is established for all linear flows on $X$, in terms of basic linear algebra properties of their generators. Utilizing equivalence instead of the much more restrictive conjugacy, the classification theorem significantly extends known results. The analysis is entirely elementary though somewhat intricate. It highlights, more clearly than does the existing literature, the fundamental roles played by linearity and finite-dimensionality.