Improved polynomial rates of memory loss for nonstationary intermittent dynamical systems

We study nonstationary dynamical systems formed by sequential concatenation of nonuniformly expanding maps with a uniformly expanding first return map. Assuming a polynomially decaying upper bound on the tails of first return times that is nonuniform with respect to location in the sequence, we derive a corresponding sharp polynomial rate of memory loss. As applications, we obtain new estimates on the rate of memory loss for random ergodic compositions of Pomeau–Manneville type intermittent maps and intermittent maps with unbounded derivatives.