Multidimensional Continued Fraction Algorithms Research Articles

Generating New Partition Identities via a Generalized Continued Fraction Algorithm

Using the slow triangle map (a type of multi-dimensional continued fraction algorithm), we exhibit a method for generating any number of new identities for subsets of integer partitions.

Multidimensional continued fractions and symbolic codings of toral translations

It has been a long-standing problem to find good symbolic codings for translations on the $d$-dimensional torus that enjoy the beautiful properties of Sturmian sequences like low factor complexity and good local discrepancy properties. Inspired by Rauzy’s approach we construct such codings in terms of multidimensional continued fraction algorithms that are realized by sequences of substitutions. In particular, given any exponentially convergent continued fraction algorithm, these sequences lead to renormalization schemes which produce symbolic codings of toral translations and bounded remainder sets at all scales in a natural way. The exponential convergence properties of a continued fraction algorithm can be viewed in terms of a Pisot type condition imposed on an attached symbolic dynamical system. Using this fact, our approach provides a systematic way to confirm purely discrete spectrum results for wide classes of symbolic dynamical systems. Indeed, as our examples illustrate, we are able to confirm the Pisot conjecture for many well-known families of sequences of substitutions. These examples include classical algorithms like the Jacobi–Perron, Brun, Cassaigne–Selmer, and Arnoux–Rauzy algorithms. As a consequence, we gain symbolic codings of almost all translations of the 2-dimensional torus having factor complexity $2n + 1$ that are balanced for words, which leads to multiscale bounded remainder sets. Using the Brun algorithm, we also give symbolic codings of almost all 3-dimensional toral translations having multiscale bounded remainder sets.

Almost everywhere balanced sequences of complexity 2n + 1

We study ternary sequences associated with a multidimensional continued fraction algorithm introduced by the first author. The algorithm is defined by two matrices and we show that it is measurably isomorphic to the shift on the set $\{1,2\}^\mathbb{N}$ of directive sequences. For a given set $\mathcal{C}$ of two substitutions, we show that there exists a $\mathcal{C}$-adic sequence for every vector of letter frequencies or, equivalently, for every directive sequence. We show that their factor complexity is at most $2n+1$ and is $2n+1$ if and only if the letter frequencies are rationally independent if and only if the $\mathcal{C}$-adic representation is primitive. It turns out that in this case, the sequences are dendric. We also prove that $\mu$-almost every $\mathcal{C}$-adic sequence is balanced, where $\mu$ is any shift-invariant ergodic Borel probability measure on $\{1,2\}^\mathbb{N}$ giving a positive measure to the cylinder $[12121212]$. We also prove that the second Lyapunov exponent of the matrix cocycle associated with the measure $\mu$ is negative.

On Gauss--Kuzmin statistics and the transfer operator for a multidimensional continued fraction algorithm: the triangle map

On Gauss--Kuzmin statistics and the transfer operator for a multidimensional continued fraction algorithm: the triangle map

Ergodicity for [formula omitted]-adic continued fraction algorithms

Following Schweiger’s generalization of multidimensional continued fraction algorithms, we consider a very large family of p-adic multidimensional continued fraction algorithms, which include Schneider’s algorithm, Ruban’s algorithms, and the p-adic Jacobi–Perron algorithm as special cases. The main result is to show that all the transformations in the family are ergodic with respect to the Haar measure.

Functional analysis behind a family of multidimensional continued fractions. Part II

This paper is a direct continuation of Functional analysis behind a Family of Multidimensional Continued Fractions: Part I, in which we started the exploration of the functional analysis behind the transfer operators for triangle partition maps, a family that includes many, if not most, well-known multidimensional continued fraction algorithms. This allows us now to find eigenfunctions of eigenvalue 1 for transfer operators associated with select triangle partition maps on specified Banach spaces. We proceed to prove that the transfer operators, viewed as acting on one-dimensional families of Hilbert spaces, associated with select triangle partition maps are nuclear of trace class zero. We finish by deriving Gauss-Kuzmin distributions associated with select triangle partition maps.

Simplicity of spectra for certain multidimensional continued fraction algorithms

We introduce a new strategy to prove simplicity of the spectrum of Lyapunov exponents that can be applied to a wide class of Markovian multidimensional continued fraction algorithms. As an application we use it for Selmer algorithm in dimension 2 and for the Triangle sequence algorithm and show that these algorithms are not optimal.

Functional analysis behind a family of multidimensional continued fractions. Part I

This paper is a direct continuation of "Functional analysis behind a Family of Multidimensional Continued Fractions: Part I," in which we started the exploration of the functional analysis behind the transfer operators for triangle partition maps, a family that includes many, if not most, well-known multidimensional continued fraction algorithms. This allows us now to find eigenfunctions of eigenvalue 1 for transfer operators associated with select triangle partition maps on specified Banach spaces. We proceed to prove that the transfer operators, viewed as acting on one-dimensional families of Hilbert spaces, associated with select triangle partition maps are nuclear of trace class zero. We finish by deriving Gauss-Kuzmin distributions associated with select triangle partition maps.

On the second Lyapunov exponent of some multidimensional continued fraction algorithms

We study the strong convergence of certain multidimensional continued fraction algorithms. In particular, in the two-dimensional case, we prove that the second Lyapunov exponent of Selmer's algorithm is negative and bound it away from zero. Moreover, we give heuristic results on several other continued fraction algorithms. Our results indicate that all classical multidimensional continued fraction algorithms cease to be strongly convergent for high dimensions. The only exception seems to be the Arnoux-Rauzy algorithm which, however, is defined only on a set of measure zero.

The n-dimensional Stern–Brocot tree

This paper generalizes the Stern–Brocot tree to a tree that consists of all sequences of [Formula: see text] coprime positive integers. As for [Formula: see text] each sequence [Formula: see text] is the sum of a specific set of other coprime sequences, its Stern–Brocot set [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the degree of [Formula: see text] With an orthonormal base as the root, the tree defines a fast iterative structure on the set of distinct directions in [Formula: see text] and a multiresolution partition of [Formula: see text]. Basic proofs rely on a matrix representation of each coprime sequence, where the Stern–Brocot set forms the matrix columns. This induces a finitely generated submonoid [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text], and a unimodular multidimensional continued fraction algorithm, also generalizing [Formula: see text]. It turns out that the [Formula: see text]-dimensional subtree starting with a sequence [Formula: see text] is isomorphic to the entire [Formula: see text]-dimensional tree. This allows basic combinatorial properties to be established. It turns out that also in this multidimensional version, Fibonacci-type sequences have maximal sequence sum in each generation.

The Brun gcd algorithm in high dimensions is almost always subtractive

We introduce and study an algorithm which computes the gcd of d+1 entries. This is a natural extension of the usual Euclid algorithm, and coincides with it for d=1; it performs Euclidean divisions, between the largest entry and the second largest entry, and then re-orderings. This is the discrete version of a multidimensional continued fraction algorithm due to Brun, in d dimensions. We perform the average-case analysis of this algorithm, and prove that the mean number of steps is linear with respect to the size of the entry. The method is based on the study of the underlying Brun dynamical system, and relies on dynamical analysis. All the constants that arise in the analysis are mathematical constants which are defined via the Brun dynamical system: for instance, the main constant of the analysis involves the entropy of the system, and the other constants of the analysis are related to fine properties of the invariant measure of the system. We are then led to the asymptotic behaviour of the Brun dynamical system, when dimension d becomes large, which is of independent interest. We show that the asymptotic Brun dynamical system almost always involves quotients that are equal to 1, and is then almost always subtractive. This explains the inefficiency of the Brun gcd algorithm, particularly when it is compared in high dimensions to another extension of the Euclid algorithm, proposed by Knuth, and already analyzed by the authors.

On periodicity of geodesic continued fractions

In this paper, we present some generalizations of Lagrange's theorem in the classical theory of continued fractions motivated by the geometric interpretation of the classical theory in terms of closed geodesics on the modular curve. As a result, for an extension F/F′ of number fields with rank one relative unit group, we construct a geodesic multi-dimensional continued fraction algorithm to “expand” any basis of F over Q, and prove its periodicity. Furthermore, we show that the periods describe the relative unit group. By developing the above argument adelically, we also obtain a p-adelic continued fraction algorithm and its periodicity for imaginary quadratic irrationals.

On some symmetric multidimensional continued fraction algorithms

We compute explicitly the density of the invariant measure for the reverse algorithm which is absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue measure, using a method proposed by Arnoux and Nogueira. We also apply the same method on the unsorted version of the Brun algorithm and Cassaigne algorithm. We illustrate some experimentations on the domain of the natural extension of those algorithms. For some other algorithms, which are known to have a unique invariant measure absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue measure, the invariant domain found by this method seems to have a fractal boundary, and it is unclear whether it is of positive measure.

A combinatorial approach to products of Pisot substitutions

We define a generic algorithmic framework to prove a pure discrete spectrum for the substitutive symbolic dynamical systems associated with some infinite families of Pisot substitutions. We focus on the families obtained as finite products of the three-letter substitutions associated with the multidimensional continued fraction algorithms of Brun and Jacobi–Perron. Our tools consist in a reformulation of some combinatorial criteria (coincidence conditions), in terms of properties of discrete plane generation using multidimensional (dual) substitutions. We also deduce some topological and dynamical properties of the Rauzy fractals, of the underlying symbolic dynamical systems, as well as some number-theoretical properties of the associated Pisot numbers.

Factor complexity of S-adic words generated by the Arnoux–Rauzy–Poincaré algorithm

The Arnoux–Rauzy–Poincaré multidimensional continued fraction algorithm is obtained by combining the Arnoux–Rauzy and Poincaré algorithms. It is a generalized Euclidean algorithm. Its three-dimensional linear version consists in subtracting the sum of the two smallest entries from the largest if possible (Arnoux–Rauzy step), and otherwise, in subtracting the smallest entry from the median and the median from the largest (the Poincaré step), and by performing when possible Arnoux–Rauzy steps in priority. After renormalization it provides a piecewise fractional map of the standard 2-simplex. We study here the factor complexity of its associated symbolic dynamical system, defined as an S-adic system. It is made of infinite words generated by the composition of sequences of finitely many substitutions, together with some restrictions concerning the allowed sequences of substitutions expressed in terms of a regular language. Here, the substitutions are provided by the matrices of the linear version of the algorithm. We give an upper bound for the linear growth of the factor complexity. We then deduce the convergence of the associated algorithm by unique ergodicity.

Cubic irrationals and periodicity via a family of multi-dimensional continued fraction algorithms

We construct a countable family of multi-dimensional continued fraction algorithms, built out of five specific multidimensional continued fractions, and find a wide class of cubic irrational real numbers \(\alpha \) so that either \((\alpha , \alpha ^2)\) or \((\alpha , \alpha -\alpha ^2)\) is purely periodic with respect to an element in the family. These cubic irrationals seem to be quite natural, as we show that, for every cubic number field, there exists a pair \((u, u')\) with \(u\) a unit in the cubic number field (or possibly the quadratic extension of the cubic number field by the square root of the discriminant) such that \((u, u')\) has a periodic multidimensional continued fraction expansion under one of the maps in the family generated by the initial five maps. These results are built on a careful technical analysis of certain units in cubic number fields and our family of multi-dimensional continued fractions. We then recast the linking of cubic irrationals with periodicity to the linking of cubic irrationals with the construction of a matrix with nonnegative integer entries for which at least one row is eventually periodic.

Absorbing sets of homogeneous subtractive algorithms

We consider homogeneous multidimensional continued fraction algorithms, in particular a family of maps which was introduced by F. Schweiger. We prove his conjecture regarding the existence of an absorbing set for those maps. We also establish that their renormalisations are nonergodic which disproves another conjecture due to Schweiger. Other homogeneous algorithms are also analysed including ones which are ergodic.

Exactness of the Euclidean algorithm and of the Rauzy induction on the space of interval exchange transformations

AbstractThe two-dimensional homogeneous Euclidean algorithm is the central motivation for the definition of the classical multidimensional continued fraction algorithms, such as Jacobi–Perron, Poincaré, Brun and Selmer algorithms. The Rauzy induction, a generalization of the Euclidean algorithm, is a key tool in the study of interval exchange transformations. Both maps are known to be dissipative and ergodic with respect to Lebesgue measure. Here we prove that they are exact.

Uniformly balanced words with linear complexity and prescribed letter frequencies

We consider the following problem. Let us fix a finite alphabet A; for any given d-uple of letter frequencies, how to construct an infinite word u over the alphabet A satisfying the following conditions: u has linear complexity function, u is uniformly balanced, the letter frequencies in u are given by the given d-uple. This paper investigates a construction method for such words based on the use of mixed multidimensional continued fraction algorithms.

Brun expansions of stepped surfaces

Dual maps have been introduced as a generalization to higher dimensions of word substitutions and free group morphisms. In this paper, we study the action of these dual maps on particular discrete planes and surfaces, namely stepped planes and stepped surfaces. We show that dual maps can be seen as discretizations of toral automorphisms. We then provide a connection between stepped planes and the Brun multi-dimensional continued fraction algorithm, based on a desubstitution process defined on local geometric configurations of stepped planes. By extending this connection to stepped surfaces, we obtain an effective characterization of stepped planes (more exactly, stepped quasi-planes) among stepped surfaces.