Numeration — Archive

Archive of One World Numeration Seminar talks 2020-2022

December 13, 2022
Hiroki Takahasi (Keio University): Distribution of cycles for one-dimensional random dynamical systems   (video) (slides) (paper)

We consider an independently identically distributed random dynamical system generated by finitely many, non-uniformly expanding Markov interval maps with a finite number of branches. Assuming a topologically mixing condition and the uniqueness of equilibrium state for the associated skew product map, we establish a samplewise (quenched) almost-sure level-2 weighted equidistribution of "random cycles", with respect to a natural stationary measure as the periods of the cycles tend to infinity. This result implies an analogue of Bowen's theorem on periodic orbits of topologically mixing Axiom A diffeomorphisms.
This talk is based on the preprint arXiv:2108.05522. If time permits, I will mention some future perspectives in this project.

December 6, 2022
Christoph Bandt (Universität Greifswald): Automata generated topological spaces and self-affine tilings   (video) (slides)

Numeration assigns symbolic sequences as addresses to points in a space X. There are points which get multiple addresses. It is known that these identifications describe the topology of X and can often be determined by an automaton. Here we define a corresponding class of automata and discuss their properties and interesting examples. Various open questions concern the realization of such automata by iterated functions and the uniqueness of such an implementation. Self-affine tiles form a simple class of examples.

November 29, 2022
Manuel Hauke (TU Graz): The asymptotic behaviour of Sudler products   (video) (slides) (paper1) (paper2) (paper3)

Given an irrational number α, we study the asymptotic behaviour of the Sudler product defined by P_N(α) = Π_r=1^N 2 |sin(π r α)|, which appears in many different areas of mathematics. In this talk, we explain the connection between the size of P_N(α) and the Ostrowski expansion of N with respect to α. We show that lim inf_N→∞ P_N(α) = 0 and lim sup_N→∞ P_N(α)/N = ∞, whenever the sequence of partial quotients in the continued fraction expansion of α exceeds 7 infinitely often, and show that the value 7 is optimal.
For Lebesgue-almost every α, we can prove more: we show that for every non-decreasing function ψ: (0,∞) → (0,∞) with ∑_k=1^∞ 1/ψ(k) = ∞ and lim inf_k→∞ ψ(k)/(k log k) sufficiently large, the conditions log P_N(α) ≤ −ψ(log N), log P_N(α) ≥ ψ(log N) hold on sets of upper density 1 respectively 1/2.

November 22, 2022
Faustin Adiceam (Université Paris-Est Créteil): Badly approximable vectors and Littlewood-type problems   (video) (slides) (paper)

Badly approximable vectors are fractal sets enjoying rich Diophantine properties. In this respect, they play a crucial role in many problems well beyond Number Theory and Fractal Geometry (e.g., in signal processing, in mathematical physics and in convex geometry).
After outlining some of the latest developments in this very active area of research, we will take an interest in the Littlewood conjecture (c. 1930) and in its variants which all admit a natural formulation in terms of properties satisfied by badly approximable vectors. We will then show how ideas emerging from the mathematical theory of quasicrystals, from numeration systems and from the theory of aperiodic tilings have recently been used to refute the so-called t-adic Littlewood conjecture.
All necessary concepts will be defined in the talk. Joint with Fred Lunnon (Maynooth) and Erez Nesharim (Technion, Haifa).

November 15, 2022
Seul Bee Lee (Institute for Basic Science): Regularity properties of Brjuno functions associated with by-excess, odd and even continued fractions   (video) (slides) (paper)

An irrational number is called a Brjuno number if the sum of the series of log(q_n+1)/q_n converges, where q_n is the denominator of the n-th principal convergent of the regular continued fraction. The importance of Brjuno numbers comes from the study of one variable analytic small divisor problems. In 1988, J.-C. Yoccoz introduced the Brjuno function which characterizes the Brjuno numbers to estimate the size of Siegel disks. In this talk, we introduce Brjuno-type functions associated with by-excess, odd and even continued fractions with a number theoretical motivation. Then we discuss the L^p and the Hölder regularity properties of the difference between the classical Brjuno function and the Brjuno-type functions. This is joint work with Stefano Marmi.

November 8, 2022
Wen Wu (South China University of Technology): From the Thue-Morse sequence to the apwenian sequences   (video) (slides) (journal) (arXiv)

In this talk, we will introduce a class of ±1 sequences, called the apwenian sequences. The Hankel determinants of these ±1 sequences share the same property as the Hankel determinants of the Thue-Morse sequence found by Allouche, Peyrière, Wen and Wen in 1998. In particular, the Hankel determinants of apwenian sequences do not vanish. This allows us to discuss the Diophantine property of the values of their generating functions at 1/b where b ≥ 2 is an integer. Moreover, the number of ±1 apwenian sequences is given explicitly. Similar questions are also discussed for 0-1 apwenian sequences. This talk is based on joint work with Y.-J. Guo and G.-N. Han.

October 25, 2022
Álvaro Bustos-Gajardo (The Open University): Quasi-recognizability and continuous eigenvalues of torsion-free S-adic systems   (video) (slides) (paper)

We discuss combinatorial and dynamical descriptions of S-adic systems generated by sequences of constant-length morphisms between alphabets of bounded size. For this purpose, we introduce the notion of quasi-recognisability, a strictly weaker version of recognisability but which is indeed enough to reconstruct several classical arguments of the theory of constant-length substitutions in this more general context. Furthermore, we identify a large family of directive sequences, which we call "torsion-free", for which quasi-recognisability is obtained naturally, and can be improved to actual recognisability with relative ease.
Using these notions we give S-adic analogues of the notions of column number and height for substitutions, including dynamical and combinatorial interpretations of each, and give a general characterisation of the maximal equicontinuous factor of the identified family of S-adic shifts, showing as a consequence that in this context all continuous eigenvalues must be rational. As well, we employ the tools developed for a first approach to the measurable case.
This is a joint work with Neil Mañibo and Reem Yassawi.

October 18, 2022
Yufei Chen (TU Delft): Matching of orbits of certain N-expansions with a finite set of digits   (video) (slides) (paper)

In this talk we consider a class of continued fraction expansions: the so-called N-expansions with a finite digit set, where N ≥ 2 is an integer. For N fixed, they are steered by a parameter α ∈ (0,√N−1]. For N = 2 an explicit interval [A,B] was determined, such that for all α ∈ [A,B] the entropy h(T_α) of the underlying Gauss-map T_α is equal. In this paper we show that for all integers N ≥ 2, such plateaux exist. In order to show that the entropy is constant on such plateaux, we obtain the underlying planar natural extension of the maps T_α, the T_α-invariant measure, ergodicity, and we show that for any two α, α' from the same plateau, the natural extensions are metrically isomorphic, and the isomorphism is given explicitly. The plateaux are found by a property called matching.

October 11, 2022
Lukas Spiegelhofer (Montanuniversität Leoben): Primes as sums of Fibonacci numbers   (video) (slides) (paper)

We prove that the Zeckendorf sum-of-digits function of prime numbers, z(p), is uniformly distributed in residue classes. The main ingredient that made this proof possible is the study of very sparse arithmetic subsequences of z(n). In other words, we will meet the level of distribution. Our proof of this central result is based on a combination of the "Mauduit−Rivat−van der Corput method" for digital problems and an estimate of a Gowers norm related to z(n). Our method of proof yields examples of substitutive sequences that are orthogonal to the Möbius function (cf. Sarnak's conjecture).
This is joint work with Michael Drmota and Clemens Müllner (TU Wien).

October 4, 2022
David Siukaev (Higher School of Economics): Exactness and ergodicity of certain Markovian multidimensional fraction algorithms   (video) (slides)

A multidimensional continued fraction algorithm is a generalization of well-known continued fraction algorithms of small dimensions: Gauss and Euclidean. Ergodic properties of Markov MCF algorithms (ergodicity, nonsingularity, exactness, bi-measurability) affect their convergence (if the MСF algorithm is a Markov algorithm, there is a relationship between the spectral properties and its convergence).
In 2013 T. Miernowski and A. Nogueira proved that the Euclidean algorithm and the non-homogeneous Rauzy induction satisfy the intersection property and, as a consequence, are exact. At the end of the article it is stated that other non-homogeneous markovian algorithms (Selmer, Brun and Jacobi-Perron) also satisfy the intersection property and they also exact. However, there is no proof of this. In our paper this proof is obtained by using the structure of the proof of the exactness of the Euclidean algorithm with its generalization and refinement for multidimensional algorithms. We obtained technically complex proofs that differ from the proofs given in the article of T. Miernowski and A. Nogueira by the difficulties of generalization to the multidimensional case.

October 4, 2022
Alexandra Skripchenko (Higher School of Economics): Bruin-Troubetzkoy family of interval translation mappings: a new glance (video)

In 2002 H. Bruin and S. Troubetzkoy described a special class of interval translation mappings on three intervals. They showed that in this class the typical ITM could be reduced to an interval exchange transformations. They also proved that generic ITM of their class that can not be reduced to IET is uniquely ergodic.
We suggest an alternative proof of the first statement and get a stronger version of the second one. It is a joint work in progress with Mauro Artigiani and Pascal Hubert.

September 27, 2022
Niels Langeveld (Montanuniversität Leoben): N-continued fractions and S-adic sequences   (slides) (paper) (video)

Given the N-continued fraction of a number x, we construct N-continued fraction sequences in the same spirit as Sturmian sequences can be constructed from regular continued fractions. These sequences are infinite words over a two letter alphabet obtained as the limit of a directive sequence of certain substitutions (they are S-adic sequences). By viewing them as a generalisation of Sturmian sequences it is natural to study balancedness. We will see that the sequences we construct are not 1-balanced but C-balanced for C = N². Furthermore, we construct a dual sequence which is related to the natural extension of the N-continued fraction algorithm. This talk is joint work with Lucía Rossi and Jörg Thuswaldner.

September 13, 2022
Benedict Sewell (Alfréd Rényi Institute): An upper bound on the box-counting dimension of the Rauzy gasket   (video) (slides) (paper)

The Rauzy gasket is a subset of the standard two-simplex, and an important subset of parameter space in various settings. It is a parabolic, non-conformal fractal attractor; meaning that even the most trivial upper bounds on its Hausdorff or box-counting dimensions are hard to obtain. In this talk (featuring joint work with Mark Pollicott), we discuss how an elementary method leads to the best known upper bound on these dimensions.

July 12, 2022
Ruofan Li (South China University of Technology): Rational numbers in ×b-invariant sets   (video) (slides) (paper)

Let b ≥ 2 be an integer and S be a finite non-empty set of primes not containing divisors of b. For any ×b-invariant, non-dense subset A of [0,1), we prove the finiteness of rational numbers in A whose denominators can only be divided by primes in S. A quantitative result on the largest prime divisors of the denominators of rational numbers in A is also obtained.
This is joint work with Bing Li and Yufeng Wu.

July 5, 2022
Charlene Kalle (Universiteit Leiden): Random Lüroth expansions   (video) (slides) (journal) (arXiv)

Since the introduction of Lüroth expansions by Lüroth in his paper from 1883 many results have appeared on their approximation properties. In 1990 Kalpazidou, Knopfmacher and Knopfmacher introduced alternating Lüroth expansions and studied their properties. A comparison between the two and other comparable number systems was then given by Barrionuevo, Burton, Dajani and Kraaikamp in 1996. In this talk we introduce a family of random dynamical systems that produce many Lüroth type expansions at once. Topics that we consider are periodic expansions, universal expansions, speed of convergence and approximation coefficients. This talk is based on joint work with Marta Maggioni.

June 21, 2022
James A. Yorke (University of Maryland): Large and Small Chaos Models   (video) (slides)

To set the scene, I will discuss one large model, a whole-Earth model for predicting the weather, and how to initialize such a model and what aspects of chaos are essential. Then I will discuss a couple related “very simple” maps that tell us a great deal about very complex models. The results on simple models are new. I will discuss the logistic map mx(1-x). Its dynamics can make us rethink climate models. Also, we have created a piecewise linear map on a 3D cube that is unstable in 2 dimensions in some places and unstable in 1 in others. It has a dense set of periodic points that are 1 D unstable and another dense set of periodic points that are all 2 D unstable. I will also discuss a new project whose tentative title is “ Can the flap of butterfly's wings shift a tornado out of Texas — without chaos?

June 7, 2022
Sophie Morier-Genoud (Université Reims Champagne Ardenne): q-analogues of real numbers   (video) (paper1) (paper2) (paper3) (paper4)

Classical sequences of numbers often lead to interesting q-analogues. The most popular among them are certainly the q-integers and the q-binomial coefficients which both appear in various areas of mathematics and physics. With Valentin Ovsienko we recently suggested a notion of q-rationals based on combinatorial properties and continued fraction expansions. The definition of q-rationals naturally extends the one of q-integers and leads to a ratio of polynomials with positive integer coefficients. I will explain the construction and give the main properties. In particular I will briefly mention connections with the combinatorics of posets, cluster algebras, Jones polynomials, homological algebra. Finally I will also present further developments of the theory, leading to the notion of q-irrationals and q-unimodular matrices.

May 31, 2022
Verónica Becher (Universidad de Buenos Aires & CONICET Argentina): Poisson generic real numbers   (slides) (paper)

Years ago Zeev Rudnick defined the Poisson generic real numbers as those where the number of occurrences of the long strings in the initial segments of their fractional expansions in some base have the Poisson distribution. Yuval Peres and Benjamin Weiss proved that almost all real numbers, with respect to Lebesgue measure, are Poisson generic. They also showed that Poisson genericity implies Borel normality but the two notions do not coincide, witnessed by the famous Champernowne constant. We recently showed that there are computable Poisson generic real numbers and that all Martin-Löf real numbers are Poisson generic.
This is joint work Nicolás Álvarez and Martín Mereb.

May 24, 2022
Émilie Charlier (Université de Liège): Spectrum, algebraicity and normalization in alternate bases   (video) (slides) (paper)

The first aim of this work is to give information about the algebraic properties of alternate bases determining sofic systems. We exhibit two conditions: one necessary and one sufficient. Comparing the setting of alternate bases to that of one real base, these conditions exhibit a new phenomenon: the bases should be expressible as rational functions of their product. The second aim is to provide an analogue of Frougny's result concerning normalization of real bases representations. Under some suitable condition (i.e., our previous sufficient condition for being a sofic system), we prove that the normalization function is computable by a finite Büchi automaton, and furthermore, we effectively construct such an automaton. An important tool in our study is the spectrum of numeration systems associated with alternate bases. For our purposes, we use a generalized concept of spectrum associated with a complex base and complex digits, and we study its topological properties.
This is joint work with Célia Cisternino, Zuzana Masáková and Edita Pelantová.

May 17, 2022
Vilmos Komornik (Shenzhen University and Université de Strasbourg): Topology of univoque sets in real base expansions   (video) (slides) (paper)

We report on a recent joint paper with Martijn de Vries and Paola Loreti. Given a positive integer M and a real number 1 < q ≤ M+1, an expansion of a real number x ∈ [0,M/(q-1)] over the alphabet A = {0,1,...,M} is a sequence (c_i) ∈ A^N such that x = Σ_k=1^∞ c_i q^-i. Generalizing many earlier results, we investigate the topological properties of the set U_q consisting of numbers x having a unique expansion of this form, and the combinatorial properties of the set U'_q consisting of their corresponding expansions.

May 3, 2022
Nicolas Chevallier (Université de Haute Alsace): Best Diophantine approximations in the complex plane with Gaussian integers   (video) (slides) (journal) (arXiv)

Starting with the minimal vectors in lattices over Gaussian integers in C², we define a algorithm that finds the sequence of minimal vectors of any unimodular lattice in C². Restricted to lattices associated with complex numbers this algorithm find all the best Diophantine approximations of a complex numbers. Following Doeblin, Lenstra, Bosma, Jager and Wiedijk, we study the limit distribution of the sequence of products (u_n1u_n2)_n where (u_n = (u_n1,u_n2))_n is the sequence of minimal vectors of a lattice in C². We show that there exists a measure in C which is the limit distribution of the sequence of products of almost all unimodular lattices.

April 19, 2022
Paulina Cecchi Bernales (Universidad de Chile): Coboundaries and eigenvalues of finitary S-adic systems   (video) (slides) (paper)

An S-adic system is a shift space obtained by performing an infinite composition of morphisms defined over possibly different finite alphabets. It is said to be finitary if these morphisms are taken from a finite set. S-adic systems are a generalization of substitution shifts. In this talk we will discuss spectral properties of finitary S-adic systems. Our departure point will be a theorem by B. Host which characterizes eigenvalues of substitution shifts, and where coboundaries appear as a key tool. We will introduce the notion of S-adic coboundaries and present some results which show how they are related with eigenvalues of S-adic systems. We will also present some applications of our results to constant-length finitary S-adic systems.
This is joint work with Valérie Berthé and Reem Yassawi.

April 12, 2022
Eda Cesaratto (Univ. Nac. de Gral. Sarmiento & CONICET, Argentina): Lochs-type theorems beyond positive entropy   (video) (slides) (paper)

Lochs' theorem and its generalizations are conversion theorems that relate the number of digits determined in one expansion of a real number as a function of the number of digits given in some other expansion. In its original version, Lochs' theorem related decimal expansions with continued fraction expansions. Such conversion results can also be stated for sequences of interval partitions under suitable assumptions, with results holding almost everywhere, or in measure, involving the entropy. This is the viewpoint we develop here. In order to deal with sequences of partitions beyond positive entropy, this paper introduces the notion of log-balanced sequences of partitions, together with their weight functions. These are sequences of interval partitions such that the logarithms of the measures of their intervals at each depth are roughly the same. We then state Lochs-type theorems which work even in the case of zero entropy, in particular for several important log-balanced sequences of partitions of a number-theoretic nature.
This is joint work with Valérie Berthé (IRIF), Pablo Rotondo (U. Gustave Eiffel) and Martín Safe (Univ. Nac. del Sur & CONICET, Argentina).

April 5, 2022
Jungwon Lee (University of Warwick): Dynamics of Ostrowski skew-product: Limit laws and Hausdorff dimensions   (video) (slides) (paper)

We discuss a dynamical study of the Ostrowski skew-product map in the context of inhomogeneous Diophantine approximation. We plan to outline the setup/ strategy based on transfer operator analysis and applications in arithmetic of number fields (joint with Valérie Berthé).

March 29, 2022
Tingyu Zhang (East China Normal University): Random β-transformation on fat Sierpiński gasket   (video) (slides) (paper)

We define the notions of greedy, lazy and random transformations on fat Sierpiński gasket. We determine the bases, for which the system has a unique measure of maximal entropy and an invariant measure of product type, with one coordinate being absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue measure.
This is joint work with K. Dajani and W. Li.

March 15, 2022
Pierre Popoli (Université de Lorraine): Maximum order complexity for some automatic and morphic sequences along polynomial values   (video) (slides) (paper1) (paper2)

Automatic sequences are not suitable sequences for cryptographic applications since both their subword complexity and their expansion complexity are small, and their correlation measure of order 2 is large. These sequences are highly predictable despite having a large maximum order complexity. However, recent results show that polynomial subsequences of automatic sequences, such as the Thue-Morse sequence or the Rudin-Shapiro sequence, are better candidates for pseudorandom sequences. A natural generalization of automatic sequences are morphic sequences, given by a fixed point of a prolongeable morphism that is not necessarily uniform. In this talk, I will present my results on lowers bounds for the maximum order complexity of the Thue-Morse sequence, the Rudin-Shapiro sequence and the sum of digits function in Zeckendorf base, which are respectively automatics and morphic sequences.

March 8, 2022
Michael Coons (Universität Bielefeld): A spectral theory of regular sequences   (video) (slides) (paper)

A few years ago, Michael Baake and I introduced a probability measure associated to Stern’s diatomic sequence, an example of a regular sequence—sequences which generalise constant length substitutions to infinite alphabets. In this talk, I will discuss extensions of these results to more general regular sequences as well as further properties of these measures. This is joint work with several people, including Michael Baake, James Evans, Zachary Groth and Neil Manibo.

March 1, 2022
Daniel Krenn (Universität Salzburg): k-regular sequences: Asymptotics and Decidability   (video) (slides) (paper1) (paper2)

A sequence x(n) is called k-regular, if the set of subsequences x(k^jn+r) is contained in a finitely generated module. In this talk, we will consider the asymptotic growth of k-regular sequences. When is it possible to compute it? ...and when not? If possible, how precisely can we compute it? If not, is it just a lack of methods or are the underlying decision questions recursively solvable (i.e., decidable in a computational sense)? We will discuss answers to these questions. To round off the picture, we will consider further decidability questions around k-regular sequences and the subclass of k-automatic sequences.
This is based on joint works with Clemens Heuberger and with Jeffrey Shallit.

February 15, 2022
Wolfgang Steiner (CNRS, Université de Paris): Unique double base expansions   (video) (slides)

For pairs of real bases 𝛽₀,𝛽₁>1, we study expansions of the form Σ_k=1^∞ i_k / (𝛽_i1 𝛽_i2 ... 𝛽_ik) with digits i_k ∈ {0,1}. We characterise the pairs admitting non-trivial unique expansions as well as those admitting uncountably many unique expansions, extending recent results of Neunhäuserer (2021) and Zou, Komornik and Lu (2021). Similarly to the study of unique 𝛽-expansions with three digits by the speaker (2020), this boils down to determining the cardinality of binary shifts defined by lexicographic inequalities. Labarca and Moreira (2006) characterised when such a shift is empty, at most countable or uncountable, depending on the position of the lower and upper bounds with respect to Thue-Morse-Sturmian words.
This is joint work with Vilmos Komornik and Yuru Zou.

February 8, 2022
Magdaléna Tinková (České vysoké učení technické v Praze): Universal quadratic forms, small norms and traces in families of number fields   (video) (slides) (paper)

In this talk, we will discuss universal quadratic forms over number fields and their connection with additively indecomposable integers. In particular, we will focus on Shanks' family of the simplest cubic fields. This is joint work with Vítězslav Kala.

February 1, 2022
Jonas Jankauskas (Vilniaus universitetas): Digit systems with rational base matrix over lattices   (video) (slides) (paper)

Let A be a matrix with rational entries and no eigenvalue in absolute value smaller than 1. Let Z^d[A] be the minimal A-invariant Z-module, generated by integer vectors and the matrix A. In 2018, we have shown that one can find a finite set D of vectors, such that each element of Z^d[A] has a finite radix expansion in base A using only the digits from D, i.e. Z^d[A]=D[A]. This is called 'the finiteness property' of a digit system. In the present talk I will review more recent developments in mathematical machinery, that enable us to build finite digit systems over lattices using reasonably small digit sets, and even to do some practical computations with them on a computer. Tools that we use are the generalized rotation bases with digit sets that have 'good' convex properties, the semi-direct ('twisted') sums of such rotational digit systems, and the special, 'restricted' version of the remainder division that preserves the lattice Z^d and can be extended to Z^d[A]. This is joint work with J. Thuswaldner, "Rational Matrix Digit Systems", to appear in "Linear and Multilinear Algebra".

January 25, 2022
Claudio Bonanno (Università di Pisa): Infinite ergodic theory and a tree of rational pairs   (video) (slides) (paper)

The study of the continued fraction expansions of real numbers by ergodic methods is now a classical and well-known part of the theory of dynamical systems. Less is known for the multi-dimensional expansions. I will present an ergodic approach to a two-dimensional continued fraction algorithm introduced by T. Garrity, and show how to get a complete tree of rational pairs by using the Farey sum of fractions. The talk is based on joint work with A. Del Vigna and S. Munday.

January 18, 2022
Agamemnon Zafeiropoulos (Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet): The order of magnitude of Sudler products   (video) (slides) (paper1) (paper2)

Given an irrational α, we define the corresponding Sudler product by P_N(α) = Π_n=1^N 2 |sin(π n α)|. In joint work with C. Aistleitner and N. Technau, we show that when α = [0;b,b,b,…] is a quadratic irrational with all partial quotients in its continued fraction expansion equal to some integer b, the following hold:
- If b ≤ 5, then lim inf_N→∞ P_N(α) > 0 and lim sup_N→∞ P_N(α)/N < ∞.
- If b ≥ 6, then lim inf_N→∞ P_N(α) = 0 and lim sup_N→∞ P_N(α)/N = ∞.
We also present an analogue of the previous result for arbitrary quadratic irrationals (joint work with S. Grepstad and M. Neumüller).

January 11, 2022
Philipp Gohlke (Universität Bielefeld): Zero measure spectrum for multi-frequency Schrödinger operators   (video) (slides) (paper)

Cantor spectrum of zero Lebesgue measure is a striking feature of Schrödinger operators associated with certain models of aperiodic order, like primitive substitution systems or Sturmian subshifts. This is known to follow from a condition introduced by Boshernitzan that establishes that on infinitely many scales words of the same length appear with a similar frequency. Building on works of Berthé–Steiner–Thuswaldner and Fogg–Nous we show that on the two-dimensional torus, Lebesgue almost every translation admits a natural coding such that the associated subshift satisfies the Boshernitzan criterion (joint work with J.Chaika, D.Damanik and J.Fillman).

December 21, 2021
Fan Lü (Sichuan Normal University): Multiplicative Diophantine approximation in the parameter space of beta-dynamical system   (video) (slides)

Beta-transformation is a special kind of expanding dynamics, the total information of which can be determined by the orbits of some critical points (e.g., the point 1). Letting T_𝛽 be the beta-transformation with 𝛽 > 1 and x be a fixed point in (0,1], we consider the set of parameters (α,𝛽), such that the multiple ||T_αⁿ(x)|| ||T_𝛽ⁿ(x)|| is well approximated or badly approximated. The Gallagher-type question, Jarník-type question as well as the badly approximable pairs, i.e., Littlewood-type question are studied in detail.

December 14, 2021
Special session commemorating Shunji Ito (1943-2021)

Introduction by Pierre Arnoux, short talk by Valérie Berthé, contributions by Maki Furukado, Cor Kraaikamp, Hui Rao, Robbie Robinson, Shin'Ichi Yasutomi, Shigeki Akiyama, and Hiromi Ei.

December 7, 2021
Jamie Walton (University of Nottingham): Extending the theory of symbolic substitutions to compact alphabets   (video) (notes)

In this work, joint with Neil Mañibo and Dan Rust, we consider an extension of the theory of symbolic substitutions to infinite alphabets, by requiring the alphabet to carry a compact, Hausdorff topology for which the substitution is continuous. Such substitutions have been considered before, in particular by Durand, Ormes and Petite for zero-dimensional alphabets, and Queffélec in the constant length case. We find a simple condition which ensures that an associated substitution operator is quasi-compact, which we conjecture to always be satisfied for primitive substitutions on countable alphabets. In the primitive case this implies the existence of a unique natural tile length function and, for a recognisable substitution, that the associated shift space is uniquely ergodic. The main tools come from the theory of positive operators on Banach spaces. Very few prerequisites will be assumed, and the theory will be demonstrated via examples.

November 23, 2021
Sascha Troscheit (Universität Wien): Analogues of Khintchine's theorem for random attractors   (video) (slides) (paper)

Khintchine’s theorem is an important result in number theory which links the Lebesgue measure of certain limsup sets with the convergence/divergence of naturally occurring volume sums. This behaviour has been observed for deterministic fractal sets and inspired by this we investigate the random settings. Introducing randomisation into the problem makes some parts more tractable, while posing separate new challenges. In this talk, I will present joint work with Simon Baker where we provide sufficient conditions for a large class of stochastically self-similar and self-affine attractors to have positive Lebesgue measure.

November 16, 2021
Lucía Rossi (Montanuniversität Leoben): Rational self-affine tiles associated to (nonstandard) digit systems   (video) (slides) (paper)

In this talk we will introduce the notion of rational self-affine tiles, which are fractal-like sets that arise as the solution of a set equation associated to a digit system that consists of a base, given by an expanding rational matrix, and a digit set, given by vectors. They can be interpreted as the set of “fractional parts” of this digit system, and the challenge of this theory is that these sets do not live in a Euclidean space, but on more general spaces defined in terms of Laurent series. Steiner and Thuswaldner defined rational self-affine tiles for the case where the base is a rational matrix with irreducible characteristic polynomial. We present some tiling results that generalize the ones obtained by Lagarias and Wang: we consider arbitrary expanding rational matrices as bases, and simultaneously allow the digit sets to be nonstandard (meaning they are not a complete set of residues modulo the base). We also state some topological properties of rational self-affine tiles and give a criterion to guarantee positive measure in terms of the digit set.

November 9, 2021
Zhiqiang Wang (East China Normal University): How inhomogeneous Cantor sets can pass a point   (video) (slides)

For x>0, we define Y(x) = { (a,b) : x ∈ E_a,b, a>0, b>0, a+b≤1 }, where the set E_a,b is the unique nonempty compact invariant set generated by the inhomogeneous IFS { f₀(x) = ax, f_1(x) = b(x+1) }. We show the set Y(x) is a Lebesgue null set with full Hausdorff dimension in R², and the intersection of sets Y(x₁), Y(x₂), ..., Y(x_k) still has full Hausdorff dimension in R² for any finitely many positive real numbers x₁, x₂, ..., x_k.

November 9, 2021
Younès Tierce (Université de Rouen Normandie): Extensions of the random beta-transformation   (video) (slides)

Let β ∈ (1,2) and I_β := [0,1/(β−1)]. Almost every real number of I_β has infinitely many expansions in base β, and the random β-transformation generates all these expansions. We present the construction of a "geometrico-symbolic" extension of the random β-transformation, providing a new proof of the existence and unicity of an absolutely continuous invariant probability measure, and an expression of the density of this measure. This extension shows off some nice renewal times, and we use these to prove that the natural extension of the system is a Bernoulli automorphism.

November 2, 2021
Pieter Allaart (University of North Texas): On the existence of Trott numbers relative to multiple bases   (video) (slides) (paper)

Trott numbers are real numbers in the interval (0,1) whose continued fraction expansion equals their base-b expansion, in a certain liberal but natural sense. They exist in some bases, but not in all. In a previous OWNS talk, T. Jones sketched a proof of the existence of Trott numbers in base 10. In this talk I will discuss some further properties of these Trott numbers, and focus on the question: Can a number ever be Trott in more than one base at once? While the answer is almost certainly "no", a full proof of this seems currently out of reach. But we obtain some interesting partial answers by using a deep theorem from Diophantine approximation.

October 26, 2021
Michael Baake (Universität Bielefeld): Spectral aspects of aperiodic dynamical systems   (slides)

One way to analyse aperiodic systems employs spectral notions, either via dynamical systems theory or via harmonic analysis. In this talk, we will look at two particular aspects of this, after a quick overview of how the diffraction measure can be used for this purpose. First, we consider some concequences of inflation rules on the spectra via renormalisation, and how to use it to exclude absolutely continuous componenta. Second, we take a look at a class of dynamical systems of number-theoretic origin, how they fit into the spectral picture, and what (other) methods there are to distinguish them.

October 19, 2021
Mélodie Lapointe (Université de Paris): q-analog of the Markoff injectivity conjecture   (video) (slides) (paper)

The Markoff injectivity conjecture states that the map w→μ(w)₁₂ is injective on the set of Christoffel words where μ: {0,1}*→SL₂(Z) is a certain homomorphism and M₁₂ is the entry above the diagonal of a 2x2 matrix M. Recently, Leclere and Morier-Genoud (2021) proposed a q-analog μ_q of μ such that μ_q→1(w)₁₂ = μ(w)₁₂ is the Markoff number associated to the Christoffel word w. We show that there exists an order <_radix on {0,1}* such that for every balanced sequence s ∈ {0,1}^Z and for all factors u,v in the language of s with u <_radix v, the difference μ_q(v)₁₂ - μ_q(u)₁₂ is a nonzero polynomial of indeterminate q with nonnegative integer coefficients. Therefore, for every q>0, the map {0,1}*→R defined by w→μ(w)₁₂ is increasing thus injective over the language of a balanced sequence. The proof uses an equivalence between balanced sequences satisfying some Markoff property and indistinguishable asymptotic pairs.

October 12, 2021
Liangang Ma (Binzhou University): Inflection points in the Lyapunov spectrum for IFS on intervals   (slides)

We plan to present the audience a general picture about regularity of the Lyapunov spectrum for some iterated function systems, with emphasis on its inflection points in case the spectrum is smooth. Some sharp or moderate relationship between the number of Lyapunov inflections and (essential) branch number of a linear system is clarified. As most numeration systems are non-linear ones, the corresponding relationship for these systems are still mysterious enough comparing with the linear systems.

October 5, 2021
Taylor Jones (University of North Texas): On the Existence of Numbers with Matching Continued Fraction and Decimal Expansion   (video) (slides) (paper)

A Trott number in base 10 is one whose continued fraction expansion agrees with its base 10 expansion in the sense that [0;a₁,a₂,...] = 0.(a₁)(a₂)... where (a_i) represents the string of digits of a_i. As an example [0;3,29,54,7,...] = 0.329547... An analogous definition may be given for a Trott number in any integer base b>1, the set of which we denote by T_b. The first natural question is whether T_b is empty, and if not, for which b? We discuss the history of the problem, and give a heuristic process for constructing such numbers. We show that T₁₀ is indeed non-empty, and uncountable. With more delicate techniques, a complete classification may be given to all b for which T_b is non-empty. We also discuss some further results, such as a (non-trivial) upper bound on the Hausdorff dimension of T_b, as well as the question of whether the intersection of T_b and T_c can be non-empty.

October 5, 2021
Lulu Fang (Nanjing University of Science and Technology): On upper and lower fast Khintchine spectra in continued fractions   (video) (slides) (paper)

Let $\psi: \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{R}^+$ be a function satisfying $\psi(n)/n \to \infty$ as $n \to \infty$. We investigate from a multifractal analysis point of view the growth speed of the sums $\sum_{k=1}^n \log a_k(x)$ with respect to $\psi(n)$, where $x = [a_1(x),a_2(x),\dots]$ denotes the continued fraction expansion of $x \in (0,1)$. The (upper, lower) fast Khintchine spectrum is defined as the Hausdorff dimension of the set of points $x \in (0,1)$ for which the (upper, lower) limit of $\frac{1}{\psi(n)} \sum_{k=1}^n \log a_k(x)$ is equal to 1. These three spectra have been studied by Fan, Liao, Wang & Wu (2013, 2016), Liao & Rams (2016). In this talk, we will give a new look at the fast Khintchine spectrum, and provide a full description of upper and lower fast Khintchine spectra. The latter improves a result of Liao and Rams (2016).

September 28, 2021
Philipp Hieronymi (Universität Bonn): A strong version of Cobham's theorem   (video) (slides)

Let k,l>1 be two multiplicatively independent integers. A subset X of Nⁿ is k-recognizable if the set of k-ary representations of X is recognized by some finite automaton. Cobham’s famous theorem states that a subset of the natural numbers is both k-recognizable and l-recognizable if and only if it is Presburger-definable (or equivalently: semilinear). We show the following strengthening. Let X be k-recognizable, let Y be l-recognizable such that both X and Y are not Presburger-definable. Then the first-order logical theory of (N,+,X,Y) is undecidable. This is in contrast to a well-known theorem of Büchi that the first-order logical theory of (N,+,X) is decidable. Our work strengthens and depends on earlier work of Villemaire and Bès.
The essence of Cobham's theorem is that recognizability depends strongly on the choice of the base k. Our results strengthens this: two non-Presburger definable sets that are recognizable in multiplicatively independent bases, are not only distinct, but together computationally intractable over Presburger arithmetic.
This is joint work with Christian Schulz.

September 21, 2021
Maria Siskaki (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign): The distribution of reduced quadratic irrationals arising from continued fraction expansions   (video) (slides) (paper)

It is known that the reduced quadratic irrationals arising from regular continued fraction expansions are uniformly distributed when ordered by their length with respect to the Gauss measure. In this talk, I will describe a number theoretical approach developed by Kallies, Ozluk, Peter and Snyder, and then by Boca, that gives the error in the asymptotic behavior of this distribution. Moreover, I will present the respective result for the distribution of reduced quadratic irrationals that arise from even (joint work with F. Boca) and odd continued fractions.

September 14, 2021
Steve Jackson (University of North Texas): Descriptive complexity in numeration systems   (video) (slides) (paper1) (paper2)

Descriptive set theory gives a means of calibrating the complexity of sets, and we focus on some sets occurring in numerations systems. Also, the descriptive complexity of the difference of two sets gives a notion of the logical independence of the sets. A classic result of Ki and Linton says that the set of normal numbers for a given base is a Π₃⁰ complete set. In work with Airey, Kwietniak, and Mance we extend to other numerations systems such as continued fractions, 𝛽-expansions, and GLS expansions. In work with Mance and Vandehey we show that the numbers which are continued fraction normal but not base b normal is complete at the expected level of D₂(Π₃⁰). An immediate corollary is that this set is uncountable, a result (due to Vandehey) only known previously assuming the generalized Riemann hypothesis.

September 7, 2021
Oleg Karpenkov (University of Liverpool): On Hermite's problem, Jacobi-Perron type algorithms, and Dirichlet groups   (video)(slides) (paper)

In this talk we introduce a new modification of the Jacobi-Perron algorithm in the three dimensional case. This algorithm is periodic for the case of totally-real conjugate cubic vectors. To the best of our knowledge this is the first Jacobi-Perron type algorithm for which the cubic periodicity is proven. This provides an answer in the totally-real case to the question of algebraic periodicity for cubic irrationalities posed in 1848 by Ch.Hermite.
We will briefly discuss a new approach which is based on geometry of numbers. In addition we point out one important application of Jacobi-Perron type algorithms to the computation of independent elements in the maximal groups of commuting matrices of algebraic irrationalities.

July 6, 2021
Niclas Technau (University of Wisconsin - Madison): Littlewood and Duffin-Schaeffer-type problems in diophantine approximation   (video) (slides) (paper)

Gallagher's theorem describes the multiplicative diophantine approximation rate of a typical vector. Recently Sam Chow and I establish a fully-inhomogeneous version of Gallagher's theorem, and a diophantine fibre refinement. In this talk I outline the proof, and the tools involved in it.

June 29, 2021
Polina Vytnova (University of Warwick): Hausdorff dimension of Gauss-Cantor sets and their applications to the study of classical Markov spectrum   (video) (slides) (paper)

The classical Lagrange and Markov spectra are subsets of the real line which arise in connection with some problems in theory Diophantine approximation theory. In 1921 O. Perron gave a definition in terms of continued fractions, which allowed to study the Markov and Lagrange spectra using limit sets of iterated function schemes.
In this talk we will see how the first transition point, where the Markov spectra acquires the full measure can be computed by the means of estimating Hausdorff dimension of the certain Gauss-Cantor sets.
The talk is based on a joint work with C. Matheus, C. G. Moreira and M. Pollicott.

June 22, 2021
Lingmin Liao (Université Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne): Simultaneous Diophantine approximation of the orbits of the dynamical systems x2 and x3   (video) (slides)

We study the sets of points whose orbits of the dynamical systems x2 and x3 simultaneously approach to a given point, with a given speed. A zero-one law for the Lebesgue measure of such sets is established. The Hausdorff dimensions are also determined for some special speeds. One dimensional formula among them is established under the abc conjecture. At the same time, we also study the Diophantine approximation of the orbits of a diagonal matrix transformation of a torus, for which the properties of the (negative) beta transformations are involved. This is a joint work with Bing Li, Sanju Velani and Evgeniy Zorin.

June 15, 2021
Sam Chow (University of Warwick): Dyadic approximation in the Cantor set   (video) (slides) (paper)

We investigate the approximation rate of a typical element of the Cantor set by dyadic rationals. This is a manifestation of the times-two-times-three phenomenon, and is joint work with Demi Allen and Han Yu.

June 8, 2021
Shigeki Akiyama (University of Tsukuba): Counting balanced words and related problems   (video) (slides) (paper)

Balanced words and Sturmian words are ubiquitous and appear in the intersection of many areas of mathematics. In this talk, I try to explain an idea of S. Yasutomi to study finite balanced words. His method gives a nice way to enumerate number of balanced words of given length, slope and intercept. Applying this idea, we can obtain precise asymptotic formula for balanced words. The result is connected to some classical topics in number theory, such as Farey fraction, Riemann Hypothesis and Large sieve inequality.

June 1, 2021
Bastián Espinoza (Université de Picardie Jules Verne and Universidad de Chile): Automorphisms and factors of finite topological rank systems   (video) (slides) (paper1) (paper2)

Finite topological rank systems are a type of minimal S-adic subshift that includes many of the classical minimal systems of zero entropy (e.g. linearly recurrent subshifts, interval exchanges and some Toeplitz sequences). In this talk I am going to present results concerning the number of automorphisms and factors of systems of finite topological rank, as well as closure properties of this class with respect to factors and related combinatorial operations.

May 25, 2021
Charles Fougeron (Université de Paris): Dynamics of simplicial systems and multidimensional continued fraction algorithms   (video) (slides) (paper)

Motivated by the richness of the Gauss algorithm which allows to efficiently compute the best approximations of a real number by rationals, many mathematicians have suggested generalisations to study Diophantine approximations of vectors in higher dimensions. Examples include Poincaré's algorithm introduced at the end of the 19th century or those of Brun and Selmer in the middle of the 20th century. Since the beginning of the 90's to the present day, there has been many works studying the convergence and dynamics of these multidimensional continued fraction algorithms. In particular, Schweiger and Broise have shown that the approximation sequence built using Selmer and Brun algorithms converge to the right vector with an extra ergodic property. On the other hand, Nogueira demonstrated that the algorithm proposed by Poincaré almost never converges.
Starting from the classical case of Farey's algorithm, which is an "additive" version of Gauss's algorithm, I will present a combinatorial point of view on these algorithms which allows to us to use a random walk approach. In this model, taking a random vector for the Lebesgue measure will correspond to following a random walk with memory in a labelled graph called symplicial system. The laws of probability for this random walk are elementary and we can thus develop probabilistic techniques to study their generic dynamical behaviour. This will lead us to describe a purely graph theoretic criterion to check the convergence of a continued fraction algorithm.

May 18, 2021
Joseph Vandehey (University of Texas at Tyler): Solved and unsolved problems in normal numbers   (video) (slides)

We will survey a variety of problems on normal numbers, some old, some new, some solved, and some unsolved, in the hope of spurring some new directions of study. Topics will include constructions of normal numbers, normality in two different systems simultaneously, normality seen through the lens of informational or logical complexity, and more.

May 11, 2021
Giulio Tiozzo (University of Toronto): The bifurcation locus for numbers of bounded type   (video) (slides) (journal) (arXiv)

We define a family B(t) of compact subsets of the unit interval which provides a filtration of the set of numbers whose continued fraction expansion has bounded digits. This generalizes to a continuous family the well-known sets of numbers whose continued fraction expansion is bounded above by a fixed integer.
We study how the set B(t) changes as the parameter t ranges in [0,1], and describe precisely the bifurcations that occur as the parameters change. Further, we discuss continuity properties of the Hausdorff dimension of B(t) and its regularity.
Finally, we establish a precise correspondence between these bifurcations and the bifurcations for the classical family of real quadratic polynomials.
Joint with C. Carminati.

May 4, 2021
Tushar Das (University of Wisconsin - La Crosse): Hausdorff Hensley Good & Gauss   (video) (slides) (paper1) (paper2)

Several participants of the One World Numeration Seminar (OWNS) will know Hensley's haunting bounds (c. 1990) for the dimension of irrationals whose regular continued fraction expansion partial quotients are all at most N; while some might remember Good's great bounds (c. 1940) for the dimension of irrationals whose partial quotients are all at least N. We will report on relatively recent results in arXiv:2007.10554 that allow one to extend such fabulous formulae to unexpected expansions. Our technology may be utilized to study various systems arising from numeration, dynamics, or geometry. The talk will be accessible to students and beyond, and I hope to present a sampling of open questions and research directions that await exploration.

April 27, 2021
Boris Adamczewski (CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1): Expansions of numbers in multiplicatively independent bases: Furstenberg's conjecture and finite automata   (video) (slides) (paper)

It is commonly expected that expansions of numbers in multiplicatively independent bases, such as 2 and 10, should have no common structure. However, it seems extraordinarily difficult to confirm this naive heuristic principle in some way or another. In the late 1960s, Furstenberg suggested a series of conjectures, which became famous and aim to capture this heuristic. The work I will discuss in this talk is motivated by one of these conjectures. Despite recent remarkable progress by Shmerkin and Wu, it remains totally out of reach of the current methods. While Furstenberg’s conjectures take place in a dynamical setting, I will use instead the language of automata theory to formulate some related problems that formalize and express in a different way the same general heuristic. I will explain how the latter can be solved thanks to some recent advances in Mahler’s method; a method in transcendental number theory initiated by Mahler at the end of the 1920s. This a joint work with Colin Faverjon.

April 20, 2021
Ayreena Bakhtawar (La Trobe University): Metrical theory for the set of points associated with the generalized Jarnik-Besicovitch set   (video) (slides) (journal) (arXiv)

From Lagrange's (1770) and Legendre's (1808) results we conclude that to find good rational approximations to an irrational number we only need to focus on its convergents. Let [a₁(x),a₂(x),…] be the continued fraction expansion of a real number x ∈ [0,1). The Jarnik-Besicovitch set in terms of continued fraction consists of all those x ∈ [0,1) which satisfy a_n+1(x) ≥ e^{τ (log|T'x|+⋯+log|T'(T^(n-1)x)|)} for infinitely many n ∈ N, where a_n+1(x) is the (n+1)-th partial quotient of x and T is the Gauss map. In this talk, I will focus on determining the Hausdorff dimension of the set of real numbers x ∈ [0,1) such that for any m ∈ N the following holds for infinitely many n ∈ N: a_n+1(x)a_n+2(x)⋯a_n+m(x) ≥ e^{τ(x)(f(x)+⋯+f(T^(n-1)x))}, where f and τ are positive continuous functions. Also we will see that for appropriate choices of m, τ(x) and f(x) our result implies various classical results including the famous Jarnik-Besicovitch theorem.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021, 14:30 CEST (UTC +2)
Andrew Mitchell (University of Birmingham): Measure theoretic entropy of random substitutions   (video) (slides)

Random substitutions and their associated subshifts provide a model for structures that exhibit both long range order and positive topological entropy. In this talk we discuss the entropy of a large class of ergodic measures, known as frequency measures, that arise naturally from random substitutions. We introduce a new measure of complexity, namely measure theoretic inflation word entropy, and discuss its relationship to measure theoretic entropy. This new measure of complexity provides a framework for the systematic study of measure theoretic entropy for random substitution subshifts.
As an application of our results, we obtain closed form formulas for the entropy of frequency measures for a wide range of random substitution subshifts and show that in many cases there exists a frequency measure of maximal entropy. Further, for a class of random substitution subshifts, we show that this measure is the unique measure of maximal entropy.
This talk is based on joint work with P. Gohlke, D. Rust, and T. Samuel.

March 30, 2021
Michael Drmota (TU Wien): (Logarithmic) Densities for Automatic Sequences along Primes and Squares   (video) (slides) (paper)

It is well known that the every letter α of an automatic sequence a(n) has a logarithmic density -- and it can be decided when this logarithmic density is actually a density. For example, the letters 0 and 1 of the Thue-Morse sequences t(n) have both frequences 1/2. [The Thue-Morse sequence is the binary sum-of-digits functions modulo 2.]
The purpose of this talk is to present a corresponding result for subsequences of general automatic sequences along primes and squares. This is a far reaching generalization of two breakthrough results of Mauduit and Rivat from 2009 and 2010, where they solved two conjectures by Gelfond on the densities of 0 and 1 of t(p_n) and t(n²) (where p_n denotes the sequence of primes).
More technically, one has to develop a method to transfer density results for primitive automatic sequences to logarithmic-density results for general automatic sequences. Then as an application one can deduce that the logarithmic densities of any automatic sequence along squares (n²)_{n≥0} and primes (p_n)_{n≥1} exist and are computable. Furthermore, if densities exist then they are (usually) rational.
This is a joint work with Boris Adamczewski and Clemens Müllner.

March 23, 2021
Godofredo Iommi (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile): Arithmetic averages and normality in continued fractions   (video) (slides)

Every real number can be written as a continued fraction. There exists a dynamical system, the Gauss map, that acts as the shift in the expansion. In this talk, I will comment on the Hausdorff dimension of two types of sets: one of them defined in terms of arithmetic averages of the digits in the expansion and the other related to (continued fraction) normal numbers. In both cases, the non compactness that steams from the fact that we use countable many partial quotients in the continued fraction plays a fundamental role. Some of the results are joint work with Thomas Jordan and others together with Aníbal Velozo.

March 16, 2021
Alexandra Skripchenko (Higher School of Economics): Double rotations and their ergodic properties   (video) (paper)

Double rotations are the simplest subclass of interval translation mappings. A double rotation is of finite type if its attractor is an interval and of infinite type if it is a Cantor set. It is easy to see that the restriction of a double rotation of finite type to its attractor is simply a rotation. It is known due to Suzuki - Ito - Aihara and Bruin - Clark that double rotations of infinite type are defined by a subset of zero measure in the parameter set. We introduce a new renormalization procedure on double rotations, which is reminiscent of the classical Rauzy induction. Using this renormalization we prove that the set of parameters which induce infinite type double rotations has Hausdorff dimension strictly smaller than 3. Moreover, we construct a natural invariant measure supported on these parameters and show that, with respect to this measure, almost all double rotations are uniquely ergodic. In my talk I plan to outline this proof that is based on the recent result by Ch. Fougeron for simplicial systems. I also hope to discuss briefly some challenging open questions and further research plans related to double rotations.
The talk is based on a joint work with Mauro Artigiani, Charles Fougeron and Pascal Hubert.

March 9, 2021
Natalie Priebe Frank (Vassar College): The flow view and infinite interval exchange transformation of a recognizable substitution   (video) (paper)

A flow view is the graph of a measurable conjugacy between a substitution or S-adic subshift or tiling space and an exchange of infinitely many intervals in [0,1]. The natural refining sequence of partitions of the sequence space is transferred to [0,1] with Lebesgue measure using a canonical addressing scheme, a fixed dual substitution, and a shift-invariant probability measure. On the flow view, sequences are shown horizontally at a height given by their image under conjugacy.
In this talk I'll explain how it all works and state some results and questions. There will be pictures.

March 2, 2021
Vitaly Bergelson (Ohio State University): Normal sets in (ℕ,+) and (ℕ,×)   (video) (slides) (journal) (arXiv)

We will start with discussing the general idea of a normal set in a countable cancellative amenable semigroup, which was introduced and developed in the recent paper "A fresh look at the notion of normality" (joint work with Tomas Downarowicz and Michał Misiurewicz). We will move then to discussing and juxtaposing combinatorial and Diophantine properties of normal sets in semigroups (ℕ,+) and (ℕ,×). We will conclude the lecture with a brief review of some interesting open problems.

February 23, 2021
Seul Bee Lee (Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa): Odd-odd continued fraction algorithm   (video) (slides) (paper)

The classical continued fraction gives the best approximating rational numbers of an irrational number. We define a new continued fraction, say odd-odd continued fraction, which gives the best approximating rational numbers whose numerators and denominators are odd. We see that a jump transformation associated to the Romik map induces the odd-odd continued fraction. We discuss properties of the odd-odd continued fraction expansions. This is joint work with Dong Han Kim and Lingmin Liao.

February 16, 2021
Gerardo González Robert (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México): Good's Theorem for Hurwitz Continued Fractions   (video) (slides) (journal) (arXiv)

In 1887, Adolf Hurwitz introduced a simple procedure to write any complex number as a continued fraction with Gaussian integers as partial denominators and with partial numerators equal to 1. While similarities between regular and Hurwitz continued fractions abound, there are important differences too (for example, as shown in 1974 by R. Lakein, Serret's theorem on equivalent numbers does not hold in the complex case). In this talk, after giving a short overview of the theory of Hurwitz continued fractions, we will state and sketch the proof of a complex version of I. J. Good's theorem on the Hausdorff dimension of the set of real numbers whose regular continued fraction tends to infinity. Finally, we will discuss some open problems.

February 9, 2021
Clemens Müllner (TU Wien): Multiplicative automatic sequences   (video) (slides) (paper)

It was shown by Mariusz Lemańczyk and the author that automatic sequences are orthogonal to bounded and aperiodic multiplicative functions. This is a manifestation of the disjointedness of additive and multiplicative structures. We continue this path by presenting in this talk a complete classification of complex-valued sequences which are both multiplicative and automatic. This shows that the intersection of these two worlds has a very special (and simple) form. This is joint work with Mariusz Lemańczyk and Jakub Konieczny.

February 2, 2021
Samuel Petite (Université de Picardie Jules Verne): Interplay between finite topological rank minimal Cantor systems, S-adic subshifts and their complexity   (video) (slides) (paper)

The family of minimal Cantor systems of finite topological rank includes Sturmian subshifts, coding of interval exchange transformations, odometers and substitutive subshifts. They are known to have dynamical rigidity properties. In a joint work with F. Durand, S. Donoso and A. Maass, we provide a combinatorial characterization of such subshifts in terms of S-adic systems. This enables to obtain some links with the factor complexity function and some new rigidity properties depending on the rank of the system.

January 26, 2021
Carlo Carminati (Università di Pisa): Prevalence of matching for families of continued fraction algorithms: old and new results   (video) (slides) (animation1) (animation2) (paper)

We will give an overview of the phenomenon of matching, which was first observed in the family of Nakada's α-continued fractions, but is also encountered in other families of continued fraction algorithms.
Our main focus will be the matching property for the family of Ito-Tanaka continued fractions: we will discuss the analogies with Nakada's case (such as prevalence of matching), but also some unexpected features which are peculiar of this case.
The core of the talk is about some recent results obtained in collaboration with Niels Langeveld and Wolfgang Steiner.

January 19, 2021
Tom Kempton (University of Manchester): Bernoulli Convolutions and Measures on the Spectra of Algebraic Integers   (video) (slides)

Given an algebraic integer 𝛽 and alphabet A = {-1,0,1}, the spectrum of 𝛽 is the set
      \Sigma(\beta) := \{ \sum_{i=1}^n a_i \beta^i : n \in \mathbb{N}, a_i \in A \}.
In the case that 𝛽 is Pisot one can study the spectrum of 𝛽 dynamically using substitutions or cut and project schemes, and this allows one to see lots of local structure in the spectrum. There are higher dimensional analogues for other algebraic integers.
In this talk we will define a random walk on the spectrum of 𝛽 and show how, with appropriate renormalisation, this leads to an infinite stationary measure on the spectrum. This measure has local structure analagous to that of the spectrum itself. Furthermore, this measure has deep links with the Bernoulli convolution, and in particular new criteria for the absolute continuity of Bernoulli convolutions can be stated in terms of the ergodic properties of these measures.

January 5, 2021
Claire Merriman (Ohio State University): α-odd continued fractions   (video) (slides) (journal) (arXiv)

The standard continued fraction algorithm come from the Euclidean algorithm. We can also describe this algorithm using a dynamical system of [0,1), where the transformation that takes x to the fractional part of 1/x is said to generate the continued fraction expansion of x. From there, we ask two questions: What happens to the continued fraction expansion when we change the domain to something other than [0,1)? What happens to the dynamical system when we impose restrictions on the continued fraction expansion, such as finding the nearest odd integer instead of the floor? This talk will focus on the case where we first restrict to odd integers, then start shifting the domain [α-2, α).
This talk is based on joint work with Florin Boca and animations done by Xavier Ding, Gustav Jennetten, and Joel Rozhon as part of an Illinois Geometry Lab project.

December 15, 2020
Lukas Spiegelhofer (Montanuniversität Leoben): The digits of n+t   (video) (slides) (paper)

We study the binary sum-of-digits function s₂ under addition of a constant t. For each integer k, we are interested in the asymptotic density δ(k,t) of integers t such that s₂(n+t) - s₂(n) = k. In this talk, we consider the following two questions.
(1) Do we have c_t = δ(0,t) + δ(1,t) + ... > 1/2? This is a conjecture due to T. W. Cusick (2011).
(2) What does the probability distribution defined by k → δ(k,t) look like?
We prove that indeed c_t > 1/2 if the binary expansion of t contains at least M blocks of contiguous ones, where M is effective. Our second theorem states that δ(j,t) usually behaves like a normal distribution, which extends a result by Emme and Hubert (2018).
This is joint work with Michael Wallner (TU Wien).

December 8, 2020
Tanja Isabelle Schindler (Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa): Limit theorems on counting large continued fraction digits   (video) (slides) (journal) (arXiv)

We establish a central limit theorem for counting large continued fraction digits (a_n), that is, we count occurrences {a_n>b_n}, where (b_n) is a sequence of positive integers. Our result improves a similar result by Philipp, which additionally assumes that b_n tends to infinity. Moreover, we also show this kind of central limit theorem for counting the number of occurrences entries such that the continued fraction entry lies between d_n and d_n(1+1/c_n) for given sequences (c_n) and (d_n). For such intervals we also give a refinement of the famous Borel–Bernstein theorem regarding the event that the nth continued fraction digit lying infinitely often in this interval. As a side result, we explicitly determine the first φ-mixing coefficient for the Gauss system - a result we actually need to improve Philipp's theorem. This is joint work with Marc Kesseböhmer.

December 1, 2020
Michael Barnsley (Australian National University): Rigid fractal tilings   (video) (slides) (paper)

I will describe recent work, joint with Louisa Barnsley and Andrew Vince, concerning a symbolic approach to self-similar tilings. This approach uses graph-directed iterated function systems to analyze both classical tilings and also generalized tilings of what may be unbounded fractal subsets of Rⁿ. A notion of rigid tiling systems is defined. Our key theorem states that when the system is rigid, all the conjugacies of the tilings can be described explicitly. In the seminar I hope to prove this for the case of standard IFSs.

November 17, 2020
Jacques Sakarovitch (Irif, CNRS  and  Télécom Paris): The carry propagation of the successor function   (video) (slides) (paper)

Given any numeration system, the carry propagation at an integer N is the number of digits that change between the representation of N and N+1. The carry propagation of the numeration system as a whole is the average carry propagations at the first N integers, as N tends to infinity, if this limit exists.
In the case of the usual base p numeration system, it can be shown that the limit indeed exists and is equal to p/(p-1). We recover a similar value for those numeration systems we consider and for which the limit exists.
The problem is less the computation of the carry propagation than the proof of its existence. We address it for various kinds of numeration systems: abstract numeration systems, rational base numeration systems, greedy numeration systems and beta-numeration. This problem is tackled with three different types of techniques: combinatorial, algebraic, and ergodic, each of them being relevant for different kinds of numeration systems.
This work has been published in Advances in Applied Mathematics 120 (2020). In this talk, we shall focus on the algebraic and ergodic methods.
Joint work with V. Berthé (Irif), Ch. Frougny (Irif), and M. Rigo (Univ. Liège).

November 10, 2020
Pieter Allaart (University of North Texas): On the smallest base in which a number has a unique expansion   (video) (slides) (paper)

For x>0, let U(x) denote the set of bases q in (1,2] such that x has a unique expansion in base q over the alphabet {0,1}, and let f(x)=inf U(x). I will explain that the function f(x) has a very complicated structure: it is highly discontinuous and has infinitely many infinite level sets. I will describe an algorithm for numerically computing f(x) that often gives the exact value in just a small finite number of steps. The Komornik-Loreti constant, which is f(1), will play a central role in this talk. This is joint work with Derong Kong, and builds on previous work by Kong (Acta Math. Hungar. 150(1):194-208, 2016).

November 3, 2020
Tomáš Vávra (University of Waterloo): Distinct unit generated number fields and finiteness in number systems   (video) (slides)

A distinct unit generated field is a number field K such that every algebraic integer of the field is a sum of distinct units. In 2015, Dombek, Masáková, and Ziegler studied totally complex quartic fields, leaving 8 cases unresolved. Because in this case there is only one fundamental unit u, their method involved the study of finiteness in positional number systems with base u and digits arising from the roots of unity in K.
First, we consider a more general problem of positional representations with base beta with an arbitrary digit alphabet D. We will show that it is decidable whether a given pair (𝛽, D) allows eventually periodic or finite representations of elements of O_K.
We are then able to prove the conjecture that the 8 remaining cases indeed are distinct unit generated.

October 27, 2020
Mélodie Andrieu (Aix-Marseille University): A Rauzy fractal unbounded in all directions of the plane   (slides)

Until 2001 it was believed that, as for Sturmian words, the imbalance of Arnoux-Rauzy words was bounded - or at least finite. Cassaigne, Ferenczi and Zamboni disproved this conjecture by constructing an Arnoux-Rauzy word with infinite imbalance, i.e. a word whose broken line deviates regularly and further and further from its average direction. Today, we hardly know anything about the geometrical and topological properties of these unbalanced Rauzy fractals. The Oseledets theorem suggests that these fractals are contained in a strip of the plane: indeed, if the Lyapunov exponents of the matricial product associated with the word exist, one of these exponents at least is nonpositive since their sum equals zero. This talk aims at disproving this belief.

October 20, 2020
Paul Surer (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna): Representations for complex numbers with integer digits   (video) (slides)

In this talk we present the zeta-expansion as a complex version of the well-known beta-expansion. It allows us to expand complex numbers with respect to a complex base by using integer digits. Our concepts fits into the framework of the recently published rotational beta-expansions. But we also establish relations with piecewise affine maps of the torus and with shift radix systems.

October 13, 2020
Kan Jiang (Ningbo University): Representations of real numbers on fractal sets   (video) (slides)

There are many approaches which can represent real numbers. For instance, the β-expansions, the continued fraction and so forth. Representations of real numbers on fractal sets were pioneered by H. Steinhaus who proved in 1917 that C+C=[0,2] and C−C=[−1,1], where C is the middle-third Cantor set. Equivalently, for any x ∈ [0,2], there exist some y,z ∈ C such that x=y+z. In this talk, I will introduce similar results in terms of some fractal sets.

October 6, 2020
Francesco Veneziano (University of Genova): Finiteness and periodicity of continued fractions over quadratic number fields   (video) (slides) (paper)

We consider continued fractions with partial quotients in the ring of integers of a quadratic number field K; a particular example of these continued fractions is the β-continued fraction introduced by Bernat. We show that for any quadratic Perron number β, the β-continued fraction expansion of elements in Q(β) is either finite of eventually periodic. We also show that for certain four quadratic Perron numbers β, the β-continued fraction represents finitely all elements of the quadratic field Q(β), thus answering questions of Rosen and Bernat.
Based on a joint work with Zuzana Masáková and Tomáš Vávra.

September 29, 2020
Marta Maggioni (Leiden University): Random matching for random interval maps   (video) (slides) (paper)

In this talk we extend the notion of matching for deterministic transformations to random matching for random interval maps. For a large class of piecewise affine random systems of the interval, we prove that this property of random matching implies that any invariant density of a stationary measure is piecewise constant. We provide examples of random matching for a variety of families of random dynamical systems, that includes generalised beta-transformations, continued fraction maps and a family of random maps producing signed binary expansions. We finally apply the property of random matching and its consequences to this family to study minimal weight expansions.
Based on a joint work with Karma Dajani and Charlene Kalle.

September 22, 2020
Yotam Smilansky (Rutgers University): Multiscale Substitution Tilings   (video) (slides) (paper)

Multiscale substitution tilings are a new family of tilings of Euclidean space that are generated by multiscale substitution rules. Unlike the standard setup of substitution tilings, which is a basic object of study within the aperiodic order community and includes examples such as the Penrose and the pinwheel tilings, multiple distinct scaling constants are allowed, and the defining process of inflation and subdivision is a continuous one. Under a certain irrationality assumption on the scaling constants, this construction gives rise to a new class of tilings, tiling spaces and tiling dynamical system, which are intrinsically different from those that arise in the standard setup. In the talk I will describe these new objects and discuss various structural, geometrical, statistical and dynamical results.
Based on joint work with Yaar Solomon.

September 15, 2020
Jeffrey Shallit (University of Waterloo): Lazy Ostrowski Numeration and Sturmian Words   (video) (slides) (paper)

In this talk I will discuss a new connection between the so-called "lazy Ostrowski" numeration system, and periods of the prefixes of Sturmian characteristic words. I will also give a relationship between periods and the so-called "initial critical exponent". This builds on work of Frid, Berthé-Holton-Zamboni, Epifanio-Frougny-Gabriele-Mignosi, and others, and is joint work with Narad Rampersad and Daniel Gabric.

September 8, 2020
Bing Li (South China University of Technology): Some fractal problems in beta-expansions   (video) (slides)

For greedy beta-expansions, we study some fractal sets of real numbers whose orbits under beta-transformation share some common properties. For example, the partial sum of the greedy beta-expansion converges with the same order, the orbit is not dense, the orbit is always far from that of another point etc. The usual tool is to approximate the beta-transformation dynamical system by Markov subsystems. We also discuss the similar problems for intermediate beta-expansions.

September 1, 2020
Bill Mance (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań): Hotspot Lemmas for Noncompact Spaces   (video) (slides)

We will explore a correction of several previously claimed generalizations of the classical hotspot lemma. Specifically, there is a common mistake that has been repeated in proofs going back more than 50 years. Corrected versions of these theorems are increasingly important as there has been more work in recent years focused on studying various generalizations of the concept of a normal number to numeration systems with infinite digit sets (for example, various continued fraction expansions, the Lüroth series expansion and its generalizations, and so on). Also, highlighting this (elementary) mistake may be helpful for those looking to study these numeration systems further and wishing to avoid some common pitfalls.

July 14, 2020
Attila Pethő (University of Debrecen): On diophantine properties of generalized number systems - finite and periodic representations   (video) (slides)

In this talk we investigate elements with special patterns in their representations in number systems in algebraic number fields. We concentrate on periodicity and on the representation of rational integers. We prove under natural assumptions that there are only finitely many S-units whose representation is periodic with a fixed period. We prove that the same holds for the set of values of polynomials at rational integers.

July 7, 2020
Hajime Kaneko (University of Tsukuba): Analogy of Lagrange spectrum related to geometric progressions   (video) (slides) (paper)

Classical Lagrange spectrum is defined by Diophantine approximation properties of arithmetic progressions. The theory of Lagrange spectrum is related to number theory and symbolic dynamics. In our talk we introduce significantly analogous results of Lagrange spectrum in uniform distribution theory of geometric progressions. In particular, we discuss the geometric sequences whose common ratios are Pisot numbers. For studying the fractional parts of geometric sequences, we introduce certain numeration system.
This talk is based on a joint work with Shigeki Akiyama.

June 30, 2020
Niels Langeveld (Leiden University): Continued fractions with two non integer digits   (video) (slides)

In this talk, we will look at a family of continued fraction expansions for which the digits in the expansions can attain two different (typically non-integer) values, named α₁ and α₂ with α₁α₂ ≤ 1/2 . If α₁α₂ < 1/2 we can associate a dynamical system to these expansions with a switch region and therefore with lazy and greedy expansions. We will explore the parameter space and highlight certain values for which we can construct the natural extension (such as a family for which the lowest digit cannot be followed by itself). We end the talk with a list of open problems.

June 23, 2020
Derong Kong (Chongqing University): Univoque bases of real numbers: local dimension, Devil's staircase and isolated points   (video) (slides) (paper)

Given a positive integer M and a real number x, let U(x) be the set of all bases q in (1,M+1] such that x has a unique q-expansion with respect to the alphabet {0,1,...,M}. We will investigate the local dimension of U(x) and prove a 'variation principle' for unique non-integer base expansions. We will also determine the critical values and the topological structure of U(x).

June 16, 2020
Carlos Matheus (CNRS, École Polytechnique): Approximations of the Lagrange and Markov spectra   (video) (slides) (journal) (arXiv)

The Lagrange and Markov spectra are closed subsets of the positive real numbers defined in terms of diophantine approximations. Their topological structures are quite involved: they begin with an explicit discrete subset accumulating at 3, they end with a half-infinite ray of the form [4.52...,∞), and the portions between 3 and 4.52... contain complicated Cantor sets. In this talk, we describe polynomial time algorithms to approximate (in Hausdorff topology) these spectra.

June 9, 2020
Simon Baker (University of Birmingham): Equidistribution results for self-similar measures   (video) (slides) (paper)

A well known theorem due to Koksma states that for Lebesgue almost every x>1 the sequence (xⁿ) is uniformly distributed modulo one. In this talk I will discuss an analogue of this statement that holds for fractal measures. As a corollary of this result we show that if C is equal to the middle third Cantor set and t≥1, then almost every x in C+t is such that (xⁿ) is uniformly distributed modulo one. Here almost every is with respect to the natural measure on C+t.

June 2, 2020
Henna Koivusalo (University of Vienna): Linear repetition in polytopal cut and project sets   (video) (slides)

Cut and project sets are aperiodic point patterns obtained by projecting an irrational slice of the integer lattice to a subspace. One way of classifying aperiodic sets is to study repetition of finite patterns, where sets with linear pattern repetition can be considered as the most ordered aperiodic sets.
Repetitivity of a cut and project set depends on the slope and shape of the irrational slice. The cross-section of the slice is known as the window. In an earlier work it was shown that for cut and project sets with a cube window, linear repetitivity holds if and only if the following two conditions are satisfied: (i) the set has minimal complexity and (ii) the irrational slope satisfies a certain Diophantine condition. In a new joint work with Jamie Walton, we give a generalisation of this result for other polytopal windows, under mild geometric conditions. A key step in the proof is a decomposition of the cut and project scheme, which allows us to make sense of condition (ii) for general polytopal windows.

May 26, 2020
Célia Cisternino (University of Liège): Ergodic behavior of transformations associated with alternate base expansions   (video) (slides)

We consider a p-tuple of real numbers greater than 1, 𝛃=(𝛽₁,…,𝛽_p), called an alternate base, to represent real numbers. Since these representations generalize the 𝛽-representation introduced by Rényi in 1958, a lot of questions arise. In this talk, we will study the transformation generating the alternate base expansions (greedy representations). First, we will compare the 𝛃-expansion and the (𝛽₁*…*𝛽_p)-expansion over a particular digit set and study the cases when the equality holds. Next, we will talk about the existence of a measure equivalent to Lebesgue, invariant for the transformation corresponding to the alternate base and also about the ergodicity of this transformation.
This is a joint work with Émilie Charlier and Karma Dajani.

May 19, 2020
Boris Solomyak (University of Bar-Ilan): On singular substitution Z-actions   (video) (slides) (paper)

We consider primitive aperiodic substitutions on d letters and the spectral properties of associated dynamical systems. In an earlier work we introduced a spectral cocycle, related to a kind of matrix Riesz product, which extends the (transpose) substitution matrix to the d-dimensional torus. The asymptotic properties of this cocycle provide local information on the (fractal) dimension of spectral measures. In the talk I will discuss a sufficient condition for the singularity of the spectrum in terms of the top Lyapunov exponent of this cocycle.
This is a joint work with A. Bufetov.

May 12, 2020
Olivier Carton (Université de Paris): Preservation of normality by selection   (video) (slides)

We first recall Agafonov's theorem which states that finite state selection preserves normality. We also give two slight extensions of this result to non-oblivious selection and suffix selection. We also propose a similar statement in the more general setting of shifts of finite type by defining selections which are compatible with the shift.

May 5, 2020
Narad Rampersad (University of Winnipeg): Ostrowski numeration and repetitions in words   (video) (slides)

One of the classical results in combinatorics on words is Dejean's Theorem, which specifies the smallest exponent of repetitions that are avoidable on a given alphabet. One can ask if it is possible to determine this quantity (called the repetition threshold) for certain families of infinite words. For example, it is known that the repetition threshold for Sturmian words is 2+phi, and this value is reached by the Fibonacci word. Recently, this problem has been studied for balanced words (which generalize Sturmian words) and rich words. The infinite words constructed to resolve this problem can be defined in terms of the Ostrowski-numeration system for certain continued-fraction expansions. They can be viewed as Ostrowski-automatic sequences, where we generalize the notion of k-automatic sequence from the base-k numeration system to the Ostrowski numeration system.

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