Automata and algebraicity (Q2388603): Difference between revisions

For a finite set \(A\subset\mathbb N\) of digits, consider a sequence \(u=(u_n)\) with \(u_n\in A\) for all \(n\geq0\). There are several objects of interest in number theory naturally associated to \(u\): the real number \(\sum_{n\geq0}u_n| A|^{-n}\); the formal power series \(\sum_{n\geq0}u_nX^n\in\mathbb Q((X))\); the same formal power series viewed as an element of \(\mathbb F_p((X))\); the real continued fraction \([u_0+1,u_1+1,\dots]\). This survey paper is concerned with different aspects of the following question: how is `regularity' of the sequence manifested in regularity of one of these objects? For brevity the case of the Thue-Morse sequence and the Fibonacci numbers is considered, with references to more general results. The `Note ajoutée aux épreuves' refers to recent work of \textit{B. Adamczewski} and \textit{Y. Bugeaud}, which has now appeared [Ann. Math. (2) 165, No. 2, 547--565 (2007; Zbl 1195.11094)].