The arithmetic-geometric scaling spectrum for continued fractions (Q711480)

The authors study thermodynamic formalism for the Gauss map in order to obtain a multifractal spectrum for the so-called arithmetic-geometric scaling of an element \(x\in [0,1]\setminus {\mathbb Q}\). They define the set \[ {\mathcal F}_\alpha = \bigg\{x \in [0,1]\setminus {\mathbb Q} : \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} {{\log \big(\prod_{i=1}^n a_i(x)\big)}\over{\log q_n(x)}} = \alpha\bigg\}. \] Here, \(a_i(x)\) denotes the \(i\)'th partial quotient in the simple continued fraction expansion of \(x\), while \(q_n(x)\) denotes the denotes the \(n\)'th convergent of \(x\). Using thermodynamic formalism, the authors calculate the Hausdorff dimension of the set \({\mathcal F}_\alpha\) for all values of \(\alpha\). The set is empty for \(\alpha \notin [0,1]\) and \(f(\alpha) = \dim {\mathcal F}_\alpha\) is strictly convex and real-analytic for \(\alpha \in (0,1)\). Its maximum of \(1\) is attained for \(\alpha = 12 \pi^{-2}\log 2 \log K_0\), where \(K_0\) is the Khintchine constant. At the endpoints, \(f(0) = 0\) and \(f(1) = 1/2\). At both points, the half-tangent is vertical. An expression for the function \(f(\alpha)\) is given as the Legendre transform of a free energy function associated with a certain pressure function.