A characterization of real quadratic numbers by diophantine algorithms (Q1192423)

A 2-dimensional map \(T\) of continued fraction type is introduced which exhibits the following remarkable property: Let \(\alpha\) be a quadratic irrational number. Then \(\beta\in\mathbb{Q}(\alpha)\) if and only if \((\alpha,\beta)\) eventually becomes periodic under iteration of \(T\). The proof combines the old idea of a reduced quadratic irrational number with a suitable choice of a natural extension of \(T\). This result is similar to the findings on Morimoto's algorithm [\textit{Sh. Ito} and \textit{K. Kasahara}, Tokyo J. Math. 14, No. 2, 357-393 (1991); see the following review].