Periodicity of P-adic continued fraction expansions (Q1078235)

An algorithm of \textit{K. Mahler} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 41, 8-56 (1940; Zbl 0023.10502)] yields sequences of pairs of integers \(p_ n\), \(q_ n\) which for any p-adic integer \(\zeta\) gives p-adic approximations which are best with respect to some real, reduced, positive-definite quadratic form \(\Phi\) of determinant \(-1\); it also constructs a sequence of \(2\times 2\) matrices of determinant p, denoted by \(\Omega\) (\(\zeta)\) which defines the pairs \(p_ n\), \(q_ n\) from a product of the first n matrices of \(\Omega\) (\(\zeta)\). Mahler showed that if \(\Omega\) (\(\zeta)\) is periodic then \(\zeta\) is either rational or a quadratic irrational. But if \(\zeta\) is a quadratic irrational for which \(\Omega\) (\(\zeta)\) is periodic then it is possible to choose \(\Phi\) so that \(\Omega\) (\(\zeta)\) is no longer periodic. In this paper the set of quadratic irrationals \(\zeta\) for which \(\Omega\) (\(\zeta)\) is periodic for some choice of \(\Phi\) is characterised. In particular it is shown that there are \(\zeta\) for which \(\Omega\) (\(\zeta)\) is not periodic for any choice of \(\Phi\).