On irrationality exponents of generalized continued fractions (Q2257312)

An \textit{irrationality exponent} of a real number \(\tau\) is any exponent \(\mu\) for which there exist positive constants \(c\) and \(N_0\) such that \(|\tau-\frac{M}{N}|\geq \frac{c}{N^\mu}\) holds for all \(M,N\in\mathbb Z, N\geq N_0\). The \textit{asymptotic irrationality exponent} \(\mu_I(\tau)\) is the infimum of all such exponents \(\mu\). A \textit{generalized continued fraction} is the expression \(b_0+\mathbf K_{n=1}^\infty \frac{a_n}{b_n}=b_0+\frac{a_1}{b_1+\frac{a_2}{b_2+\dots}}\) as well as the value of the limit when it exists. The authors study the behavior of the asymptotic irrationality exponents of a given generalized continued fraction as a function of the nature of growth properties of partial coefficients sequences \((a_n)\) and \((b_n)\). They prove: Case of bounded partial quotients (*): Let \((a_n)\) and \((b_n)\) be sequences of positive integers and let \(\tau=\mathbf K_{n=1}^\infty \frac{a_n}{b_n}\). Suppose that \(\alpha_1\leq a_n\leq \alpha_2,\;\beta_1\leq b_n\leq \beta_2\) for all \(n \in\mathbb Z^+\), where \(\alpha_1,\alpha_2,\beta_1\) and \(\beta_2\) are positive integers satisfying \(\gamma_1 := \frac{\beta_1+\sqrt{\beta_1^2+4\alpha_1}}{2}>\alpha_2\). Then \(\tau\) is irrational and \(\mu_I(\tau)\leq 2+\frac{\log \alpha_2}{\log \gamma_1-\log \alpha_2}\). Case of polynomial growth: Let \((a_n)\) and \((b_n)\) be sequences of positive integers and let \(\tau=\mathbf K_{n=1}^\infty \frac{a_n}{b_n}\). Suppose that \(a_n \leq \alpha n^l, \;\beta_1 n^{k_1}\leq b_n \leq \beta_2 n^{k_2}\) for all \(n \in\mathbb Z^+\), where \(l\) is a non-negative real number and \(\beta_1, \beta_2, k_1\) and \(k_2\) are positive real numbers satisfying \(l < k_1 \leq k_2\). Then \(\tau\) is irrational and \(\mu_I(\tau) \leq 2 + \frac{l}{k_1-1}.\) Case of exponential growth: Let \((a_n)\)and \((b_n)\) be sequences of positive integers and let \(\tau = \mathbf K_{n=1}^\infty\frac{a_n}{b_n}\). Suppose that \(a_n \leq r \alpha^{n^l} , \;s_1\beta_1^{n^{k_1}}\leq b_n \leq s_2\beta_2^{n^{k_2}}\) for all \(n \in \mathbb Z^+\), where \(l\) is a non-negative real number and \(r, s_1, s_2, \alpha, \beta_1, \beta_2, k_1\) and \(k_2\) are positive real numbers satisfying \(k_1+1 >k_2\geq k_1\). {\parindent=6mm \begin{itemize}\item[-] If \(l<k_1\) then \(\tau\) is irrational and \(\mu_I(\tau) =2\). \item[-] If \(l=k_1\) and \(\alpha <\beta_1\) then \(\tau\) is irrational and \(\mu_I(\tau)\leq 2+\frac{\log \alpha}{\log \beta_1 -\log \alpha}\). \end{itemize}} Complement to theorem (*): For any \(s \in \{1\} \cup [2, \infty]\) there exists a generalized continued fraction \(\tau_s=\mathbf K_{n=1}^\infty \frac{a_n}{1}\) with \(a_n\in \{1, 2\}\) for all \(n \in\mathbb Z^+\) and \(\mu_I(\tau_s) =s\). The bibliography below lists some of the references of the historical context of this study mentioned by the authors. {\parindent=5mm \begin{itemize}\item[1.] \textit{B. Adamczewski} and \textit{Y. Bugeaud} [Acta Math. 195, No. 1, 1--20 (2005; Zbl 1195.11093); Ann. Math. (2) 165, No. 2, 547--565 (2007; Zbl 1195.11094)]. \item[2.] \textit{D. Bowman} and \textit{J. McLaughlin} [Acta Arith. 103, No. 4, 329--342 (2002; Zbl 1020.11007)]. \item[3.] \textit{P. Bundschuh} [Lith. Math. J. 38, No. 1, 15--26 (1998); reprinted from Liet. Mat. Rink. 38, No. 1, 19--33 (1998; Zbl 0924.11058)]. \item[4.] \textit{T. Komatsu} [Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 134, No. 1, 1--12 (2003; Zbl 1053.11006); Lith. Math. J. 45, No. 1, 66--75 (2005); translation from Liet. Mat. Rink. 45, No. 1, 84--94 (2005; Zbl 1128.11004)]. \item[5.] \textit{D. H. Lehmer} [Scripta Math. 29, 17--24 (1973; Zbl 0263.10012)]. \item[6.] \textit{L. Lorentzen} and \textit{H. Waadeland} [Continued fractions with applications. Amsterdam: North-Holland (1992; Zbl 0782.40001)]. \item[7.] \textit{O. Perron} [Die Lehre von den Kettenbrüchen. Leipzig - Berlin: B. G. Teubner (1913; JFM 43.0283.04)]. \end{itemize}}