The linear convergence of limit periodic continued fractions (Q1113310)

The convergents \(C_ n\) of a continued fraction \(K^{\infty}_ 1(\frac{a_ n}{1})\) is said to converge linearly to \(C\in {\mathbb{C}}\) if and only if \((C_ n-C)/(C_{n-1}-C)\to r\) for some r, \(| r| <1\). \textit{W. Niethammer} and \textit{H. Wietschorke} [Numer. Math. 44, 129- 137 (1984; Zbl 0566.65002)] proved that if \(a_ n\to a\not\in (-\infty,- 1/4]\) then \(\{C_ n\}\) converges linearly. In this paper the author proves the converse: If \(\{C_ n\}\) converges linearly then \(a_ n\to a=-r/(1+r)^ 2\). This has implications for the convergence acceleration of continued fractions.