Simple convergence sets for continued fractions \(K(a_ n/1)\) (Q1323083)

This paper is an interesting contribution to the convergence theory for continued fractions \(K(a_ n/1)\). It replaces, in the technique of deriving convergence sets \(E\), value sets \(V\) by pre-value sets, i.e. sets \(V\neq \emptyset\), \(V\neq \widehat{\mathbb{C}}\), satisfying \(a/(1+ V)\subseteq V\) for all \(a\in E\), but no longer required to satisfy \(E\subseteq V\). This opens up for a wider choice of pairs \(E\), \(V\). With \(s_ k(w)= a_ k/(1+ w)\), \(k= 1,2,3,\dots,\) \(S_ n(w)= s_ 1\circ s_ 2\circ\cdots \circ s_ n(w)\) and \(S_ n(\overline V)= \Delta_ n\) the sequence \(\{\Delta_ n\}\) is a sequence of nested closed sets, converging to the closed set \(\Delta= \bigcap \Delta_ n\). If \(\Delta\) happens to be a one-point set, the sequence \(\{S_ n(w)\}\) converges to the same value \(f\). Using arguments from an earlier paper by the first author one may conclude, under certain mild conditions on \(V\), that then \(\{S_ n(0)\}\) converges to \(f\). The main result of the paper is a theorem providing sufficient conditions for this to happen, and hence for convergence of \(K(a_ n/1)\) to an \(f\in \overline V\): Let \(V\) be a bounded, open pre-value set for \(E\) with \(E\backslash \{0\}\neq\emptyset\) and \(a/(1+ V)\neq V\) for all \(a\in E\). Let furthermore \(\partial^* V\) be the intersection of the boundaries of \(V\) and \((-1-V)\) and \(E^*\) the subset of the boundary of \(E\) for which \((a/(1+ \partial^* V))\cap \partial^* V\neq \emptyset\), \(a\in \partial E\). If the sequence \(\{a_ n\}\) from \(E\backslash\{0\}\) has at least one limit point \(\not\in E^*\), then the continued fraction converges to a value \(f\in \overline V\) and \(\lim_{n\to\infty} S_ n(\overline V)= \{f\}\). This result generalizes earlier results by the first author and others. It is in particular simple if \(E^*\) is empty. In this case, if \(V\) is a bounded, open pre-value set for an \(E\) with \(E\backslash \{0\}\neq \emptyset\) and \(a/(1+ V)\neq V\) for all \(a\in E\), then \(E\) is a simple convergence set. A sufficient condition for \(E^*= \emptyset\) is \(\partial^* V= \emptyset\), which again holds if \(-1\not\in \overline{V+V}\). This observation relates the result to an earlier result by Roach. Another important remark in the question of simplification of results is that if \(E\) contains at least two distinct points, then \(a/(1+ V)\neq V\) for all \(a\in E\). The question about removing or relaxing the condition (in the main theorem) that \(\{a_ n\}\) has at least one limit point \(\not\in E^*\) is also discussed. A result for the limit periodic case is proved, as well as one for the case, when \(V\) is a circular disk. Finally, the paper contains some results on pre-value sets and on linear fractional transformations generally.