Numbers with complicated decimal expansions (Q1804754)

If \(\alpha\) is an irrational number and \(B= a_ 1, a_ 2, \dots, a_ k\) an arbitrary finite sequence of digits (a block) then there exists an \(m\in \mathbb{N}\) such that the decimal expansion of \(m\alpha\) contains the block \(B\) finitely often [cf. \textit{K. Mahler}, Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 8, 191-203 (1973; Zbl 0248.10024)]. The authors give a general framework for the study of sequences that have similar properties as the sequence \((n\alpha)_ 1^ \infty\) in Mahler's theorem. A sequence \((\alpha_ i)\) of real numbers is said to be \(BC\)-sequence (block-complete) and \(BS\)-sequence (block-saturated) if for each block \(B\) the set \(S_ 1 (B)= \{i\in \mathbb{N}\): \(\#(\alpha_ i, B)\geq 1\}\) and \(B_ 2 (B)= \{i\in \mathbb{N}\): \(\# (\alpha_ i, B)= \infty\}\), respectively, is infinite, here \(\#(\alpha_ i, B)\) denotes the number of occurrences of \(B\) in the \(g\)-adic expansion of \(\alpha_ i\). The properties described in the definitions of \(BC\)- and \(BS\)-sequences are strengthened by requiring that \(S_ 1 (B)\) \((S_ 2 (B))\) has density 1 (Banach density 1) for each block \(B\). These notions are illustrated by many suitable examples. In the paper sufficient conditions are given for block-completeness of sequences \((\alpha_ i)\) by using some properties of the sequences \((\log_ g \alpha_ i)\). A set \(D\subseteq \mathbb{N}\) is said to be an \(M_ g\)-set provided that for each irrational \(\alpha\) and block \(B\) there is an \(m\in D\) such that \(m\alpha\) contains the block \(B\) infinitely often in its \(g\)-adic expansion. Several characterizations of \(M_ g\)-sets are given. Finally it is shown that for the continued fraction expansions the analogue of Mahler's theorem does not hold. Namely the authors prove that there exist uncountable many irrational numbers \(\alpha\) such that the sequence of partial quotients of \(m\alpha\) (for each \(m\in \mathbb{N}\)) diverges to \(\infty\). Simultaneously it is shown here that if \(\alpha\) is a quadratic irrational then for any block \(B\) there exist infinitely many \(n\in \mathbb{N}\) for which the block \(B\) appears infinitely often in the continued fraction expansion of \(n\alpha\).