On canonical expansions of integers in imaginary quadratic fields (Q1848157)

Let \(\vartheta\) be an algebraic integer. The pair \((\theta, {\mathcal A})\) with \(\theta \in \mathbb{Q} [\vartheta]\) and \({\mathcal A} =\{0, \dots, |\text{Norm}(\theta)|\}\) is called a number system in \(\mathbb{Q} [\vartheta]\) if there exist for each \(\gamma \in \mathbb{Q} [\vartheta]\) an \(m \geq 0\) and \(a_j \in {\mathcal A}, j=0, \dots, m\) such that \(\gamma = \sum_{j=0}^m a_j \theta^j\). \textit{I. Kátai} and \textit{B. Kovács} [Acta Sci. Math. 42, 99-107 (1980; Zbl 0426.10011), Acta Math. Acad. Sci. Hung. 37, 159-164 (1981; Zbl 0477.10012)] and independently \textit{W. J. Gilbert} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 83, 264-274 (1981; Zbl 0472.10011)] proved that if the minimal polynomial of \(\theta\) is \(x^2 + Ex + F\) then \((\theta, {\mathcal A})\) is a number system if and only if \(F \geq 2\) and \(-1 \leq E \leq F\). An element \(\pi \in \mathbb{Q}[\theta]\) is called periodic if there is an \(l > 0\) such that \(\pi = \sum_{j=0}^{l-1} a_j \theta^j + \pi \theta^l \). The aim of the present paper is to describe the set of periodic elements \(\mathcal P\) and the possible periods in the ring of integers of imaginary quadratic fields. Let \(\mathbb{Q}(\theta)=\mathbb{Q}(i\sqrt{D})\) with a square-free integer \(D>0\). Then \(\theta = a + b \omega\), where \(\omega =i\sqrt{D}\) or \((1+ i\sqrt{D})/2\) according as \(D \equiv 1,2 \pmod{4}\) or \(D \equiv 3 \pmod{4}\). The size of \(\mathcal P\) depends on these cases. Assume \(b\geq 1\). If \(D \equiv 1,2 \pmod{4}\) and \(a \geq 1\) then \(\# {\mathcal P} = b+1\), while if \(a\leq -1\) then \(\# {\mathcal P} = b\). If \(D \equiv 3 \pmod{4}\) then \(\# {\mathcal P}\) can take the values \(b, b+1\) and \(b+2\) only depending on \(a,b\) and \(D\).