Invariant measures, matching and the frequency of 0 for signed binary expansions (Q2216022)

For \(\eta\in[1,2]\) the maps \(S_{\eta}\colon[-1,1]\to[-1,1]\) defined by \(S_{\eta}(x)=2x-d\eta\) with \(d\in\{0,\pm1\}\) are used to generate expansions of real numbers with digits in \(\{0,\pm1\}\) (signed binary expansions). Here the main emphasis is on ergodic aspects of these expansions, together with the relationship between the asymptotic frequency of the digit \(0\) and the properties of the absolutely continuous ergodic invariant measure \(\mu_{\eta}\) for \(S_{\eta}\). The density of \(\mu_{\eta}\) is shown to be a step function almost surely, and the maximal parameter intervals over which the same number of steps occur are found. Explicit formulas for the frequency of the digit \(0\) are found and shown to depend continuously on \(\eta\) in such parameter intervals. A key technical tool used is to relate these expansions to the \(\alpha\)-continued fractions studied by \textit{H. Nakada} [Tokyo J. Math. 4, 399--426 (1981; Zbl 0479.10029)].