On the orbits of multiplicative pairs (Q2305968)

The authors characterize all pairs of completely multiplicative functions \(f,g:\mathbb{N}\to\mathbb{T}\) such that \(\overline{\{(f(n),g(n+1))\}_n}\neq\mathbb{T}\times\mathbb{T}\), where \(\mathbb{T}\) is the unit circle and \(\overline{\{(f(n),g(n+1))\}_n}\) denotes the orbit closure of the point \(1\). More exactly, one of the main results of the paper is the proof of the following amended version of the Daróczy-Kátai conjecture (1989). For a completely multiplicative function \(h\) let \(T_h=\{p\text { prime}: h(p)\ne 1\}\). Theorem 1.2: Let \(f,g:\mathbb{N}\to\mathbb{T}\) be completely multiplicative functions. Suppose that \(\overline{\{(f(n),g(n+1))\}_n}\neq\mathbb{T}\times\mathbb{T}\), yet \(\overline{\{f(n)\}_n} = \overline{\{g(n)\}_n}=\mathbb{T}\). Suppose additionally that for infinitely many \(m\) one has \(|T_{f^m} \cup T_{g^m}| >1\). Then there are integers \(k\) and \(l\) such that \(f(n)^k =g(n)^l\), with \(f(n)^k =n^{it}\) for some nonzero real number \(t\). Another main result is formulated in terms of irrational functions, defined as follows. A completely multiplicative function \(f:\mathbb{N}\to\mathbb{T}\) is said to be eventually rational if there exist positive integers \(k\) and \(N_0=N_0(k)\) such that for all primes \(p\ge N_0\) one has \(f(p)^k=1\). Otherwise, the function \(f\) is said to be irrational. Now, Theorem 1.6 states and proves the following: Suppose that \(f,g:\mathbb{N}\to\mathbb{T}\) are completely multiplicative functions such that \(\overline{\{f(n)\}_n} = \overline{\{g(n)\}_n}=\mathbb{T}\). Suppose furthermore that at least one of \(f\) and \(g\) is irrational. If \(\overline{\{(f(n),g(n+1))\}_n}\neq\mathbb{T}\times\mathbb{T}\), then there are positive integers \(k,l\) and real numbers \(t,t'\) such that \(f(n)^k=n^{it}\) and \(g(n)^l= n^{it'}\).