Matching for generalised \(\beta\)-transformations (Q505040)

Let \(\beta>1\) be fixed, and consider the map \(T_\alpha(x) = \beta x + \alpha\) mod 1, where \(x \in[0,1]\). The authors are interested in the question when this system allows \textit{matching}, that is, when there exists an \(n\) such that \(T_\alpha^n(0)=T_\alpha^n(1)\). This is an interesting question from the ergodic theory point of view, since the fact that the matching condition is satisfied has implication on the existence and regularity of an invariant measure. Among other results, the authors prove the following. Assume that \(\beta\) is an quadratic algebraic number. Then \(T_\alpha\) admits matching if and only if \(\beta\) is Pisot. In this case \(\beta^2 - k \beta \pm d = 0\) for some \(d \in \mathbb{N}\) and \(k > d \pm 1\), and the Hausdorff dimension of the set of \(\alpha\)'s for which \(T_\alpha\) does not have matching equals \((\log d)/(\log \beta)\). The paper also contains numerical (experimental) results for other values of \(\beta\), where no theoretical results exist. Furthermore, the authors state the conjecture that whenever \(\beta\) is a non-quadratic Pisot number, then the set of \(\alpha\)'s where no matching occurs is strictly between 0 and 1.