Algebraic and ergodic properties of a new continued fraction algorithm with non-decreasing partial quotients (Q558125)

In this paper a new kind of continued fraction expansion, the Engel continued fraction (ECF) expansion, is introduced. The ECF map \(T_E:[0,1]\to [0,1]\) is given by \[ T_E(x):=\frac{1}{\left\lfloor\frac{1}{x}\right \rfloor}\left(\frac{1}{x}-\left\lfloor\frac{1}{x}\right\rfloor\right),\quad x\neq 0,\quad T_E(0)=0. \] For any \(x\in(0,1)\), the ECF map generates a new continued fraction expansion of \(x\) of the form \[ x=\frac{1}{b_1+\frac {b_1}{b_2+\frac {b_2}{b_3+\ddots+\frac {b_{n-1}}{b_n+\ddots}}}},\quad b_n\in{\mathbb N}, \quad b_n\leq b_{n+1}. \] The basic properties of the ECF expansion are studied. The ECF resembles the regular continued fraction in many ways, but there are some differences. The ergodic properties of the ECF expansion are also studied. \(T_E\) has no finite invariant measure, equivalent to the Lesbesgue measure, but \(T_E\) has infinitely many \(\sigma\)-finite, infinite invariant measures. It is also shown that \(T_E\) is ergodic with respect to Lebesgue measure. Lastly, the relation between the ECF and \textit{F. Ryde's} continued fraction [Ark. Mat. 1, No. 23, 319--339 (1951; Zbl 0042.29602)] is studied. As a consequence, there exist quadratic irrationals \(x\) for which the ECF expansion is not ultimately periodic. For example, \(x=(-1+2\sqrt{5})/5\).