Dynamical generalizations of the Lagrange spectrum (Q5891067)

This work connects the Lagrange spectrum of diophantine analysis to the Boshernitzan criterion for unique ergodicity in interval-exchange maps. The Lagrange spectrum \(L(\alpha)\) is the set of suprema of the sequence \((q_n|q_n\alpha p_n|)^{-1}\), where \(\alpha\) is an irrational number and \(p_n/q_n\) are its convergents. For a minimal symbolic system \(S\), let \(e_n\) be the smallest positive frequency of the words of length \(n\) (with respect to an invariant measure). If the Boshernitzan sequence \((ne_n)^{-1}\) does not tend to infinity, then \(S\) is uniquely ergodic. For a family \(S(\alpha)\) of uniquely ergodic systems (rotations, three interval exchanges, and the Arnoux-Rauzy system), the author considers the set of upper and lower limits of the Boshernitzan sequence. These sets, called the upper and lower BL spectra, are invariant under topological conjugacy It is shown that for rotations the upper BL spectrum coincides with the Lagrange spectrum; a partial description of the BL spectra is obtained in the other cases. New uniquely ergodic systems are exhibited, which do not satisfy Boshernitzan's criterion.