Convergence criteria of branched continued fractions (Q6970948)

This paper studies the convergence of branched continued fractions (BCFs), a multidimensional extension of ordinary continued fractions. It generalizes classical convergence theorems (Seidel-Stern, Worpitzky, Leighton-Wall, Van Vleck, Śleszyński-Pringsheim, Perron, etc.) to the setting of BCFs.\N\NFor ordinary continued fractions \(K(a_n/b_n)\), several classical criteria are recalled: Seidel-Stern ensures convergence if \(a_k=1\), \(b_k>0\), and \(\sum b_k=\infty\); Stern-Stolz gives divergence if \(\sum |b_k|<\infty\); Worpitzky guarantees convergence if \(|a_k|\leq 1/4\); Leighton-Wall uses alternating bounds; Śleszyński-Pringsheim states convergence if \(|b_k|>|a_k|+1\); and Perron provides absolute convergence when denominators dominate numerators.\N\NBCFs introduce branching indices \(i(k)\) up to \(N\) at each level. They differ from ordinary fractions because approximants lack recurrence relations and require new tools such as tail expansions and auxiliary divergent series. Main results include: divergence when \(a_{i(k)}=1\), \(b_{i(k)}>0\), and \(\sum (\max b_{i(k)})<\infty\); Seidel-Stern generalizations where convergence depends on divergence of auxiliary series; Worpitzky-type results, where \(|a_{i(k)}|\leq t(1-t)/N\) ensures convergence with truncation error bounds; Leighton-Wall-type extensions based on index sets and coefficient bounds; Śleszyński-Pringsheim analogues, ensuring convergence if \(|b_{i(k)}|\geq |a_{i(k)}|+N\) or \(|b_{i(k)}|\geq N|a_{i(k)}|+1\); and a Perron-type criterion giving absolute convergence when denominators dominate sums of numerators.\N\NFurther developments include matrix-valued BCFs, stability results for approximants, and applications to multivariable hypergeometric functions such as Horn, Appell, and Lauricella-Saran functions. The paper thus establishes multidimensional analogues of classical convergence theory, offering new tools for the analysis of BCFs and their applications.