Metrical theory for optimal continued fractions (Q911633)

The authors define an optimal continued fraction algorithm, that is a semi-regular continued fraction-algorithm whose convergents \(p_ k/q_ k\) of a real x satisfy \(\theta_ k:=q_ k| q_ kx-p_ k| <1/2\) for every \(k\geq 1\) and which is such that the denominators \(q_ k\) grow as fast as possible. The ergodic system underlying this OCF- expansion is described and results on the distribution of the values \(\theta_ k\) are shown. The main result is the following: Theorem: (i) For every irrational x \[ (\theta_{k-1},\theta_ k)\in \Pi:=\{(w,z)\in {\mathbb{R}}\times {\mathbb{R}}:\quad w>0,\quad z>0,\quad 4w^ 2+z^ 2<1,\quad w^ 2+4z^ 2<1\}\quad for\quad every\quad k\geq 1. \] (ii) For almost all x the sequence \((\theta_{k-1},\theta_ k)_{k\geq 1}\) is distributed over \(\Pi\) according to the density-function f, where \[ f(w,z)=(1/\log G)(1/\sqrt{1-4wz}+1/\sqrt{1+4wz}) \] with \(G=(\sqrt{5}+1)/2\).