scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1097639

Publication date 28 January 1998

branched continued fractions convergence positive partial denominators

Continued fractions (11A55) Convergence and divergence of continued fractions (40A15)

The cradle of the theory of branched continued fractions lies in Kiev some 25 years ago, and the author's name is intimately connected with the subject (other important names are Vitalji Skorobogatko and Christina Kuchminska). In a series of papers published between 1974 and 1986, the author studied this new type of algorithm (which can be defined using compositions of Möbius transformations, as in the ordinary case), and the paper under review is a synopsis of the results previously found and published in Russian only, along with the best known results after 20 years of research with respect to a specific convergence conjecture. Most of the proofs are given. Let \(N\) be a fixed natural number and denote by \(i(k)=i_1 i_2 \cdots i_k\) a multi-index where each index satisfies \(1\leq i_s\leq N\;(1\leq s\leq N)\). Consider the branched continued fraction given by the approximants \[ f_n=b_0+\sum_{i_1=1}^N {1\over {b_{i(1)}+\sum_{i_2=1}^N {1\over{b_{i(2)}+\dots \sum_{i_n=1}^N {1\over b_{i(n)}}}}}} \tag{BCF} \] where all \(b_{i(k)}\) are non-negative. Define \[ \alpha_k:=\min (b_{i(k)}: 1\leq i_p\leq N,\;1\leq p\leq k),\quad \beta_k:=\max (b_{i(k)}: 1\leq i_p\leq N,\;1\leq p\leq k), \] and let \(s=2m+k-2[{k\over 2}]\). The following generalisations of results due to Seidel - Stern (for ordinary continued fractions) are given 1. BCF diverges when \(\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \beta_k\) converges. 2. BCF converges when \(\lim_{m\rightarrow\infty} \sum_{k=2}^{2m+1} \beta_{k-1}\left(\beta_k+{N\over \alpha_{k+1} +}{\;} {N\over \beta_{k+2} +}\cdots {N\over \beta_s}\right)<\infty\). 3. BCF converges when \(\lim_{m\rightarrow\infty} \sum_{k=2}^{2m+1} \alpha_{k-1}\left(\alpha_k+{N\over \beta_{k+1} +}{\;} {N\over \alpha_{k+2} +}\cdots {N\over \alpha_s}\right)=\infty\). 4. BCF converges when the following three series diverge \[ \sum_{k=1}^{\infty} (\alpha_{2k}+\beta_{2k+1}),\quad \sum_{k=1}^{\infty} (\beta_{2k}+\alpha_{2k+1}) \] \[ \sum_{k=2}^{\infty} \alpha_{k-1}\left(\alpha_k+{N\over \beta_{k+1} +}{\;} {N\over \alpha_{k+2} +}{\;}{N\over \beta_{k+3} +}{\;\cdots}\right). \] 5. If there exists a real number \(M>0\) with \(\beta_k\leq M\alpha_k\;(k\geq 1)\), then BCF converges if and only if \(\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \beta_k\) diverges. 6. If there exists a real number \(M>0\) with \(\beta_k\leq M\alpha_{k+1}, \;\beta_{k+1}\leq M\alpha_k\;(k\geq 1)\), then BCF converges if and only if \(\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \beta_k\) diverges. Finally the author gives the best result to date on the conjecture \[ \text{BCF converges when the series }\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \alpha_k \text{ diverges.} \] 7. Let \(M\) be a natural number such that for all indices \(i\) and \(m\) satisfying \(2(m-i)\geq M-1\) the following inequalities hold \[ N_{2i+1}+2\alpha_{2i}(\alpha_{2i+1}+\alpha_{2i+3}+\cdots\alpha_{2m+1})\geq N \] \[ N_{2i+2}+2\alpha_{2i+1}(\alpha_{2i+2}+\alpha_{2i+4}+\cdots\alpha_{2m})\geq N \] where the \(N_k\) are real numbers, \(1\leq N_k\leq N\;(k\geq 2)\). Then BCF converges when the series \(\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \alpha_k\) diverges. The Royal Norwegian Scientific Society (Det Kongelige Norske Videnskabers Selskab) and, more specifically, Haakon Waadeland are to be complimented on making this research on branched continued fractions available to the mathematical community.

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