An introduction to p-adic systems: A new kind of number systems inspired by the Collatz 3n+1 conjecture

arXiv1911.09624MaRDI QIDQ6329645FDOQ6329645

Authors: Mario Weitzer 

Publication date: 21 November 2019

Abstract: This article introduces a new kind of number systems on $p$-adic integers which is inspired by the well-known $3n+1$ conjecture of Lothar Collatz. A $p$-adic system is a piecewise function on $mathbb{Z}_p$ which has branches for all residue classes modulo $p$ and whose dynamics can be used to define digit expansions of $p$-adic integers which respect congruency modulo powers of $p$ and admit a distinctive "block structure". $p$-adic systems generalize several notions related to $p$-adic integers such as permutation polynomials and put them under a common framework, allowing for results and techniques formulated in one setting to be transferred to another. The general framework established by $p$-adic systems also provides more natural versions of the original Collatz conjecture and first results could be achieved in the context. A detailed formal introduction to $p$-adic systems and their different interpretations is given. Several classes of $p$-adic systems defined by different types of functions such as polynomial functions or rational functions are characterized and a group structure on the set of all $p$-adic systems is established, which altogether provides a variety of concrete examples of $p$-adic systems. Furthermore, $p$-adic systems are used to generalize Hensel's Lemma on polynomials to general functions on $mathbb{Z}_p$, analyze the original Collatz conjecture in the context of other "linear-polynomial $p$-adic systems", and to study the relation between "polynomial $p$-adic systems" and permutation polynomials with the aid of "trees of cycles" which encode the cycle structure of certain permutations of $mathbb{Z}_p$. To outline a potential roadmap for future investigations of $p$-adic systems in many different directions, several open questions and problems in relation to $p$-adic systems are listed.

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Polynomials in number theory (11C08) Radix representation; digital problems (11A63) Non-Archimedean dynamical systems (11S82)

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