Statistical distribution of the Stern sequence

We prove that the Stern diatomic sequence is asymptotically distributed according to a normal law, on a logarithmic scale. This is obtained by studying complex moments, and the analytic properties of a transfer operator.Comment: 13 page

Statistical Mechanics of 2+1 Gravity From Riemann Zeta Function and Alexander Polynomial:Exact Results

In the recent publication (Journal of Geometry and Physics,33(2000)23-102) we demonstrated that dynamics of 2+1 gravity can be described in terms of train tracks. Train tracks were introduced by Thurston in connection with description of dynamics of surface automorphisms. In this work we provide an example of utilization of general formalism developed earlier. The complete exact solution of the model problem describing equilibrium dynamics of train tracks on the punctured torus is obtained. Being guided by similarities between the dynamics of 2d liquid crystals and 2+1 gravity the partition function for gravity is mapped into that for the Farey spin chain. The Farey spin chain partition function, fortunately, is known exactly and has been thoroughly investigated recently. Accordingly, the transition between the pseudo-Anosov and the periodic dynamic regime (in Thurston's terminology) in the case of gravity is being reinterpreted in terms of phase transitions in the Farey spin chain whose partition function is just a ratio of two Riemann zeta functions. The mapping into the spin chain is facilitated by recognition of a special role of the Alexander polynomial for knots/links in study of dynamics of self homeomorphisms of surfaces. At the end of paper, using some facts from the theory of arithmetic hyperbolic 3-manifolds (initiated by Bianchi in 1892), we develop systematic extension of the obtained results to noncompact Riemannian surfaces of higher genus. Some of the obtained results are also useful for 3+1 gravity. In particular, using the theorem of Margulis, we provide new reasons for the black hole existence in the Universe: black holes make our Universe arithmetic. That is the discrete Lie groups of motion are arithmetic.Comment: 69 pages,11 figures. Journal of Geometry and Physics (in press

Statistical Mechanics of 2+1 Gravity From Riemann Zeta Function and Alexander Polynomial:Exact Results

In the recent publication (Journal of Geometry and Physics,33(2000)23-102) we demonstrated that dynamics of 2+1 gravity can be described in terms of train tracks. Train tracks were introduced by Thurston in connection with description of dynamics of surface automorphisms. In this work we provide an example of utilization of general formalism developed earlier. The complete exact solution of the model problem describing equilibrium dynamics of train tracks on the punctured torus is obtained. Being guided by similarities between the dynamics of 2d liquid crystals and 2+1 gravity the partition function for gravity is mapped into that for the Farey spin chain. The Farey spin chain partition function, fortunately, is known exactly and has been thoroughly investigated recently. Accordingly, the transition between the pseudo-Anosov and the periodic dynamic regime (in Thurston's terminology) in the case of gravity is being reinterpreted in terms of phase transitions in the Farey spin chain whose partition function is just a ratio of two Riemann zeta functions. The mapping into the spin chain is facilitated by recognition of a special role of the Alexander polynomial for knots/links in study of dynamics of self homeomorphisms of surfaces. At the end of paper, using some facts from the theory of arithmetic hyperbolic 3-manifolds (initiated by Bianchi in 1892), we develop systematic extension of the obtained results to noncompact Riemannian surfaces of higher genus. Some of the obtained results are also useful for 3+1 gravity. In particular, using the theorem of Margulis, we provide new reasons for the black hole existence in the Universe: black holes make our Universe arithmetic. That is the discrete Lie groups of motion are arithmetic.Comment: 69 pages,11 figures. Journal of Geometry and Physics (in press

Harmonic measures for distributions with finite support on the mapping class group are singular

Kaimanovich and Masur showed that a random walk on the mapping class group for an initial distribution with finite first moment and whose support generates a non-elementary subgroup, converges almost surely to a point in the space PMF of projective measured foliations on the surface. This defines a harmonic measure on PMF. Here, we show that when the initial distribution has finite support, the corresponding harmonic measure is singular with respect to the natural Lebesgue measure on PMF.Comment: 43 pages, 16 figures. Minor improvements overall, specifically Section 12. Added reference

Geodesic Rosen Continued Fractions

We describe how to represent Rosen continued fractions by paths in a class of graphs that arise naturally in hyperbolic geometry. This representation gives insight into Rosen's original work about words in Hecke groups, and it also helps us to identify Rosen continued fraction expansions of shortest length

Relative blocking in posets

Poset-theoretic generalizations of set-theoretic committee constructions are presented. The structure of the corresponding subposets is described. Sequences of irreducible fractions associated to the principal order ideals of finite bounded posets are considered and those related to the Boolean lattices are explored; it is shown that such sequences inherit all the familiar properties of the Farey sequences.Comment: 29 pages. Corrected version of original publication which is available at http://www.springerlink.com, see Corrigendu

The moments of Minkowski question mark function: the dyadic period function

The Minkowski question mark function ?(x) arises as a real distribution of rationals in the Farey tree. We examine the generating function of moments of ?(x). It appears that the generating function is a direct dyadic analogue of period functions for Maass wave forms and it is defined in the cut plane C(0,infinity). The exponential generating function satisfies the integral equation with kernel being the Bessel function. The solution of this integral equation leads to the definition of dyadic eigenfunctions, arising from a certain Hilbert-Schmidt operator. Finally, we describe p-adic distribution of rationals in the Stern-Brocot tree. Surprisingly, the Eisenstein series G_1(z) does manifest in both real and p-adic cases.Comment: 26 pages, 1 figure (submitted). The current paper is an essential revision of the previous version (September 2006-May 2007). Some results from an article arXiv:0801.0054 were merged into a new versio