Commensurable continued fractions

We compare two families of continued fractions algorithms, the symmetrized Rosen algorithm and the Veech algorithm. Each of these algorithms expands real numbers in terms of certain algebraic integers. We give explicit models of the natural extension of the maps associated with these algorithms; prove that these natural extensions are in fact conjugate to the first return map of the geodesic flow on a related surface; and, deduce that, up to a conjugacy, almost every real number has an infinite number of common approximants for both algorithms.Comment: 41 pages, 10 figure

Continuants and some decompositions into squares

In 1855 H. J. S. Smith proved Fermat's two-square using the notion of palindromic continuants. In his paper, Smith constructed a proper representation of a prime number $p$ as a sum of two squares, given a solution of $z^2+1\equiv0\pmod{p}$, and vice versa. In this paper, we extend the use of continuants to proper representations by sums of two squares in rings of polynomials on fields of characteristic different from 2. New deterministic algorithms for finding the corresponding proper representations are presented. Our approach will provide a new constructive proof of the four-square theorem and new proofs for other representations of integers by quaternary quadratic forms.Comment: 21 page

On the Littlewood conjecture in fields of power series

Let \k be an arbitrary field. For any fixed badly approximable power series $\Theta$ in \k((X^{-1})), we give an explicit construction of continuum many badly approximable power series $\Phi$ for which the pair $(\Theta, \Phi)$ satisfies the Littlewood conjecture. We further discuss the Littlewood conjecture for pairs of algebraic power series

Dynamic percolation theory for particle diffusion in a polymer network

Tracer-diffusion of small molecules through dense systems of chain polymers is studied within an athermal lattice model, where hard core interactions are taken into account by means of the site exclusion principle. An approximate mapping of this problem onto dynamic percolation theory is proposed. This method is shown to yield quantitative results for the tracer correlation factor of the molecules as a function of density and chain length provided the non-Poisson character of temporal renewals in the disorder configurations is properly taken into account