A ternary square-free sequence avoiding factors equivalent to abcacbaabcacba

We solve a problem of Petrova, finalizing the classification of letter patterns avoidable by ternary square-free words; we show that there is a ternary square-free word avoiding letter pattern $xyzxzyx$. In fact, we: (1) characterize all the (two-way) infinite ternary square-free words avoiding letter pattern $xyzxzyx$ (2) characterize the lexicographically least (one-way) infinite ternary square-free word avoiding letter pattern $xyzxzyx$ (3) show that the number of ternary square-free words of length $n$ avoiding letter pattern $xyzxzyx$ grows exponentially with $n$.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur

Avoiding letter patterns in ternary square-free words

We consider special patterns of lengths 5 and 6 in a ternary alphabet. We show that some of them are unavoidable in square-free words and prove avoidability of the other ones. Proving the main results, we use Fibonacci words as codes of ternary words in some natural coding system and show that they can be decoded to square- free words avoiding the required patterns. Furthermore, we estimate the minimal local (critical) exponents of square-free words with such avoidance properties. © 2016, Australian National University. All rights reserved

Binary Patterns in Binary Cube-Free Words: Avoidability and Growth

The avoidability of binary patterns by binary cube-free words is investigated and the exact bound between unavoidable and avoidable patterns is found. All avoidable patterns are shown to be D0L-avoidable. For avoidable patterns, the growth rates of the avoiding languages are studied. All such languages, except for the overlap-free language, are proved to have exponential growth. The exact growth rates of languages avoiding minimal avoidable patterns are approximated through computer-assisted upper bounds. Finally, a new example of a pattern-avoiding language of polynomial growth is given.Comment: 18 pages, 2 tables; submitted to RAIRO TIA (Special issue of Mons Days 2012

Avoidability of formulas with two variables

In combinatorics on words, a word $w$ over an alphabet $\Sigma$ is said to avoid a pattern $p$ over an alphabet $\Delta$ of variables if there is no factor $f$ of $w$ such that $f=h(p)$ where $h:\Delta^*\to\Sigma^*$ is a non-erasing morphism. A pattern $p$ is said to be $k$-avoidable if there exists an infinite word over a $k$-letter alphabet that avoids $p$. We consider the patterns such that at most two variables appear at least twice, or equivalently, the formulas with at most two variables. For each such formula, we determine whether it is $2$-avoidable, and if it is $2$-avoidable, we determine whether it is avoided by exponentially many binary words

A family of formulas with reversal of high avoidability index

We present an infinite family of formulas with reversal whose avoidability index is bounded between 4 and 5, and we show that several members of the family have avoidability index 5. This family is particularly interesting due to its size and the simple structure of its members. For each k ∈ {4,5}, there are several previously known avoidable formulas (without reversal) of avoidability index k, but they are small in number and they all have rather complex structure.http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S021819671750024

Ten Conferences WORDS: Open Problems and Conjectures

In connection to the development of the field of Combinatorics on Words, we present a list of open problems and conjectures that were stated during the ten last meetings WORDS. We wish to continually update the present document by adding informations concerning advances in problems solving

On the entropy and letter frequencies of ternary square-free words

We enumerate all ternary length-1 square-free words, which are words avoiding squares of words up to length 1, for 1<=24. We analyse the singular behaviour of the corresponding generating functions. This leads to new upper entropy bounds for ternary square-free words. We then consider ternary square-free words with fixed letter densities, thereby proving exponential growth for certain ensembles with various letter densities. We derive consequences for the free energy and entropy of ternary square-free words

Avoidability of long kk-abelian repetitions

We study the avoidability of long $k$-abelian-squares and $k$-abelian-cubes on binary and ternary alphabets. For $k=1$, these are M\"akel\"a's questions. We show that one cannot avoid abelian-cubes of abelian period at least $2$ in infinite binary words, and therefore answering negatively one question from M\"akel\"a. Then we show that one can avoid $3$-abelian-squares of period at least $3$ in infinite binary words and $2$-abelian-squares of period at least 2 in infinite ternary words. Finally we study the minimum number of distinct $k$-abelian-squares that must appear in an infinite binary word