Bounds for the discrete correlation of infinite sequences on k symbols and generalized Rudin-Shapiro sequences

Motivated by the known autocorrelation properties of the Rudin-Shapiro sequence, we study the discrete correlation among infinite sequences over a finite alphabet, where we just take into account whether two symbols are identical. We show by combinatorial means that sequences cannot be "too" different, and by an explicit construction generalizing the Rudin-Shapiro sequence, we show that we can achieve the maximum possible difference.Comment: Improved Introduction and new Section 6 (Lovasz local lemma

Similarity density of the Thue-Morse word with overlap-free infinite binary words

We consider a measure of similarity for infinite words that generalizes the notion of asymptotic or natural density of subsets of natural numbers from number theory. We show that every overlap-free infinite binary word, other than the Thue-Morse word t and its complement t bar, has this measure of similarity with t between 1/4 and 3/4. This is a partial generalization of a classical 1927 result of Mahler.Comment: In Proceedings AFL 2014, arXiv:1405.527