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Borel Complexity of the set of vectors normal for a fixed recurrence sequence

Logic 2025-10-28 v1 Number Theory

Abstract

In this paper, we consider recurrence sequences xn=ξ1α1n+ξ2α2nx_n=\xi_1 \alpha_1^n+\xi_2 \alpha_2^n (n=0,1,n=0,1,\ldots) with companion polynomial P(X)P(X). For example, the sequence xn=ξ1(4+2)n+ξ2(42)nx_n=\xi_1(4+\sqrt{2})^n+\xi_2(4-\sqrt{2})^n satisfies the recurrence xn+28xn+1+14xn=0x_{n+2}-8x_{n+1}+14x_n=0 and has companion polynomial P(X)=X28X+14=(X42)(X4+2)P(X)=X^2-8X+14=(X-4-\sqrt{2})(X-4+\sqrt{2}). We call (ξ1,ξ2)(\xi_1,\xi_2) normal with respect to the recurrence relation determined by P(X)P(X) when (xn)n0(x_n)_{n\ge 0} is uniformly distributed modulo one. Determining the Borel complexity of the set of normal vectors for a fixed recurrence sequence is unresolved even for most geometric progressions. Under certain assumptions, we prove that the set of normal vectors is Π30\boldsymbol{\Pi}_3^0-complete. A special case is the new result that the sets of numbers normal in base α\alpha, i.e. {ξR(ξαn)n0\mboxisu.d.moduloone.}\{\xi\in \mathbb{R}\mid (\xi\alpha^n)_{n\geq 0}\mbox{ is u.d. modulo one.} \}, are Π30\boldsymbol{\Pi}_3^0-complete for every real number α\alpha with α|\alpha| Pisot. We analyze the fractional parts of recurrence sequences in terms of finite words via certain numeration systems. One of the difficulties in proving the main result is that even when recurrence sequences are uniformly distributed modulo one, it is not known what the average frequencies of the digits in the corresponding digital expansions are or if they even must exist.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.2510.23380,
  title  = {Borel Complexity of the set of vectors normal for a fixed recurrence sequence},
  author = {Hajime Kaneko and Bill Mance},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.23380},
  year   = {2025}
}

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23 pages