Proof of Northshield's conjecture concerning an analogue of Stern's sequence for $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{2}]$

Abstract

We prove a conjecture of Northshield by determining the maximal order of his analogue of Stern's sequence for $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{2}]$. In particular, if $b$ is Northshield's analogue, we prove that $$\limsup_{n\to\infty}\frac{2b(n)}{(2n)^{\log_3 (\sqrt{2}+1)}}=1.$$