Optimal local convergence criteria for integer and Gaussian integer continued fractions

Abstract

The objective of this work is to determine optimal local restrictions on the coefficients of integer and Gaussian integer continued fractions that imply convergence. We identify all minimal restrictions involving words of length two in the integer case, and we identify all reversible minimal restrictions of length two in the Gaussian integer case. In the integer setting, our classification is equivalent to a classification of minimal unavoidable words of length two in Conway--Coxeter quiddity sequences. We also construct a canonical set of restrictions of infinite cardinality that is strictly stronger than every finite set of restrictions.