Valérie Berthé, Olivier Carton, Nicolas Chevallier,
Wolfgang Steiner and Reem Yassawi
Vol. 13 (2024), No. 4, 377–412
DOI: 10.2140/cnt.2024.13.377
Abstract
In 1980, R. Tijdeman provided an online algorithm that generates sequences over a
finite alphabet with minimal discrepancy, that is, such that the occurrence
of each letter optimally tracks its frequency. We define discrete dynamical
systems generating these sequences. The dynamical systems are defined as
exchanges of polytopal pieces, yielding cut and project schemes, and they code
tilings of the line whose sets of vertices form model sets. We prove that
these sequences of low discrepancy are natural codings of toral translations
with respect to polytopal atoms, and that they generate a minimal and
uniquely ergodic subshift with purely discrete spectrum. Finally, we show
that the factor complexity of these sequences is of polynomial growth
order ,
where
is the cardinality of the alphabet.
Keywords
symbolic dynamics, discrepancy, billiard word, toral
translation, natural coding, chairman assignment problem