Nonstationary Markov Partitions and Multidimensional Continued Fraction Algorithms

Abstract: It is well known from results of Sina\u{\i} and Bowen that a hyperbolic toral automorphism admits a Markov partition. Our aim is to generalize this concept to the nonstationary case, i.e., we associate Markov partitions to nonstationary sequences of toral automorphisms. Special emphasis is placed on sequences of toral automorphisms produced by strongly convergent multidimensional continued fraction algorithms. The convergence of the algorithms is expressed in terms of a Pisot type condition which yields hyperbolicity for the nonstationary dynamics. For a multidimensional continued fraction map, we first consider its natural extension, whose orbits are given by bi-infinite sequences of matrices with determinant $\pm 1$. The hyperbolicity property allows us to interpret almost every orbit of this natural extension as an Anosov mapping family, i.e., as a bi-infinite sequence of toral automorphisms with well-defined stable and unstable manifolds. We prove that this Anosov mapping family admits a bi-infinite sequence of explicit nonstationary Markov partitions. To obtain the atoms of the Markov partitions, a combinatorial structure, expressed in terms of substitutions and $\mathcal{S}$-adic dynamical systems, has to be superimposed on the Anosov mapping family. In particular, the atoms of the Markov partitions are geometric realizations of $\mathcal{S}$-adic dynamical systems, defined by suspensions of $\mathcal{S}$-adic Rauzy fractals. These Markov partitions then provide a symbolic model as a nonstationary edge shift for the Anosov mapping family. As a guiding example, allowing explicit realization results, we use Anosov mapping families on 2- and 3-dimensional tori associated to various versions of the Brun continued fraction algorithm.