diff --git a/diophantine_classifier/data/families/skolem.yaml b/diophantine_classifier/data/families/skolem.yaml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5336474 --- /dev/null +++ b/diophantine_classifier/data/families/skolem.yaml @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +# Family: Zeros of linear recurrences (Skolem problem) +# Schema: see data/families/README.md; prose documentation in docs/FAMILIES.md. +# References are keys into data/references.bib, each with a 'why' annotation. +slug: skolem +name: Zeros of linear recurrences (Skolem problem) +priority: 2 +status: partial +class: expdioph +form: u_n = 0, u a linear recurrence +parents: +- exponential-diophantine +matcher: false +notes: Decidable for order <= 4; open for order >= 5 - a decidability-boundary exhibit. +references: +- key: Skolem1934 + why: the p-adic method behind the Skolem-Mahler-Lech theorem +- key: OuaknineWorrell2012 + why: 'survey: decidability known only up to order 4' +- key: Bilu2022 + why: conditional decision procedure for simple recurrences diff --git a/docs/FAMILIES.md b/docs/FAMILIES.md index 86434cf..44a9a32 100644 --- a/docs/FAMILIES.md +++ b/docs/FAMILIES.md @@ -257,6 +257,16 @@ perfect power). **References.** Schinzel–Tijdeman 1976; Erdős–Selfridge 1975; Shorey–Tijdeman, *Exponential Diophantine Equations* (1986) — the standard reference for this whole section. +### `skolem` — Zeros of linear recurrences (Skolem problem) — P2, partial, decidability open +**Form.** u_n = 0 where u is a linear recurrence sequence (LRS) of order k. +**Status.** Zero set = finite ∪ arithmetic progressions (Skolem–Mahler–Lech, +ineffective p-adic proof); decidable for order ≤ 4 (Mignotte–Shorey–Tijdeman, +Vereshchagin 1985); **open for order ≥ 5** — a marquee decidability-boundary +exhibit; recent conditional algorithms for simple LRS (Bilu–Luca–Nieuwveld– +Ouaknine–Purser–Worrell 2022, assuming p-adic Schanuel + Skolem conjecture). +**References.** Skolem 1934; Ouaknine–Worrell, "Decision problems for linear +recurrence sequences" (2012 survey); BLNOPW 2022. + ### `exponential-diophantine` — Purely exponential equations — P2, effective (few terms) **Form.** c₁·b₁^{n₁} + ⋯ + c_k·b_k^{n_k} = c (fixed bases, unknown exponents); e.g. 2ᵃ + 3ᵇ = 5ᶜ, Goormaghtigh-type, Jeśmanowicz conjecture instances.