Substitutions and 1/2-discrepancy of $\{n\theta +x\}$

Abstract

The sequence of 1/2-discrepancy sums of $\{x+i\theta \mathrm{mod}1\}$ is realized through a sequence of substitutions on an alphabet of three symbols; particular attention is paid to $x=0$. The first application is to show that any asymptotic growth rate of the discrepancy sums not trivially forbidden may be achieved. A second application is to show that for badly approximable $\theta$ and any $x$ the range of values taken over $i=0,1,...n-1$ is asymptotically similar to $\log (n)$, a stronger conclusion than given by the Denjoy-Koksma inequality.

In review