Geometric orbit-growth conjecture for Bulgarian Solitaire necklaces

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Let PP be a primitive necklace, and let OPk\mathcal{O}_{P^k} denote the Bulgarian Solitaire orbit parametrized by PkP^k. For a necklace P′P', say that PP and P′P' are complementary when they are related by swapping black beads and white beads. Geometric orbit-growth conjecture. For any primitive necklace PP with ∣P∣≥3|P|\geq 3, there is an integer cPc_P such that, for every k≥2k\geq 2,

∣OPk∣=(cP)k−1∣OP∣.\left|\mathcal{O}_{P^k}\right|=(c_P)^{k-1}\left|\mathcal{O}_P\right|.

Moreover, complementary primitive necklaces have the same growth constant: if PP and P′P' are related by swapping black beads and white beads, then cP=cP′c_P=c_{P'}. The conjecture predicts geometric growth of orbit sizes for powers of primitive necklaces; data for primitive necklaces of lengths 44 and 55 are cited in the source, but no proof or resolution is provided.

References

Primary source

Nhung Pham, “Limiting behavior in growth of Bulgarian Solitaire orbits”, arXiv:2208.14496 (2022).

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