Thouless-type spectral-measure inequality for the critical almost Mathieu operator

Let pp and qq be coprime integers with qq odd, and let Σp/q\Sigma_{p/q} denote the periodic almost Mathieu spectrum. Let C=0.915C=0.915\ldots be Catalan's constant. Thouless-type spectral-measure conjecture. For p1,q1p\ne1,q-1,

32Cπ>qΣp/q>qΣ1/q>2q.\frac{32C}{\pi}>q\cdot|\Sigma_{p/q}|>q\cdot|\Sigma_{1/q}|>\sqrt{\frac{2}{q}}.

The inequalities refine the known asymptotic relation between the measure of rational-frequency spectra and rational approximation to an irrational frequency. They were verified computationally for q95q\le95, but are not established in general.

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Primary source

Jordi-Lluís Figueras and Joaquim Puig, “Computer Validation of Open Gaps for the Almost Mathieu Operator with Critical Coupling”, arXiv:2410.18536 (2025).

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