Properties and Generalizations of the Fibonacci Word Fractal

Abstract

This article implements some combinatorial properties of the Fibonacci word and generalizations that can be generated from the iteration of a morphism between languages. Some graphic properties of the fractal curve are associated with these words; the curves can be generated from drawing rules similar to those used in L-systems. Simple changes to the programs generate other interesting curves. is certainly one of the most studied words in the field of combinatorics on words [1–4]. It is the archetype of a Sturmian word [5]. The word f can be associated with a fractal curve with combinatorial properties [6–7]. This article implements Mathematica programs to generate curves from f and a set of drawing rules. These rules are similar to those used in L-systems. The outline of this article is as follows. Section 2 recalls some definitions and ideas of combinatorics on words. Section 3 introduces the Fibonacci word, its fractal curve, and a family of words whose limit is the Fibonacci word fractal. Finally, Section 4 generalizes the Fibonacci word and its Fibonacci word fractal.