OFFSET
1,3
COMMENTS
Whilst the definition is subtly different from that of A345147, d(u) being used in place of u, the scatterplots are remarkably different, the one for this sequence displaying numerous precipitous "gorges" which are open to explanation. 1 is the only number which occurs precisely twice, all other numbers are repeated infinitely many times.
From Michael De Vlieger, Apr 04 2023: (Start)
The sequence is a series of nondecreasing cycles that reach a maximum M and then reset to start a new cycle. (See scatterplot B.)
The sequence is dynamic and responds to a bank of copies of the same number called a "prevailing low" L. When M < L, the sequence experiences a run of short or "crashed" cycles that make no headway at eliminating the copies of L, resulting in a "gorge" in the scatterplot.
Referring to scatterplot A:
The green line represents the smallest missing number u and is not actually a feature of the sequence. The red line represents the "prevailing low" L(n), also is not a feature of the sequence.
Dark blue terms a(n) = tau(a(n-1))..421 populate a "semi-coherent" phase (1A) of cycle c(i), where tau(n) = A000005(n).
Light blue terms a(n) = 422..L populate the "coherent" phase (1B) of cycle c(i). Black terms m > L populate phase (2) of c(i).
Magenta terms constitute a crashed cycle that has M < L; multiple consecutive crashed cycles constitute a gorge. In crashed cycles, we have only phase (1).
The "triple point" of the graph, where we first have phase (1B), appears to be a(14478) = 414, but is in actuality (given 2^20 terms) a(14786) = 422. (End)
LINKS
Michael De Vlieger, Table of n, a(n) for n = 1..40000 [The exceptionally large b-file was added at my request. - N. J. A. Sloane, Apr 07 2023]
Michael De Vlieger, Scatterplot A of a(n), n = 1..40000.
Michael De Vlieger, Scatterplot B of a(n) for n = 1..128. Records appear in red, local minima in blue, terms instigated by a(n) = m new to the sequence appear in gold, otherwise in green. The magenta line indicates the smallest missing number u not in a(1..n-1).
Michael De Vlieger, Scatterplot of a(n), n = 1500000.
EXAMPLE
a(2) = 1 since a(1) = 1 is a novel term and d(1) = 1. Thus the sequence starts 1,1 and since a(2) is a repeated term, a(3) = a(2) + d(1) (1 = least unstarred prior term). Therefore a(3) = 1 + 1 = 2.
MATHEMATICA
nn = 120; c[_] := False; h[_] := 0; f[n_] := DivisorSigma[0, n]; a[1] = j = u = 1; Do[If[c[j], k = j + f[u]; h[j]++; h[u]--, k = f[j]; c[j] = True; h[j]++]; u = Min[u, j]; Set[{a[n], j}, {k, k}]; While[h[u] == 0, u++], {n, 2, nn}]; Array[a, nn] (* Michael De Vlieger, Feb 02 2023 *)
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
AUTHOR
David James Sycamore, Jan 29 2023
STATUS
approved