A relationship between the ideals of $\mathbb{F}_q\left[x, y, x^{-1}, y^{-1} \right]$ and the Fibonacci numbers

TL;DR

This paper uncovers a surprising connection between the number of ideals in a certain algebra over a finite field at a specific value and Fibonacci numbers, revealing new combinatorial relationships.

Contribution

It establishes a novel link between algebraic ideal counts at a special parameter and Fibonacci numbers, including explicit formulas and generating functions.

Findings

C_n(q) is polynomial in q for fixed n

At q = (3+√5)/2, C_n(q) relates to Fibonacci numbers

The coefficients λ_n are given by a specific generating function

Abstract

Let $C_n(q)$ be the number of ideals of codimension $n$ of $\mathbb{F}_q\left[x, y, x^{-1}, y^{-1} \right]$, where $\mathbb{F}_q$ is the finite field with $q$ elements. Kassel and Reutenauer [KasselReutenauer2015A] proved that $C_n(q)$ is a polynomial in $q$ for any fixed value of $n \geq 1$. For $q = \frac{3+\sqrt{5}}{2}$, this combinatorial interpretation of $C_n(q)$ is lost. Nevertheless, an unexpected connexion with Fibonacci numbers appears. Let $f_n$ be the $n$-th Fibonacci number (following the convention $f_0 = 0$, $f_1 = 1$). Define the series $$ F(t) = \sum_{n \geq 1} f_{2n}\,t^n. $$ We will prove that for each $n \geq 1$, $$ C_n\left( \frac{3+\sqrt{5}}{2}\right) = \lambda_n \, \left(f_{2n} \frac{3+\sqrt{5}}{2} - f_{2n-2} \right) , $$ where the integers $\lambda_n \geq 0$ are given by the following generating function $$ \prod_{m \geq 1} \left(1+F\left( t^m\right)\right) = 1 + \sum_{n \geq 1} \lambda_n\,t^n. $$