Extremal Infinite Overlap-Free Binary Words

Abstract

Let $\overline{\bf t}$ be the infinite fixed point, starting with $1$, of the morphism $\mu: 0 \rightarrow 01$, $1 \rightarrow 10$. An infinite word over $\lbrace 0, 1 \rbrace$ is said to be overlap-free if it contains no factor of the form $axaxa$, where $a \in \lbrace 0,1 \rbrace$ and $x \in \lbrace 0,1 \rbrace^*$. We prove that the lexicographically least infinite overlap-free binary word beginning with any specified prefix, if it exists, has a suffix which is a suffix of $\overline{\bf t}$. In particular, the lexicographically least infinite overlap-free binary word is $001001 \overline{\bf t}$.