Recurrence Sequences

Book excerpt: Recurrence sequences are of great intrinsic interest and have been a central part of number theory for many years. Moreover, these sequences appear almost everywhere in mathematics and computer science. This book surveys the modern theory of linear recurrence sequences and their generalizations. Particular emphasis is placed on the dramatic impact that sophisticated methods from Diophantine analysis and transcendence theory have had on the subject. Related work on bilinear recurrences and an emerging connection between recurrences and graph theory are covered. Applications and links to other areas of mathematics are described, including combinatorics, dynamical systems and cryptography, and computer science. The book is suitable for researchers interested in number theory, combinatorics, and graph theory.