A van der Corput sequence is an example of the simplest one-dimensional low-discrepancy sequence over the unit interval; it was first described in 1935 by the Dutch mathematician J. G. van der Corput. It is constructed by reversing the base-n representation of the sequence of natural numbers (1, 2, 3, …).

Examples

For example, to get the decimal). In terms of numerator, we begin with all two-digit numbers from 10 to 99, but in backwards order of digits. Consequently, we will get the numerators grouped by the end digit. Firstly, all two-digit numerators that end with 1, so the next numerators are 01, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91. Then the numerators ending with 2, so they are 02, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82, 92. And after that, the numerators ending in 3: 03, 13, 23 and so on...

or in decimal representation:

1. 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 0.01, 0.11, 0.21, 0.31, 0.41, 0.51, 0.61, 0.71, 0.81, 0.91, 0.02, 0.12, 0.22, 0.32, …,

The same can be done for the binary numeral system, and the binary van der Corput sequence is

1. 0.12, 0.012, 0.112, 0.0012, 0.1012, 0.0112, 0.1112, 0.00012, 0.10012, 0.01012, 0.11012, 0.00112, 0.10112, 0.01112, 0.11112, …

The elements of the van der Corput sequence (in any base) form a dense set in the unit interval; that is, for any real number, there exists a subsequence of the van der Corput sequence that converges to that number. They are also equidistributed over the unit interval.

Python implementation

See also

• , a natural generalization of the van der Corput sequence to higher dimensions

References

External links

• Van der Corput sequence at MathWorld