arXiv · 2605.29130
Mersenne numbers and the doubling map
Abstract
We study the connection between the Mersenne numbers $M(n) = 2^n-1$ and the dynamics of the angle-doubling map. Within this framework, we develop an algorithm to compute divisors of Mersenne numbers without explicitly evaluating $M(n)$. Determining whether $M(n)$ is prime for a prime $n$ (and knowing if there are infinitely many of them), is a central problem, traditionally addressed with the help of the Lucas-Lehmer test. We provide an alternative approach based on dynamical methods. As an application, we prove that $M(2{,}199{,}023{,}254{,}451)$ (with approximately $6.6 \times 10^{11}$ digits) is composite by exhibiting a non-trivial divisor.
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Lluís Alsedà, Antonio Garijo, Xavier Jarque. 2026-05-27. Mersenne numbers and the doubling map. https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.29130
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