Recurrent two-dimensional sequences over three and four letters simulating von Neumann constructions of finite ordinals

Abstract

We study three recurrent double sequences whose colored diagrams encode mirrored versions of the finite-ordinal construction. Two sequences use three letters and realize variants with two and three initial symbols. A four-letter sequence realizes the von Neumann construction from one initial symbol. For each sequence we describe its cells explicitly and identify the ordered nesting of its rectangles. For four letters, we distinguish ordinary and virtual boxes and prove their assembly rules. The proofs proceed by induction along antidiagonals. For the constructions with one and three initial symbols, we reduce the recurrence to finite sets of local configurations and verify those sets by computer. We derive formulas for the numbers of nested boxes, including arithmetic-term representations, and we prove that none of the three sequences is $k$-automatic for any integer $k \geq 2$.