This problem is closely connected with number-theoretic model for spin chains. In this model, to a finite chain of spins each of which can be directed upwards ($\uparrow$) or downwards ($\downarrow$), a product of the matrices $$ A=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0\\ 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix},\quad B=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1\\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix} $$ is assigned, according to the rule ${\uparrow}=A$, ${\downarrow}=B$. For example, $$ {\uparrow\uparrow\uparrow\downarrow\downarrow\uparrow\uparrow\uparrow\uparrow}= {\uparrow^3\downarrow^2\uparrow^4}=A^3B^2A^4. $$ The energy of a given configuration is $$ E(\uparrow^{a_1}\downarrow^{a_2}\uparrow^{a_3}\dotsm)= \log\left(\operatorname{Tr}(A^{a_1}B^{a_2}A^{a_3}\dotsm)\right). $$ Let $G$ be the free multiplicative monoid generated by the matrices $A$ and $B$. From a physical point of view it is interesting to know the asymptotic behaviour of the number of configurations $$ \Phi(N)=\bigl|\bigl\{C\in G: \operatorname{Tr} C=N \bigr\}\bigr|\qquad(N\ge 3) $$ with a given energy, and the number of configurations in which the energy does not exceed a given quantity, $$ \Psi(N)=\bigl |\bigl\{C\in G: 3\le\operatorname{Tr} C\leqslant N \bigr\}\bigr |= \sum_{3\le n\leqslant N}\Phi(n). $$ It is known, that $$ \Psi(N)=N^2(c_1\log N+c_0)+{O}(N^{3/2}\log^4N), $$ where $$ c_1=\frac{1}{\zeta(2)},\quad c_0= \frac{1}{\zeta(2)}\left(\gamma-\frac{3}{2}-\frac{\zeta'(2)} {\zeta(2)}\right). $$ And this is a special case of a more general result concerning the Gauss–Kuz’min statistics for spin chains and Gauss–Kuz’min statistics for the quadratic irrationals. For more details see the paper [Spin chains and Arnold's problem on the Gauss–Kuz'min statistics for quadratic irrationals][1]. [1]: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1070/SM2013v204n05ABEH004319