A lower bound for the symbolic multifractal spectrum of a self-similar multifractal with arbitrary overlaps

By now the multifractal structure of self-similar measures satisfying the so-called Open Set Condition is well understood. However, if the Open Set Condition is not satisfied, then almost nothing is known. In this paper we prove a nontrivial lower bound for the symbolic multifractal spectrum of an arbitrary self-similar measure. We emphasize that we are considering arbitrary self-similar measures (and sets) which are not assumed to satisfy the Open Set Condition or similar separation conditions. Our results also have applications to self-similar sets which do not satisfy the Open Set Condition. (C) 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim