2
$\begingroup$

Question: Is $\log\omega$ an omnific integer? Is $\log\omega\in\mathbf{Oz}$?

Conway [ONAG, pg.46] defines an omnific integer to be divisible iff $x$ is divisible by every finite nonzero integer. Gonshor [Gon86, pg.156] defines a surreal number $x$ to be purely infinite if all the exponents in its normal form are positive. Thus, $x$ does not have a finite component and is a divisible number in $\mathbf{Oz}$.

Gonshor [pg.143] states that $\exp x$ can be defined in a uniform way for all surreal numbers $x$ and has the properties expected of an exponential function. He writes [pg.158] that $\exp\omega = \omega^\omega$. This illustrates a regrettable choice of notation: $\omega^\omega$ defined by the omega-map, should not be regarded as exponentiation. On [pg.161] $\log x$ is defined for all $x$ of the form $\omega^b$. Therefore, $\exp\omega = \omega^\omega$ implies $\omega = \log\omega^\omega$, but we cannot write $\log\omega^\omega = \omega\log\omega$.

Theorem 10.8[B] on page 164 states that ``$\log\omega^b$ is purely infinite for all $b$''. (Warning: there are two theorems labelled 10.8). With $b=1$, this implies $\log\omega \in\mathbf{Oz}$.

We therefore have, in [Gon96], an affirmative answer to the question posed, and may deduce: Answer: $\log\omega$ is an omnific integer?

However, this conclusion has some unexpected consequences. One example should suffice: if $\log\omega\in\mathbf{Oz}$ then, for all $b>0$, $\log_b\omega\in\mathbf{Oz}$. In particular, $\mu_2 = \log_2\omega\in\mathbf{Oz}$ and $\mu_3 = \log_3\omega\in\mathbf{Oz}$, Thus, $\omega = 2^{\mu_2}$ and $\omega = 3^{\mu_3}$. We remark that such bizarre factorization is not found for the hypernaturals [Gol98, Sec5.11, 3(c), pg.57]. Given this, and other strange results, the validity of Gonshor's result would appear to be in doubt.

References

[onag] Conway, John Horton, 1976: On Numbers and Games. Academic Press, London. 2nd Edn., 2001: CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group. 242pp. ISBN: 978-1-568-81127-7.

[Gol98] Goldblatt, Robert, 1998: Lectures on the Hyperreals: an Introduction to Nonstandard Analysis. Graduate Texts in Mathematics (GTM), Vol.188. Springer-Verlag. 289pp. ISBN 978-0-3879-8464-3.

[Gon86] Gonshor, Harry, 1986: An Introduction to the Theory of Surreal Numbers. London Mathematical Society Lecture Note Series 110. Cambridge Univ.~Press, 161pp. ISBN: 9-780-5213-1205-9.

$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ There is another notation for omega-map: $\Omega(\omega)$ for $\omega^\omega$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 19 at 0:42
  • $\begingroup$ $\log \omega$ is definitely purely-infinite. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 19 at 0:46

0

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.