Multicomplex number
In mathematics, the multicomplex number systems Cn are defined inductively as follows: Let C0 be the real number system. For every let in be a square root of −1, that is, an imaginary number. Then. In the multicomplex number systems one also requires that . Then C1 is the complex number system, C2 is the bicomplex number system, C3 is the tricomplex number system of Corrado Segre, and Cn is the multicomplex number system of order n.
Each Cn forms a Banach algebra. G. Bayley Price has written about the function theory of multicomplex systems, providing details for the bicomplex system C2.
The multicomplex number systems are not to be confused with Clifford numbers, since Clifford's square roots of −1 anti-commute.
Because the multicomplex numbers have several square roots of –1 that commute, they also have zero divisors: despite and, and despite and. Any product of two distinct multicomplex units behaves as the of the split-complex numbers, and therefore the multicomplex numbers contain a number of copies of the split-complex number plane.
With respect to subalgebra Ck, k = 0, 1,...,, the multicomplex system Cn is of dimension over Ck.
