Hypernumbers and time operators (Q1058700)

This paper is an original survey of the formal relationships of operators in mathematics viewed as ''hypernumbers''. For the purpose of this review I take a hypernumber as a rough analogue of a complex number, a matrix, or of any operator which also has formal properties that give it the appearance of a generalized number. Thus \(i=\sqrt{-1}\) is, as an operator, a rotation by 90\(\circ\) in the plane. As a number it gives rise to the system of complex numbers. The paper begins with the well-known example of differentiation. Here Taylor's formula tells us that (D denotes the derivative with respect to x) \[ f(x+h)=D^ 0f(x)+\frac{Df(x)\cdot h}{1!}+\frac{D^ 2f(x)}{2!}\cdot h^ 2+.... \] Thus (formally) \(f(x+h)=e^{hD}f(x)\). These matters become quite fascinating and deep when the formal properties are intertwined with the mathematics as in the Heaviside operational calculus. There are many more examples along these lines (quaternions, Pauli matrices, etc.). The author attempts a typology and philosophy for these phenomena. It is his conviction that the hypernumbers are intrinsically connected with the concept of time. Here this paper becomes difficult reading for this reviewer. However, the hints are there, even directly in the special relativity metric \(x^ 2+y^ 2+z^ 2+(ict)^ 2\), where i designates the special role of time. These topics deserve further exploration. (Six minor corrections are noted in the first errata. The second list of errata is said to be ''complete''.)