\(p\)-adic analysis and Bell numbers of two variables (Q2365218)

The Bernoulli numbers of two arguments, of order \(n\), are defined by \[ B(n,a,b)= \sum^n_{k=0}R(n,k,a)\cdot b^k, \qquad R(n,k,a)={1\over k!}\sum^k_{j=0} (-1)^{k-j}\cdot{k\choose j}(a+j)^n. \] These numbers contain, as a special case, generalized Bell numbers considered by Carlitz and Chinthayama and Gandhi. The author shows that the generating function of the Bell numbers of two variables is a \(p\)-adic analytical element on a quasi-connected domain of \(\mathbb{C}_p\). By the classical theorems of \(p\)-adic analysis, the above result is equivalent to certain congruences for the Bell numbers. Certain theorems by Radoux, Carlitz, Layman, Layman and Prather are also generalized. The explicit statements of these results are too complicated to be stated here.