Derivations and generating degrees in the ring of arithmetical functions (Q2384689)

Let \(R\) be an integral domain and denote by \(A_r(R)\) the ring of \(R\)-valued arithmetical functions in \(r\) variables with convolution as multiplication. The authors show first that for \(i=1,2,\dots,r\) and prime \(p\) the mapping \(\theta_{i,p}:\;A_r(R)\to A_r(R)\) defined by \[ \theta_{i,p}(f)(n_1,\dots,n_r)=(1+\nu_p(n_i))f(n_1,\dots,n_{i-1},pn_i,n_{i+1},\dots,n_r), \] (where \(\nu_p\) is the exponent associated with \(p\)) is a derivation, which is continuous with respect to a family of absolute values defined earlier by \textit{E. Alkan} and the authors [Int. J. Number Theory 1, 383--399 (2005; Zbl 1088.11005)]. Then they show that \(A_r(R)\) is isomorphic with a certain ring of formal power series, generalizing a classical result of \textit{E. D. Cashwell} and \textit{C. J. Everett} [Pac. J. Math. 9, 975--985 (1959; Zbl 0092.04602)] dealing with the case \(r=1\). Finally the generating degree of \(A_r(R)\) over the kernel of \(\theta_{i,p}\) is shown to be equal to \(1\).