\(\ast\)-logarithm for slice regular functions (Q6149215)

Summary: In this paper, we study the (possible) solutions of the equation \(\exp_\ast (f) = g\), where \(g\) is a slice regular never vanishing function on a circular domain of the quaternions \(\mathbb{H}\) and \(\exp_\ast\) is the natural generalization of the usual exponential to the algebra of slice regular functions. Any function \(f\) which satisfies \(\exp_\ast (f) = g\) is called a \(\ast\)-logarithm of \(g\). We provide necessary and sufficient conditions, expressed in terms of the zero set of the ``vector'' part \(g_v\) of \(g\), for the existence of a \(\ast\)-logarithm of \(g\), under a natural topological condition on the domain \(\Omega\). By this way, we prove an existence result if \(g_v\) has no non-real isolated zeroes; we are also able to give a comprehensive approach to deal with more general cases. We are thus able to obtain an existence result when the non-real isolated zeroes of \(g_v\) are finite, the domain is either the unit ball, or \(\mathbb{H}\), or \(\mathbb{D}\) (the solid torus obtained by circularization in \(\mathbb{H}\) of the disc contained in \(\mathbb{C}\) and centered in \(2 \sqrt{-1}\) with radius 1), and a further condition on the ``real part'' \(g_0\) of \(g\) is satisfied (see Theorem 6.19 for a precise statement). We also find some unexpected uniqueness results, again related to the zero set of \(g_v\), in sharp contrast with the complex case. A number of examples are given throughout the paper in order to show the sharpness of the required conditions.