In mathematics, the multicomplex number systems are defined inductively as follows: Let C<sub>0</sub> be the real number system. For every let i<sub>n</sub> be a square root of âÂÂ1, that is, an imaginary unit. Then . In the multicomplex number systems one also requires that (commutativity). Then is the complex number system, is the bicomplex number system, is the tricomplex number system of Corrado Segre, and is the multicomplex number system of order n.
Each forms a Banach algebra. G. Bayley Price has written about the function theory of multicomplex systems, providing details for the bicomplex system
The multicomplex number systems are not to be confused with Clifford numbers (elements of a Clifford algebra), since Clifford's square roots of âÂÂ1 anti-commute ( when for Clifford).
Because the multicomplex numbers have several square roots of âÂÂ1 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 , k = 0, 1, ..., , the multicomplex system is of dimension over