Surreal numbers are a fascinating subject in mathematics. Such numbers were invented, or discovered, by the mathematician John Horton Conway in the 70’s [1] [2] . Roughly speaking, the key Conways idea is to consider a surreal number in terms of previously created dual sets and. Here, L stands for left and R for right. One of the interesting things is that such numbers contain many well known ordered fields, including integer numbers, the dyadic rationals, the real numbers and hyperreals, among other numerical structures. Moreover, the structure of surreal numbers leads to a system where we can consider the concept of infinite number as naturally and consistently as any “ordinary” numbers.

It turns out that in contrast to the inductive Conway definition of surreal numbers, Gonshor [3] proposed in 1986 another definition which is based on a sequence of dual pluses and minuses. Gonshor itself proves that his definition of surreal numbers is equivalent to the Conway definition.

In this article, we shall make a number of remarks on surreal number theory which we believe can be useful in both scenarios: mathematics and physics. In particular, we shall established a connection between surreal numbers and tensors. Secondly, we shall show that surreal numbers can be linked to matroids. Moreover, we shall argue that surreal numbers may be connected with spin structures and therefore may provide an interesting development in supersymmetry. We also comment about the possibility that surreal numbers are connected with fractal theory. Finally, we also mention that concepts of infinitely small and infinitely large in surreal numbers may provide a possible solution for singularities in both high energy physics and gravitation.

Technically, this work is organized as follows. In Section 2, we briefly review the Conway definition of surreal numbers. In Section 3, we also briefly review the Gonshor definition of a surreal number. In Section 4, we established a connection between surreal numbers and tensors. In Section 5, we comment about the possibility that surreal numbers and matroids are related. Moreover, in Section 6 we mention number of possible applications of the surreal number theory, division algebras, supersymmetry, black holes and cosmology.

Let us write a surreal number by

and call and the left and right sets of x, respectively. Conway develops the surreal numbers structure from two axioms:

Axiom 1. Every surreal number corresponds to two sets and of previously created numbers, such that no member of the left set is greater or equal to any member of the right set.

Let us denote by the symbol the notion of no greater or equal to. So the axiom establishes that if x is a surreal number then for each and one has. This is denoted by.

Axiom 2. One number is less than or equal to another number if and only the two conditions and are satisfied.

This can be simplified by saying that if and only if and.

Observe that Conway definition relies in an inductive method; before a surreal number x is introduced one needs to know the two sets and of surreal numbers. Thus, since each surreal number x corresponds to two sets and of previous numbers then one wonders what do one starts on the zeroth day or 0-day? If one denotes the empty set by then one defines the zero as

Using this, one finds that in the first day or 1-day one gets the numbers

In the 2-day one has

While in the 3-day one obtains

The process continues as the following theorem establishes:

Theorem 1. Suppose that the different numbers at the end of n-day are

Then the only new numbers that will be created on the -day are

Furthermore, for positive numbers one has

and

While defining

for negative numbers one gets

and

Thus, at the n-day one obtains numbers all of which are of form

where m is an integer and n is a natural number,. Of course, the numbers (13) are dyadic rationals which are dense in the reals R. Let us recall this theorem:

Theorem 2. The set of dyadic rationals is dense in the reals R.

Proof:

Assume that, with a and b elements of the reals R. By Archimedean property exist such that

which implies

Thus, one has

As the distance between and is grater than 1, there is an integer m such that

and therefore

So, the set of dyadic rationals are dense in R.

The sum and product of surreal numbers are defined as

and

The importance of (18) and (19) is that allow us to prove that the surreal number structure is algebraically a closed field. Moreover, through (18) and (19) it is also possible to show that the real numbers R are contained in the surreals (see Ref. [1] for details).

In 1986, Gonshor [3] introduced a different but equivalent definition of surreal numbers.

Definition 1. A surreal number is a function from initial segment of the ordinals into the set.

For instance, if is the function so that, , , then is the surreal number. In the Gonshor approach the expressions (3)-(5) becomes: 1-day

in the 2-day

and 3-day

respectively. Moreover, in Gonshor approach one finds the different numbers through the formula

where and. Furthermore, one has and. As in the case of Conway definition through (23) one gets the dyadic rationals. Observe that the values in (20), (21) and (22) are in agreement with (23). Just for clarity, let us consider the additional example:

By the defining the order if, where is the first place where x and y differ and the convention, it is possible to show that the Conway and Gonshor definitions of surreal numbers are equivalent (see Ref. [3] for details).

Let us introduce a p-tensor [4] ,

where the indices run from 1 to 2. Of course p indicates the rank of. In tensorial analysis, (25) is a familiar object. One arrives to a link with surreal numbers by making the identification and. For instance, the tensor in the Gonshor notation becomes

In terms of, the expressions (18), (19) and (20) read

in the 2-day

and 3-day

respectively.

Formally, one note that there is a duality between positive and negative labels in surreal numbers. In fact, one can prove that this is general for any n-day. This could be anticipated because according to Conway definition (1) a surreal number can be written in terms of the dual pair left and right sets and. Further, the concept of duality it is even clearer in the Gonshor definition of surreal numbers since in such a case one has a functions with codominio in the dual set. In terms of the tensor in (25) such a duality can be written in the form

where

It is interesting to observe that the 2-day corresponds to

If one introduces the notation

one discovers that (32) can be written as

It is worth mentioning that, in general any -matrix can be written as

Here, one has

and

The set of matrices (31), (33), (36) and (37) determine a basis for any -matrix belonging to the set of -matrices which we denote by.

It is interesting that by setting and in (4) one gets the complex structure, namely

In fact, in the typical notation of a complex number (38) becomes. Observe also that when one obtains the group from. If one further requires that, then one gets the elements of the subgroup. It is worth mentioning that the fundamental matrices and given in (31), (33), (36) and (37) not only form a basis for but also determine a basis for the Clifford algebras and. In fact, one has the isomorphisms. There exist a theorem that establishes that all the others higher dimensional algebras of any signature can be constructed from the building blocks, and (see Ref. [5] and references therein). So a connection of these developments with surreal numbers seems to be a promising scenario.

For a definition of a non-oriented matroid see Ref. [6] and for oriented matroid see Ref. [7] (see also Refs. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] and references therein). Here, we shall focus in some particular cases of oriented matroids. First, assume that satisfies the Grassmann-Plücker relation

Here, the bracket means completely antisymmetric. In this case, the ground set of a 2-rank oriented matroid is

and the alternating map becomes

The function can be identified with a 2-rank chirotope. The collection of bases for this oriented matroid is

which can be obtained by just given values to the indices and in. Actually, the pair determines a 2-rank uniform non-oriented ordinary matroid.

Let us consider the underlying ground bitset (from bit and set) [13] [14]

and the pre-ground set

One finds a relation between and by comparing (40) and (44). In fact, one has

This can be understood considering that (45) is equivalence relation by making the identification of indices, ..., etc. Observe that considering this identifications the family of bases (42) becomes

It turns out that the chiritope can be associated with a 2-qubit system. So the pair can be identified with a qubitoid (a combination of qubit and matroid).

The procedure can be generalized to higher dimensions. For instance, consider the pre-ground set

It is not difficult to see that by making the identifications

one obtains a relation between the pre-ground set given in (47) and the ground set

This can be again understood by considering that (49) is equivalent to make the identification of indices,… etc. It turns out that considering these relations one finds that the collection of bases contains two-element sub-

set of the 16-element set E, given in (49). This 2-element subset can be obtained by considering a lexicographic order of all 120 two-subsets of. One finds that the first terms of look like

(See Refs. [13] and [14] for details.)

The method, of course, can be extended to -dimensions, and can be connected to N-qubit system. However, it is worth mentioning that the complete classification of N-qubit systems is a difficult, or perhaps an impossible task. In reference [15] an interesting development for characterizing a subclass of N-qubit entanglement has been considered. An attractive aspect of this construction is that the N-qubit entanglement can be understood in geometric terms. The idea is based on the bipartite partitions of the Hilbert space in the form, with and. Such a partition allows a geometric interpretation in terms of the complex Grassmannian variety of l-planes in via the Plücker embedding. In this case, the Plucker coordinates of the Grassmannians are natural invariants of the theory.

There are a number of ways in which one can connect matroids with surreal numbers. First, one may think in the bitset given in (43) in the Gonshor form

Second, the numbers of any the ground set in matroid theory

can be written in terms of the surreal numbers as

In this context the basis set will be also written in terms of the surreal numbers. Third, another possibility is also to identify the chirotope map in terms of the surreal numbers.

Of course, it will interesting to fully develop these possible links between matroids and surreal numbers. But even at these stage one note that the key concept in both matroid theory and surreal numbers theory is duality. This is because in matroid theory it is known that in matroid theory there is a key theorem that every matroid has a dual, while in surreal number theory duality is everywhere. In a sense this is because a surreal numbers is defined in terms of two dual sets and. So one wonders whether in surreal number theory exist a theorem establishing that for every surreal number set there exist a dual surreal number set.

In this section we shall describe an additional number of possible applications of surreal numbers in mathematics and physics. Although such a description will be brief the main idea is to stimulate further research in the area. One may think that our proposals are in a sense for experts in the topic but in fact the main intention is to call the attention of mathematicians and physicist telling them look here are a number of subjects in which you have the opportunity to participate.

I. Applications in mathematics:

(a) Division algebras

There is a celebrated Hurwitz theorem:

Theorem (Hurwitz, 1898): Every normed algebra over the reals with an identity is isomorphic to one of following four algebras: the real numbers, the complex numbers, the quaternions, and the Cayley (octonion) numbers.

Moreover, the Hurwitz theorem is closely related with the parallelizable spheres and [16] and the remarkable theorem that only exist division algebras in 1, 2, 4 and 8 dimensions [17] [18] . So, one wonders what could be the corresponding Hurwitz theorem and these remarkable developments on division algebras if one extend the real numbers to surreal numbers. In this context, it has been proved in Refs. [19] [20] [21] that for normalized qubits the complex 1-qubit, 2-qubit and 3-qubit are deeply related to division algebras via the Hopf maps, , and, respectively. It seems that there does not exist a Hopf map for higher N-qubit states. So, from the perspective of Hopf maps, and therefore of division algebras, one arrives to the conclusion that 1-qubit, 2-qubit and 3-qubit are more special than higher dimensional qubits (see Refs. [22] [23] for details). Again one wonders whether surreal numbers can contribute in this qubits theory framework.

II. Applications in physics:

(a) Supersymmetry: For finite sets and, one of the key tools in surreal numbers are integers n and dyadic rationals. For and 2 and one recalls the spin structure of supersymmetry. So one wonders if for instance spin

may be a prediction of surreal number theory. Remarkable, this spin has been proposed in supersymmetry in connection with anyons (see Refs. [24] [25] and references therein). Thus, for finite sets and, surreal numbers and in the Gonshor approach, one finds that bosons can be identified with s integer spin and fermions with dyadic rational with spin

given in (23). One can even think in this expression as the eigenvalues of a ket. Here we made the associations

and so on. Thus, in this framework, it seems the whole structure of surreal numbers can be identified with a kind of supersymmetric approach.

(c) Black-holes

Consider the Schwarzschild metric [26]

where M is the source mass, G is the Newton gravitational constant and c is the light velocity. There are a number of observations that one can make about (55). First, notice that in this expression all quantities are real numbers. Second there are two type of singularities, namely in and. It is known that using Kruskal

coordinates it is possible to show that the singularity at is simply a coordinate singularity. However the singularity at is a true physical singularity of spacetime. First of all, in this context, when one referes about singularity in terms of real

numbers one means that in the limit one obtains the expression (see Ref. [26] and references therein for details).

From the point of view of surreal numbers theory the singularity, when

, is not a real problem because in such a mathematical theory all kind of infinite large and infinite small are present. So by a assuming that all quantities in the line element given in (55) is written in terms of surreal numbers

the problem of singularities in black-hole physics no longer exist!

(d) Cosmology

In the Friedmann cosmological equation [26]

one assumes that the matter density is given by

while the radiation energy density is

where and are constants. So, even if one does not consider the solution of (57) the expressions (58) and (59) tell us that there is a ‘big-bang’ singularity at. In fact, when one has

and

Just as in the case of black-holes these singularities are related to the fact that one is considering real numbers structure in the length scale a as well as in the time evolution parameter t. Again, one wonders what formalism one may obtain by replacing a by some kind of surreal length scale and the time parameter t by a surreal time parameter. Of course, this in turn will imply that the whole gravitational theory must be modified with surreal numbers structure.

Another possibility is to identify the whole evolution of the surreal numbers structure with a cosmological model in the sense that in 0-day one has the scalar field particle of 0-spin (the Higgs field?), in the 1-day one has (-1) -spin and 1-spin (the photon?) and the 2-day one obtains the (-2) -spin, -spin, -spin 2-spin (graviton

and fermion?) and so on. Following this idea one may even identify the 0-day and 0-spin with the big bang and since one can say that everything in our universe started with vacuum state.

(e) Fractals

It is known that fractals and dyadic fractions are deeply related. Much of this relationship can be explained by infinite binary tree which can be viewed as a certain subset of the modular group (the general linear group of 2 by 2 matrices over the integers). The subset is essentially the dyadic grupoid or dyadic monoid. This in turn provides the natural setting for the symmetry and self-similarity of many fractals. Moreover, it is also that these groups and the rational numbers can be connected with dyadic subsets [27] .

Due to the fact that duality is the underlying concept in both surreal numbers and matroid theory, we believe that it is a matter of time that these two mathematical scenarios are considered as important tools in physics and in particular in high energy physics and gravity.

From the serious difficulties with infinities in black-hole physics and cosmology as well as in higher energy physics it seems to us that surreal numbers theory offers a new view for a solution, instead of thinking that the infinities are the enemies in quantum and classical physical theory incorporate them in a natural way as surreal numbers framework suggests.

It turns out that surreal numbers can be understood as a particular case of games [2] (see also Ref. [28] ) which is a fascinating mathematical theory. In fact, games can be added and substracted forming an Abelian group and a sub-group of games is identified with surreal numbers which can also be multiplied and form a field. As we mentioned before, this field contains the real numbers among many other numbers structures. The key additional condition for reducing a game to a surreal number is that and are surreal numbers and satisfy. So, one wonders whether game theory may lead to even more interesting applications that those presented in this work.

Finally, we believe that it is just a matter of time for the recognition of the surreal numbers structure as one of the key mathematical tools in superstring theory [29] [30] [31] . This is because although the problems of some infinities are solved there remain always additional problems with the emergency of new infinities. This phenomena may be traced back to the fact that the action in superstring theory is written in terms of real functions (target space-time coordinates) rather that surreal functions.

I would like to thank to P. A. Nieto, C. Garca-Quintero and A. Meza for helpful comments. This work was partially supported by PROFAPI/2013.

Nieto, J.A. (2016) Some Mathematical and Physical Remarks on Surreal Numbers. Journal of Modern Physics, 7, 2164-2176. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jmp.2016.715188