Tetration

Fig.1. Tetration $\mathrm {tet} _{b}(x)$ for $b=\mathrm {e}$, $b=2$, $b=\exp(1/\mathrm {e} )$, and $b={\sqrt {2}}$ versus $x$.

Tetration is fastly growing mathematical function, which was introduced in XX century and suggested for representation of huge numbers in mathematics of computation. For positive integer values of its argument $x$, tetration $\mathrm {tet} _{b}(x)$ on base $b$ can be defined with:

${\ \mathrm {tet} _{b}(x)=\ \atop {\ }}{{\underbrace {b^{b^{\cdot ^{\cdot ^{b}}}}} } \atop {x}}~$

For real values of the argument $x$ and various values of base $b$, this $\mathrm {tet} _{b}(x)$ is plotted in FIg.1.

Up to year 2008, this function is not listed among elementary functions, it is not implemented in programming languages and it is not used for the internal representation of data in computers.

In this article, the generalizaiton of tetration for complex (and, in particular, real) values of its argument is described. Tetration is assumed to be holomorphic function, at least for positive values of the real part of its argument. This tetration is used to construct the holomorphic extension of the iteratied exponential $\exp ^{c}(z)$ for the case of non-integer values of the number $c$ of iterations.

Definiton

For real $b>1$, Tetration $F=\mathrm {tet} _{b}$ on the base $b$ is function of complex variable, which is holomorphic at least in the range $\{z\in \mathbb {C} :~\Re (z)>-2\}$, bounded in the range $\{z\in \mathbb {C} :~|\Re (z)|\leq 1\}$, and satisfies conditions

$F(z\!+\!1)=\exp _{b}\!{\big (}F(z){\big )}$

$F(0)=1$

$F\!{\big (}z^{*}{\big )}=F{\big (}z{\big )}^{*}$

at least within range $~\Re (z)>-2~$ .

The definition above generalizes the definitions suggested recently for the specific cases of base $b=\mathrm {e}$ and $b=2$ .

Etymology and place of tetration in the big picture of math

Creation of word tetration is attributed to Englidh mathematician Reuben Louis Goodstein .

The place of tetration in the mathematical analysis can be seen at the strong zoom-out of the big picture of math. Using the mathematical notations, the zoom-out of the mathematical analysis can be drawn as follows:

$+\!+$ has only one argument and means unitary increment

$\mathrm {add} _{b}(1)=b+1=+\!+(b)$ ; $\mathrm {add} _{b}(z\!+\!1)=b+(z\!+\!1)=+\!+{\big (}b\!+\!(z){\big )}$

$\mathrm {mul} _{b}(1)=b*1=b$ ; $\mathrm {mul} _{b}(z\!+\!1)=b*(z\!+\!1)=b+{\big (}b*(z){\big )}$

$\exp _{b}(1)=b^{1}=b$ ; $\exp _{b}(z\!+\!1)=b*(\exp _{b}(z))$

$\mathrm {tet} _{b}(1)=b$ ; $\mathrm {tet} _{b}(z\!+\!1)=\exp _{b}{\big (}\mathrm {tet} _{b}(z){\big )}$

$\mathrm {pen} _{b}(1)=b$ ; $\mathrm {pen} _{b}(z\!+\!1)=\mathrm {tet} _{b}{\big (}\mathrm {pen} _{b}(z){\big )}$

Except the zeroth raw, each operation in sequance above is just recurrence of operations from the previous row. Operation ++ could be called zeration (although in the prigramming languages it is called increment), addition (or summation) could be called unation, multiplication (or product) could be called duation , exponentiation coluld be called trination. The following operations ( tetration, pentation) are not used so often, at least up to year 2008. Although tetration could get many other names: superexponentiation , ultraexponent , generalized exponent , other names were not applied to the holomorphic extension of tetration, defined in the previous section.

Manipulation with the holomorphic extensions and the inverses of summation, multiplication, exponentiation form the core of the mathematical analysis. The table above shows the place of tetration in the big picture of math. It is up-to-last raw.

In such a way, the name tetration indicates, that this operation is fourth (id est, tetra) in the hierarchy of operations after summation, multiplication, and exponentiation. In principle, one can define "pentation", "sextation", "septation" in the simlar manner, although tetration, perhaps, already has growth fast enough for the requests of XXI century.

Real values of the arguments, general view

Examples of behavior of this function at the real axis are shown in figure 1 for values $b=\mathrm {e}$, $b=2$, $b=\exp(1\!/\!\mathrm {e} )$, and for $b={\sqrt {2}}$. It has logarithmic singularity at $-2$, and it is monotonously increasing function.

At $b\leq \exp(1/\mathrm {e} )$ tetration $\mathrm {tet} _{b}(x)$ approaches its limiting value as $x\rightarrow +\infty$, and $\displaystyle \lim _{x\rightarrow +\infty }~\mathrm {tet} _{b}(x)>1$.

Fast growth and application

At $~b\!>\!\exp(1\!/\!\mathrm {e} )~$ tetration $\mathrm {tet} _{b}(x)$ grows faster than any exponential function. For this reason the tetration is suggested for the representation of huge numbers in mathematics of computation. A number, that cannot be stored as floating point, could be represented as $\mathrm {tet} _{b}(x)$ for some standard value of $b$ (for example, $b=2$ or $b=\mathrm {e}$) and relatively moderate value of $x$. The analytic properties of tetration could be used for the implementation of arithmetic operations with huge numbers without to convert them to the floating point representation.

Integer values of the argument

For integer $z$, tetration ${\rm {tet}}_{b}(z)$ can be interpreted as iterated exponential:

$\mathrm {tet} _{b}(1)=b$

$\mathrm {tet} _{b}(2)=b^{b}$

$\mathrm {tet} _{b}(3)=b^{b^{b}}$

and so on; then, the argument of tetration can be interpreted as number of exponentiations of unity. From definition it follows, that

$\mathrm {tet} _{b}(0)=1$

and

$\mathrm {tet} _{b}(-\!1)=0$

Relation with the Ackermann function

At base $b=2$, tetration is related to the Ackermann function

$\mathrm {tet} _{2}(n+3)=A(4,n)+3$

where Ackermann function $A$ is defined for the non-negative integer values of its arguments with equations

$A(m,n)=\left\{{\begin{array}{llll}n+1&,&{\rm {if~}}~m\!=\!0\\A{\big (}m\!-\!1,~1~{\big )}&,&{\rm {if~}}m\!>\!0{\mbox{ and }}n\!=\!0\\A{\Big (}m\!-\!1,A(m,n\!-\!1){\Big )}&,&{\rm {if~}}m\!>\!0{\mbox{ and }}n\!>\!0\end{array}}\right.$

The generalization of the 4th Ackermann funciton $A(4,z)$ for the complex values of $z$ is described in the preprint . Construction of such holomorphic extension is equivalent to construction of tetration $\mathrm {tet} _{b}(z)$ for the base $b=2$.

Asymptotic behavior and properties of tetration

The analytic extension of tetration $~F(z)$ grows fast along the real axis of the complex $z$-plane, at least for some values of base $b$. However, it does not grow infinitely in the direction of imaginary axis. The asymptotic behavior determines the basic properties of tetration.

The exponential convergence of discrete interation of logarithm corresponds to the exponential asymptotic behavior

$F(z)=L+\varepsilon (z)+o{\big (}\varepsilon (z)^{2}{\big )}$

where

$\varepsilon (z)=\exp(Qz\!+\!r)$,

$Q$ and $r$ are fixed complex numbers, and $L$ is eigenvalue of logarithm, solution of equation

$x=\log _{b}(x)$.

FIg.2. Graphic solution of equation $x=\log _{b}(x)$ for $b={\sqrt {2}}$ (two real solutions, $x=2$ and $x=4$), $b=\exp(1/{\rm {e)}}$ (one real solution $x={\rm {e}}$) $b=2$ (no real solutions).

Solutions of this equation are called fixed points of logarithm.

Fixed points of logarithm

Three examples of graphical solution of equation for fixed points of logarithm are shown in figure 2 for $b\!=\!{\sqrt {2}}$, $b\!=\!\exp(1\!/\!{\rm {e)}}$, and $b\!=\!2$.

The black line shows function $y=x$ in the $x,y$ plane. The colored curves show function $y=\log _{b}(x)$ for cases $b\!=\!{\sqrt {2}}$ (red), $b\!=\!\exp(1/{\rm {e)}}$ (green), and $b\!=\!2$ (blue).

At $b\!=\!{\sqrt {2}}$, there exist 2 solutions, $x\!=\!2$ and $x\!=\!4$.

At $b\!=\!\exp(1\!/\!{\rm {e)}}$ there exist one solution $x\!=\!{\rm {e}}$.

and $b\!=\!2$, there are no real solutions.

In general,

• at $b\!<\!\exp(1\!/\!{\rm {e)}}$ , there are two real solutions;
• at $b\!=\!\exp(1\!/\!{\rm {e)}}$ , there is one soluition, and
• at $b\!>\!\exp(1\!/\!{\rm {e)}}$ , there exist two solutions, but they are complex.

In particular, at $b\!=\!{\sqrt {2}}$, the solutions are
$L\!=\!\!L_{{\sqrt {2}},1}=2$ and $L\!=\!L_{{\sqrt {2}},2}=4$
.

At $b\!=\!2$, the solutions are
$L\!=\!L_{2}\!\approx \!0.824678546142074222314065+1.56743212384964786105857\!~{\rm {i}}$ and
$L\!=\!L_{2}^{*}\!\approx \!0.824678546142074222314065-1.56743212384964786105857\!~{\rm {i}}$.

At $b\!=\!{\rm {e}}$, the solutions are
$L=L_{\rm {e}}\approx 0.318131505204764135312654+1.33723570143068940890116\!~{\rm {i}}$ and
$L=L_{\rm {e}}^{*}\approx 0.318131505204764135312654-1.33723570143068940890116\!~{\rm {i}}$.

Few hundred straightforward iterations of equation (14) are sufficient to get the error smaller than the last decimal digit in the approximations above.

Basic properties

FIg.3. parameters of asymptotic of tetration versus logarithm of the base

The solutions $L=L_{1}$ and $L=L_{2}$ of equation (14) are plotted in figure 3 versus $\beta =\ln(b)$ with thin black lines. Let $L_{1}<L_{2}$, and only at $\ln(b)=1/e$, the equality $L_{1}=L_{2}$ takes place. Basic properties of tetration are determined by the base $b$. The main parameters versus $\ln(b)$ are plotted in figure 3. The thin black solid curve at $\beta \geq 1/{\rm {e}}$ represents the real part of the solutions $L$ and $L^{*}$ of (14); the thin black dashed curve represents the two options for the imaginary part; the two solutions are complex conjugaitons of each other. Requirement of definition of tetration determine the asymptotic of the solution. Parameter $Q$ tetermines periodicity of quasi-periodicity of tetration. The two solutions for $Q$are shown in figure 3 with green lines.

At $b<\exp(1/\mathrm {e} )$ both solutons for $Q$ are real. The negative $Q$ corresponds to tetration, decaying to the asymptotic value $L$ in the direction of real axis; positive $Q$ corresponds to the solution growing along the real axis. At the real axix, such a solution remains larger than unity; this does not allow to satisfy confition $F(0)=1$. Therefore, only one negative $Q$ corresponds to the asymptotic behavior of tetration.

At $b\!>\!\exp(1/\mathrm {e} )$, both options for $Q$ are mutually complex conjugate. The real part is shown thif thick green line; one option of the imaginary part is shown with dashed line.

Possibilities for the period (or quasi-period) $T={\frac {2\pi }{Q}}$ are shown in Figure 3 with fotted lines. At $b>\exp(1/\mathrm {e} )$, only "negative" period corresponds to tetration. At $b>\exp(1/\mathrm {e} )$, the periodicity can be achieved only asymptotically; and $T$ is quasi-period. The real part of quasi-period is markes with black dotted line; one of two options tor the imaginary part is marked with pink dotted line.

Generally, at $1\!<\!b\!<\!\exp(1\!/\!\mathrm {e} )$, tetration is periodic; the period is pure imaginary.

At $b\!=\!\exp(1\!/\!\mathrm {e} )$, tetration is not periodic, and no exponential asymptotic exist.

$b\!>\!\exp(1\!/\!\mathrm {e} )$, tetration is quasi–periodic, the quasi-period in the upper complex half-plane is conjugate to that in the lower complex half-plane. The larger is base $b$, the shorter is quasi-period. As the quasi-periods are complex conjugated, the quasi-periodicity takes place away from the real axis.

Evaluation of tetration

As the asymptoric of tetration is crutually depend of base Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b} in ficinity of value Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=\exp(1/\mathrm{e}) } , the evaluation procidure is different foe the cases Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 1\!<\!b\!<\!\exp(1\!/\!\mathrm{e}) } , Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b\!=\!\exp(1/\mathrm{e}) } , and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b\!>\!\exp(1\!/\!\mathrm{e}) } , and should be considered serapately.

Case Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 1<b<\exp(1/\mathrm{e}) }

Fig.4. Tetration Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f=\mathrm{tet}_b(x\!+\!\mathrm{i}y)} for Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b\!=\!\sqrt{2}}

At Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 1<b<\exp(1/\mathrm{e}) } , the period $T$ is imaginary. Period with smallest modulus corresponds to the solution that is unity at the origen of coordinates. For Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=\sqrt{2}} , function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f=\mathrm{tet}_b(z)} is shown in figure 4 with levels of constant real part and levels of constant imaginary part. Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(f)=2,3,4} and levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(f)=0,\pm 1,\pm2\pm 3, \pm 4} aew shown with thick lines. Intermediate levels are shown with thin lines. There are branch points at Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(z)=2~,~\Im(z)=2\pi |T| m~ \forall m \in \mathbb{N}} ; the cut lines are Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(z)<2~,~\Im(z)=2\pi |T| m~ \forall m \in \mathbb{N}} . For this value of base, the period

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle T=\frac{2\pi}{\ln^2(2)}\approx −17.1431481793548471041794 ~\mathrm{i}} .

There is cut at Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x\!<\!-2} , $y\!=\!0$; although the jump at this cut reduces at the increase of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle -x} . In such a way, the function approaches its limiting value Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L\!=\!4} almost everywhere, although there is set of singularities at negiative integer values of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x<-2} .

The solution follows asymptotic at large values of real part of the argument, exponentially approaching the limiting value. In particular, for Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b\!=\!\sqrt{2}} , this maximum limiting value is in the left hand side of the figure, and to its minimum llimiting value in the right hand side. For Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b\!=\!\sqrt{2}} , these limiting values are Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L\!=\!4} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L\!=\!2} .

The trace of the solution along the real axis corresponds to the red dotted curve in Figure 1. Other solutions of the recursive equation Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b\!\big(F(z)\big)\!=\!F(z\!+\!1)} , that may grow up along the real axis, can be constructed in the similar way, but they do not satisfy criteria formulated in the definition of tetration; in particular, Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F(0)\!=\!1} .

Case Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=\exp(1/\mathrm{e}) }

(CC) Image: Dmitrii Kouznetsov
Fig.5. Tetration at Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=\exp(1\!/\!\mathrm{e})} .

At Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=\exp(1\!/\!\mathrm{e}) } , the liniting value $L=\mathrm {e}$, and, asymptotically,

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F(z)=\mathrm{e}- 2 \mathrm{e}/z + \mathcal{O}(1/z^2) }

The function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f=F(x\!+\!\mathrm{i}y)} is shown in figure 5.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(f)=-2,-1,0,1,2,3,4} are shown with thick black lines.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(f)=-1,-2,-3,-4} are shown with thick red lines.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(f)=1,2,3,4} are shown with thick blue lines.

Intermediate levels are shown with thin lines.

There is cut at Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x<-2} , Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle y=0} , but the hump of the function at the cut reduces as Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle y} reduces, id est, with increasing of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |z|} . In suchg a way, everywhere, at Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |z|\rightarrow \infty} , the function approaches its limiting value Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L=\mathrm{e}\approx 2.71} . almost everywhere, although there is set of singularities at negiative integer values of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z<-2} .

Behavior of this function at real values of argument is shown in Figure 1 with thin solid line. Other solutions of the recursive equation $\exp _{b}\!{\big (}F(z){\big )}\!=\!F(z\!+\!1)$ can be constructed in the ximilar way; they may grow up along the real axis, but they do not satisfy criteria formulated in the definition of tetration; in particular, Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F(0)\!=\!1} .

Case Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b>\exp(1/\mathrm{e}) }

(CC) Image: Dmitrii Kouznetsov
Fig.6. Tetration Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tet}_b(x+\mathrm{i}y)} at base Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=2} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=\mathrm e} .

At Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b>\exp(1/\mathrm{e}) } , tetration is asymptotically periodic. It exponentially decays to the fixed points Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L^*} in th eupper and lower halfplane. This allows to express it through its values along the imaginary axis, using the Cauchi integral. .

For the base Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=2} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=\mathrm{e}} tetration Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f=\mathrm{tet}_b(z)} is plotted in figure 6. Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re{f}=0, \pm 1, ... \pm 16 } and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im{f}=0, \pm 1, ... \pm 16 } are drawn with thick lines. The function has logarithmic singulatiry at point -2 and cut at real values of the argument, smaller than -2. In the right hand side, symbols Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \approx \infty} mean huge values that cannot be stored in the conventional floating point representation (logarithm, mantissa). In the upper left and lower left part of eath graphic, the function approaches its asymptotic values $L$ and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L^*} . Function is quasi-periodic; the same fractal structure reproduces again and again at the translation of argument with quasiperiod Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle T} in the upper halfplane and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle T^*} in the lower halfplane.

There is cut at Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x<-2} , Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle y=0} . The jump of the function at this cut approaches Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L\!-\!L^*} almost everywhere, although there is set of singularities at negiative integer values of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x<-2} .

Along the real axis, tetration for this values of base is plotted also in figure 1 with thick solid and dashed lines.

Behavior along the real axis

The growth of tetration along the real axis is crutially determient by its base.

At Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 1\! <\!b \!< \exp(1 \! / \mathrm{e} )} the growth is limited by the minimal of the limiting values Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L} . Tetration approaches this limiting value exponentially.

At Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b \! =\! \exp(1 \! / \! \mathrm{e} )} , the growth is limited by the fixerd point Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L\!=\!\mathrm{e}} . Tetration approaches this limiting value as rational function.

The growing-up holomorphic solution of equation Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b(F(z))\!=\!F(z\!+\!1)} can be constructed in the similar way also at Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 1\! \le \! b \! \le \! \exp(1\!/\!{\mathrm e})} , but at the real axis, such a solution remains larger than unity, and the condition Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F(0)\!=\!1} cannot be satiscied. Therefore, this solution cannot be interpreted as extension of iterative exponentiation Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b\Big( \exp_b\big(... 1 ..)\big) } for non-integer number Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z} of exponentiations; in this sense, such a solution is not a tetration.

Tetration Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tet}_b} shows explosively-fast growth along the real axis only at values $b\!>\!\exp(1\!/\!\mathrm {e} )$.

Tetration at base e

Holomorphyc tetration on the narutal base Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b\!=\!\mathrm{e}} is most developed, at least up to yeat 2008. In the rest of this article, it is assumer that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b\!=\!\mathrm{e}\approx 2.71} although the most of results allow the straightforward extension to the case of real Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b\!>\!\exp(1/\mathrm{e})\approx 1.44467} .

Inverse of tetration

(CC) Image: Dmitrii Kouznetsov
Fig.7. kslog in the complex plane.

The inverse of tetration Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle t=\mathrm{kslog}(z)=\mathrm{tet}^{-1}(z)} can be performed using the Newton method, solving equation Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tet}(t)=z} , leading to

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tet}\big(\mathrm{kslog}(z)\big)=z} .

The inverse function has branchpints Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L^*} . For the kslog, at base Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=\mathrm{e}} , shown in the figure 7, the cuts are placed horisontaly, along the lines

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(z)<\Re(L)} , Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(z)=\pm \Im(L)} .

Due to the symmetry $\mathrm {kslog} {\big (}z^{*}{\big )}=\mathrm {kslog} {\big (}z{\big )}^{*}$, it is sufficient to plot only half of the complex plane.

(CC) Image: Dmitrii Kouznetsov
Fig.8. Shaded region is image of the upper halfplane at the mapping with kslog function.

The mapping with function kslog is shown in figure 8. For Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x} in the shaded region, the relation

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{kslog}\big(\mathrm{tet}(z)\big)=z}

takes place. The upper part of the complex plane is mapped into the upper halfplane, and the lower halfplane is mapped to the lower halfplane. The real axis is mapped into the halfline Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (-2,\infty)} . The fixed points Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L} is mapped to imaginary infinity, following the shadower strip.

In figure 8, the images of the grid lines Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(z)=-1,0,\Re(L),1,2,3} and images of the grid lines Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(z)=1,\Im(L),2,3,4} are shown. These curves reproduce levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(F(z))=\rm const} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(F(z))=\rm const} shown in figure 6 for Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=\rm e} .

Together, the pair of functions tet and kslog allow to evaluate any iteration (including negative, fractional and even complex) of the exponential finction.

Polynomial approximation

The Tailor expansion for the tetration can be written in the usial form:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tet}(z)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} c_n (z-z_0)^n}

where the Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n} th coefficient

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c_n=\frac{1}{n!}\mathrm{tet}^{(n)}(z_0)}

is expressed through the Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n} derivative of the function.

Fig.N. Approximation of tetration with polynomial of 25th power

The fitst coefficients of the expansion can be calculated ising the straightforward differentiation of the representation through the Cauchi integral. For $z_{0}=0$, the calcuation gives the following values

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₀ = 1

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₁ ≈ 1.091767351258322138

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₂ ≈ 0.271483212901696469

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₃ ≈ 0.212453248176258214

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₄ ≈ 0.069540376139988952

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₅ ≈ 0.044291952090474256

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₆ ≈ 0.014736742096390039

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₇ ≈ 0.008668781817225539

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₈ ≈ 0.002796479398385586

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₉ ≈ 0.001610631290584341

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₁₀≈ 0.000489927231484419

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₁₁≈ 0.000288181071154065

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₁₂≈ 0.000080094612538551

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₁₃≈ 0.000050291141793809

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₁₄≈ 0.000012183790344901

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₁₅≈ 0.000008665533667382

$c$₁₆≈ 0.000001687782319318

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₁₇≈ 0.000001493253248573

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₁₈≈ 0.000000198760764204

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₁₉≈ 0.000000260867356004

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₂₀≈ 0.000000014709954143

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₂₁≈ 0.000000046834497327

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₂₂≈-0.000000001549241666

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₂₃≈ 0.000000008741510781

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₂₄≈-0.000000001125787310

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} ₂₅≈ 0.000000001707959267

The truncated Tailor series gives the polyomial approximation. In Figure N, the polynomial

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f=\sum_{n=0}^{25} c_n z^n}

is shown in the complex Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z} plane.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(f)=-2,-1,0,1,2,3,4} are shown with thick black curves.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(f)=-1.8,-1.6,-1.4,-1.2,-0.8,-0.6,-0.4,-0.2} are shown with thin red curves.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(f)=0.2,0.4,0.6,0.8,1.2,1.4,1.6,1.8} are shown with thin thin blue curves.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(f)=-2,-1} are shown with thick red curves.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(f)=1,2} are shown with thick blue curves.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(f)=\pm \pi,\pm 3\pi} are shown with thick pink curves.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(f)= \pm 0.2, \pm 0.4, \pm 0.6, \pm 0.8, \pm 1.2, \pm 1.4, \pm 1.6, \pm 1.8} are shown with thin green curves.

In the upper left corner of figure N, the same is shown for function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \log(f)}

At the botton, left, the overlap of the upper two images is shown.

At the botton, right, lines of constant modulus and constant phase of holomorphic tetration in the same range.

The good approximation of tetration takes place in the range Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |z|} of order of unity or smaller; the radius of convergence of the series is 2.

Asymptotic expansion at large values of the imaginary part of the argument

Fig.As. Deviation of tetration from its asymptotic expansion.

Here only case of base Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b\!=\!\mathrm{e}} is considered; although the generalization for the case Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b\!>\!\mathrm{e}} is straghtforward. In this section, the bevavior of tetration Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tet}(z)} is considered for the moderate values of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(z)} and large values of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(z)}

At Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b\!=\!\mathrm{e}} , in the upper halfplane, tetration approach the fixed point Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L\approx 0.3+1.3\mathrm{i}} of the logarithm. This approach is exponential. Using the exponential

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \varepsilon=\varepsilon(z)=\exp(L z +R) }

as a small parameter, for some complex constant Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle R} , the tetration can be estimated as follows:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tet}(z)=L+\varepsilon+a_2 \varepsilon^2 + a_3 \varepsilon^3 + \mathcal{O}(\varepsilon^4)}

Substitution of this expression into the equation Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tet}(z\!+\!1)=\exp\big(\mathrm{tet}(z)\big)} gives
Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a_2=\frac{1/2}{L-1}\approx -0.151314 - 0.2967488 \mathrm{i}~,~} Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a_3=\frac{a_2+1/6}{L^2-1}\approx -0.36976 + 0.98730 \mathrm{i}}
Value $R\approx 1.077961437526-0.946540963949\mathrm {i}$ can be found fitting the tetration Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tet}(z)} with function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L+\epsilon+a_2 \epsilon^2 + a_2 \epsilon^3 } at large values of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(z)} . Then, the expansion can be written in the form

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tet}(z)=\sum_{n=0}^N a_n \varepsilon^n + \mathcal(O)\!\big(\varepsilon^{N\!+\!1}\big)}

assuming that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a_0\!=\!L} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a_1\!=\!1} . At given Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle N} , such a representation indicates the possible approximations of tetration. The deviations od tetration from these approximations are shown in figure Fig.As.

The four plots in fig.As correspond to the four asumptotic approximations. The deviations

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f=\mathrm{tet}(z)-L} ,

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f=\mathrm{tet}(z)-\Big(L+\varepsilon(z)\Big)} ,

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f=\mathrm{tet}(z)-\Big(L+\varepsilon+a_2 \varepsilon^2 \Big)} ,

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f=\mathrm{tet}(z)-\Big(L+\varepsilon+a_2 \varepsilon^2 + a_3 \varepsilon^3\Big)}

are shown in the complex plane with lines of constant phase and constant modulus.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \arg(f)=-2,-1} are shown with thick red lines.

Level Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \arg(f)=0} is shown with thick black lines.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \arg(f)=1,2} are shown with thick blue lines.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \arg(f)=\pm \pi} are shown with scratched lines. (these lines reveal the step of sampling used by the plotter).

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|=\exp(-0.8),\exp(-0.6),\exp(-0.4),\exp(-0.2)} are shown with thin red lines.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|=\exp(0.2),\exp(0.4),\exp(0.6),\exp(-0.8)} are shown with thin blue lines.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|=\exp(3), \exp(2), \exp(1),\exp(0), \exp(-\!1), \exp(-\!2), \exp(-\!3), \exp(-\!4), \exp(-\!5), \exp(-\!5), \exp(-\!7), \exp(-\!8)} are shown with thin thick black lines.

Level Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|=\exp(-10)} is shown with thick red line.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|= \exp(-12),\exp(-14), \exp(-16),\exp(-18)} are shown with thick black lines.

Level Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|=\exp(-20)} is shown with thick red line.

Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|= \exp(-22),\exp(-24), \exp(-26),\exp(-28)} are shown with thick black lines.

Level Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|=\exp(-30)} is shown with thick green line.

Level Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|=\exp(-31)} is shown with thick black line.

The plotter tried to draw also

Level Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|=\exp(-32)} with thick black line and

Level Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|=\exp(-33)} with thin dark green line, which are seen a the upper left hand side corners of the two last pictures, but the precision of evaluation of tetration is not sufficient to plot the smooth lines; for the same reason, the curve for

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |f|=\exp(-31)} in the last picture, in the upper right band side looks a little bit irreguler; also, the pattenn in the upper left corner of the last two pictures looks chaotic; the plotter cannot distinguish the function from its asymptotic aproximation.

The figure indicates that, at Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(z)>4 } , Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(z)<4\Im(z) - 25} , the asymptotic approximation

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tet}(z)\approx L+\varepsilon+a_2 \varepsilon^2 + a_3 \varepsilon^3}

gives at least 14 correct significant figures. At large values of the imaginary part, this approximation is more precise than the evaluation of tetration through the contour integral.

Iterated exponential and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sqrt{\exp}}

Fig.9. Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp^c(z)} in the complex Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z} plane for various Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} .

Pre-historic approach to the iterated exponential

Especially interesting is the case of iteration of natural exponential, id est, Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b=\mathrm{e}} . Existence of the fractional iteration, and, in particular, existence of operation Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sqrt{\exp}=\exp^{1/2}} was demonstrated in 1950 by H.Kneser. . However, that time, there was no computer facility for the evlauation of such an exotic function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F(F(z))=\exp(z)} ; perhaps, just absence of an apropriate plotter did not allow Kneser to plot the distribution of fractal exponential function $\exp ^{c}(z)$ in the complex Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z} plane for various values of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} , shown in Fig.9.

Fig.10. Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp^c(x)} versus Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x}

The Implementation through the tetration

Holomorphic tetration allows to extend the iterated exponential Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b^c}

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b^0(z) =z }

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b^1(z) =\exp_b(z) }

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b^2(z) =\exp_b\!\Big (\exp_b(z)\Big) }

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b^{c+1}(z) =\exp_b\!\Big(\exp_b^c(z)\Big) }

For non-integer values of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} . It can be defined as

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b^c(z) = \mathrm{tet}_b\!\Big(c+ {\mathrm{tet}_b}^{-1}(z)\Big) }

If in the notation Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b^c} the superscript is omitted, it is assumed to be unity; for example Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b^1=\exp_b} . If the subscript is omitted, it is assumed to be Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{e}} , id est, Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp^c=\exp_\mathrm{e}^c}

Iterated exponential in the complex plane

Function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f=\exp^c(z)} is shown in figure 9 with levels of constant real part and levels of constant imaginary part. Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(f)=-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(f)=-3,..14} are drown with thick lines. Red corresponds to a negative value of the real or the imaginaryt part, black corresponds to zero, and blue corresponds to the positeive values. Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(f)=-0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8} are shown with thin red lines. Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(f)= 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8} are shown with thin green lines. Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Re(f)=\Re(L)} and Levels Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Im(f)=\Im(L)} are marked with thick green lines, where Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L\approx 0.31813150520476413 +1.3372357014306895~ \mathrm{i}} is fixed point of logarithm. At non-integer values of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c} , Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle L^*} are branch points of function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp^c} ; in figure, the cut is placed parallel to the real axis. At Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c<0} there is an additional cut which goes along the negative part of the real axis. In the figure, the cuts are marked with pink lines.

Iterated exponential of a real argument

For real values of the argument, function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle y=\exp^c(x)} is ploted in figure 10 versus Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x} for values Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle c=0,\pm 0.1, \pm 0.5, \pm 0.9, \pm 1, \pm 2} .
in programming languages, inverse function of exp is called log.

For logarithm on base e, notation ln is also used. In particular, $\exp ^{-1}(x)=\ln(x)$, Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp^{-2}(x)=\ln\big(\ln(x)\big)} and so on.

At least for the real and big enough Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x} , the relation Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp^u\big(\exp^v(x)\big)=\exp^{u+v}(x)} holds, which is qute analogous of relations Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle ux\!+\!vx=(u\!+\!v)x} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x^u x^v=x^{u+v}} . However, at negative Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle u} or negative Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle v} , value Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x} should be big enough, that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp^u(x)} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp^v(x)} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp^{u+v}(x)} are defined, see figure 10. For example, at Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \min(u,v,u\!+\!v)=-2} , we need Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x\!>\!1} . In particular, at Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle u\!=\!1} , Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle v\!=\!-1} , we have Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp^1\!\big(\exp^{-1}(x)\big)=\exp\!\big(\ln(x)\big)=x} .

Applicaiton of iterated exponential

The iterated exponential, that can be implemented with holomorphic tetration, may have various applicaitons. In particular, The Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \exp_b^c(x)} at </math>0\!<\!c\!<\!1</math> could describe a process that grows faster than any polynomial, but slower than any exponential. In such a way, the iterated exponential, at the proper implementation, should greatley extend the abilities of fast and precise fitting of functions. This is just analogy of function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)=x^a} which, at fractal values of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a} , may be good for description of a function that grows faster than any linear function but slower than any quadratic function.

Similar functions

WIthdrowal of some of requirements from the definition of tetration allows the huge variety of similar functions.

Entire solutions of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F(z\!+\!1)=\exp(F(z))}

Withdrowal of the requirement Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F\big(z^*\big)=F(z)^*} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F(0)\!=\!1} allows the solution by Kneser , which is entire and also could be used to buld up various powers of the exponential; in particular, Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sqrt{\exp}} . Such entire function is shown in upper part of figure 1c in , in order to reveal the asymptotic henavior of holomotphic tetration.

WIthdrowal of condition Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F(0)\!=\!1} allows to construct solutions, similar to the growing tetration, for base Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 1\!<\!b\!\le\!\exp(1/\mathrm{e})} . Although such solutions cannot be interpreted as generalization of exponential iterated Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z} times, they can be useful for generalization of exponential function.

Non-holomorphic modificaiton of tetration

Fig.11. Almost identical function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(z)\!=\! z \!+\! 10^{-9} \sin(2 \pi z)} in the complex Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z\!=\!x\!+\!\mathrm{i} y} plane.

Fig.12. Motified tetration at the complex plane.

Fig.13. Zoom in of fig.12

WIthdrowal of requirement of holomorphicity from the definition of tetration allows functions, which look like the tetration, at least along the real axis. Even the reduction of the range of holomorphism in the requirement allows to consider tetration with modified argument. The modified tetration can be defined as

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathrm{tem}(z)=\mathrm{tet}\!\big(J(z)\big)= \mathrm{tet}\!\big(z\!+\! h(z)\big)} ,

where Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle J(z)=z+h(z)} , and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h} is a 1-periodic function. The simple example of such such function is

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h(z)=10^{-9}\sin(2 \pi z)}

In this case, along the real axis, the function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle J} is almost identical to its argument; and values of the modified tetration are close to values of tetration. Being plotted at figure 1 or in figure 10, the deviation of such function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle J} from the identity is small, and the deviation of the modified tetration from tetration is also small. If the figures are printed in the real scale, then the defiation of the curves would be of order of atomic size.

However the difference becomes seen at the complex values of the argument. In figure 11, function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle J(z)=z\!+\!h(z)} is plotted in the complex Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z\!=\!x\!+\!\mathrm{i} y} plane. Levels of constant real part and those of constant imajinary part are drawn. In vicinity of the real axis, these lines almost coincide with the gridline; the grid is drawn with step unity and extended one step to the right and one step to the left ftom the graphic. in order to show that it behaves as it if would be a continuation of the plot. At Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |\Im(z)|\approx 3} , the deviation from the identitcal function becomes visible, and at Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |\Im(z)|>3} , the Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle J(z)} has many points with real values, including those with various negative integer values. The tetration has cut at negative values of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z<-2} and singularities there. Therefore, the cuts of the modified tetration are determined by the lines Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle J(z) \le -2 } , and modified tetration unavoidable havs singulatities in points Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z} such that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle J(z) \in \{ n\in \mathbb{N} ~:~ n<-1 \} } . These singulatities are determined by the function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h} and do not depend on the base $b$ of tetration. In figure 11, the lines Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle J(z)<-2} are seen not only along the real axis, but also at the top and at the bottom of the figure. In such a way, figure 11 shows the cutlines of the mofified tetration. One has no need to evaluate tetration in order to see the margin of the hange of holomorphism of the modified tetration.

In fugure 12, the modified tetration is plotted in the coplex Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z} -plane. The additional cuts are seen in the upper and lower parts of the figure 12. Only within the strip along the real axis, the function is holomorphic. While the amplitude of sinusoidal is of order of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 10^{-9}} , the strip of holomorphism is wider than unity, although this sidth slightly reduces along the real axis.

In order to see the behavior of the modified tetration in vivinity of the additional singularities, in fig.13, the sooming-in of the part of figure 12 is shown.The zoom has improved resolution, so, in its turn, it can be zoomed in to the size of the screen of a computer to see the details. In each cell of the grid, the small and deformed image of the central part of the fig.12 appears.

One has no need to evaluate tetration in order to reveal its singulatities outside the real azis. All the solutions Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z} of equation Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z+h(z)=n} for integer Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n<-1} are singularities (branchpoints) of the modified tetration.

Let Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathcal{M}= \{ n\in \mathbb{N}~:~n<-1 \} } .

The following theorem is suggested: For any entire 1-periodic function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h} such that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h(0)\!=\!0} , Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h} is not a constant, Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h\big(z^*\big)=h(z)^*~\forall z\in \mathbb{C} } , there exist Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle z\in \mathbb{C} : |\Re(z)|\!<\!1~,~ z\!+\!h(z)~ \in \mathcal{M} } .

Although this theorem is not yet proved, the intents to construct at least one example of function, that woud contradict it, were not successful. This theorem is somehow independent from the theory of tetration, but it indicates, that any modified tetration cannot be holomorphic in the range Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \{z\in \mathrm{C}~:~\Re(z)>-2 \} } .

Assording to the theorem above, the modified tetration does not satisfy the condition of quasi-periodicity, and does not satisfy the criterion of holomorphism in the definition of tetration. The sequance of cutlines for the epecific example of mofidied tetration is seen in figure 13; the modified tetration is not even continuous. An addition to function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle h} smome highest sinusoidals brings the discontinuities even closer to the real axis. This indicates, that if in at least one point at the real axis between Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle -\!1} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 1} , some solution Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} of equations Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F(z\!+\!1)\!=\!\exp(F(z))} , Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F(0)\!=\!1} differs from tetration tet for at least Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 10^{-9}} , then this solution is not holomorphic in the range Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \{z\in \mathbb{C} : |\Re(z)|<1, |\Im(z)|<4 \}} .

Even small deformation of tetration tet breaks its continuity. Similar reasons in favor of uniqueness tetration are suggested also in . There is only one tetration, that satisfies requirements of the definition, although the rigorous mathematical proof of the uniqueness is still under development.