Involutions of Bicomplex Numbers

Abstract

An involution of a real commutative algebra $A$ is a real-linear homomorphism $f : A \rightarrow A$ such that $f^2 = \mathrm{Id}$. We show that there are six involutions of the algebra of bicomplex numbers, contrary to the actual number of four stated in the literature. We also characterize $n$-involutions satisfying the additional property $f^n = \mathrm{Id}$ for some integer $n \geq 2$. We show there are eight $n$-involutions and they occur only for $n = 2$ and $n= 4$. We use our result to give a new characterization of the invertible elements of the algebra of bicomplex numbers.