Division algebras of slice-Nash functions

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the notion of Nash functions in the context of slice regular functions of one quaternionic or octonionic variable. We begin with a detailed analysis of the possible definitions of Nash slice regular functions which leads us to the definition of \textit{slice-Nash} function proposed in this paper (and which we strongly believe to be the natural generalisation of the classical real and complex Nash functions to this context). Once the `correct' definition of slice-Nash functions has been established, we study their properties with particular focus on their finiteness properties. These finiteness properties position this new class of slice-Nash functions as an intermediate class between the class of slice regular functions and the class of slice polynomials, in analogy with the classical real and complex case. We also introduce semiregular slice-Nash functions, in analogy with meromorphic Nash functions, and study their finiteness properties.